The Jaguars are a team in the dumps and every season they seem to sink further into the abyss of NFL irrelevance. The 0-3 start certainly hasn’t helped as it has already become clear this will be another season with no playoff berth. Jacksonville is a team that struggles to get fan support and has almost no game in the free agency market and that’s why the draft is so critical for them. Having Blake Bortles as their quarterback of the future gives reason for some hope if he can develop into a quality starter one day, but the Jags have done a poor job of building talent around him. That’s because, simply put, the organization has largely failed at the NFL draft exercise. It’s too bad because the 2009 Jaguars draft class was a pretty good one. Had they been able to build off the success of that class, they would possibly have enjoyed a better fate at present. Unfortunately, a comedy of errors surround that 2009 exercise. Here is their five biggest mistakes during that recent process:
5. Tyson Alualu, DE, California – 10th pick overall in 2010
Alualu hasn’t been a colossal bust but it’s completely fair to say he’s never lived up to his draft status. As a defensive tackle he’s been largely manhandled on the interior for his entire four seasons as a starter. Look no further than his horrific grades on Pro Football Focus for evidence. Alualu was moved to defensive end this offseason in an attempt to salvage the high draft pick and so far he’s been nothing more than a rotational backup at that position. Listing some of the general talent that was drafted behind him would be a really depressing exercise for Jags fans. But even if you wanted to look at his position specifically, the Jags passed on a much more successful pass rusher in Jason Pierre-Paul and much better interior guy in Dan Williams (he’s been a monster on the interior for the Cardinals). Other solid players include Jared Odrick, Jerry Hughes and Linval Joseph.
4. Bryan Anger, P, California – 3rd round, 70th overall in 2012
Anger was 7th in the NFL in net punt yard average in both 2012 and 2013. So he’s a better than average punter in the league and he’s a solid pro in his own right. Still, a punter in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft? The only other punter drafted in 2012 was Brad Nortman of the Carolina Panthers in the 7th round. He’s still their punter, and he had a better net average than Anger in 2013. So the Jags could have waited four rounds to get a better punter. Nevermind the fact that guys like Russell Wilson, Nick Foles, Alfred Morris, Blair Walsh, Justin Bethel, T. Y. Hilton, Akiem Hicks, Kirk Cousins, Ladarius Green and Brandon Boykin were all drafted after Anger. Ouch.
3. Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida – 8th overall in 2008
Drafted to be a sack terror on opposing quarterbacks, Harvey posted 3.5 sacks in his rookie season and never did better. He was out of the NFL by 2011. For a top 10 pick that’s about as big of a bust as you’ll find. Defensive ends selected after Harvey included Cliff Avril and Kroy Biermann. And while this class as a whole was very poor in terms of pass rushers, there’s a laundry list of current Pro Bowlers that would have made significant impacts on the Jags’ roster still today.
2. Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri – 10th overall selection in 2011
The numbers say a lot, but perhaps nothing says it more than the fact that Gabbert was shipped out to San Francisco this offseason for a 6th round pick and a possible conditional 7th rounder in the future. Colin Kaepernick, Andy Dalton and other comparable backups were drafted much later than Gabbert. In three seasons Gabbert threw for 22 touchdowns and 24 interceptions with a woeful 53.3 career completion percentage.
1. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State – 5th overall selection in 2012
This one hurts the most because talent wasn’t the issue. Blackmon just can’t keep his nose clean. After numerous failed drug tests and run ins with the law, Blackmon’s career as a football player is in serious jeopardy. It remains to be seen if he’ll ever see the field again. Too bad because with 93 catches and 1,280 yards in 20 games played he demonstrated serious potential. There’s no question Bortles could use him as a weapon as he starts his career Sunday. Receivers picked after Blackmon include Michael Floyd, Alshon Jeffery, Rueben Randle, and T. Y. Hilton. Maybe not anything amazing, but guys that are helping their respective teams now. Of course the Jags also passed on guys like Luke Kuechly, Dontari Poe and some others already listed previously.
