JACKSONVILLE – Trent Baalke put it simply.
“You’re trying to find the best player,” he said.
That’s how Thursday’s Jaguars 2024 pre-draft media availability began and that was the theme throughout – that no matter the pre-draft speculation, the approach for the Jaguars in next week’s 2024 NFL Draft will remain the same as in recent drafts:
- Let the board fall as it falls.
- Draft the best possible players.
- Trust the process.
“We have some needs obviously that we need to address,” Baalke said seven days before his fourth draft as the Jaguars’ general manager. “The board has to fall the right way. Needs are paramount, but we’re going to stick to our plan and draft the best players available.”
The Jaguars, after finishing second in the AFC South in 2023 with a 9-8 record, enter the April 25-27 Draft with the No. 17 overall selection in Round 1 and eight total selections.
“Every year it’s different,” Head Coach Doug Pederson said of potential draft-day maneuvering. “We’re going to put the best roster together for 2024 and go play football, be competitive. That’s all we can control. We’re going to pick players who can help us.”
Baalke said while most pre-draft preparation is complete, he and Pederson are scheduled to meet Monday.
“Were not there yet,” Baalke said. “Coach and I haven’t sat down yet and gone through the final board. We’ll do that on Monday. We like how it’s shaping up, but we still have some work to do.”
The Jaguars’ eight overall selections:
- Round 1 (No. 17)
- Round 2 (No. 48)
- Round 3 (No. 96, compensatory)
- Round 4 (No. 114)
- Round 4 (No. 116, from New Orleans)
- Round 5 (No. 153)
- Round 6 (No. 212, compensatory)
- Round 7 (No. 236)
Baalke said he won’t have a feel for a possible trade earlier or later in Round 1 until Thursday night – likely four or five selections before the Jaguars are scheduled to select at No. 17.
“There’s a lot that goes into it,”…
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