Justin Blackmon won’t play for Jacksonville Jaguars next year
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon (14) during the game against the Denver Broncos. Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Jacksonville Jaguars made some big moves at the wide receiver position in the second round, as they added two of the most individually talented wideouts in the class. Marqise Lee slipped out of the first round due to concerns regarding his knee injury, but the Jaguars promptly ended his slide. They also traded up to snag Penn State Nittany Lions product Allen Robinson, who has some of the best physical tools in the class and, like Lee, as No. 1 WR upside. The Jaguars already have a very good No. 1 wideout in Cecil Shorts III, so they are loaded at the position right now.
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But the Jaguars decision to draft two top receivers in round two is an ominous sign for Justin Blackmon’s future in Jacksonville. David Caldwell has stated several times this offseason that the Jaguars aren’t counting on the former first-round pick to play next year after an indefinite suspension for yet another violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, so it wasn’t surprising to see the Jags draft Lee. When they decided to move up for Robinson, though, we started to get the feeling that Blackmon definitely won’t be playing next year and might not be playing for the Jaguars beyond 2014.
Now, Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley have made statements indicating that Blackmon won’t be with the team beyond 2014, but we do know that he won’t be back next season. Caldwell said, via the Florida Times-Union’s Hays Carlyon, “We’ve moved on for this year.”
Caldwell added when asked if Blackmon could be cut, “We can’t [cut him]. If that even happens.”
Bradley stated, “There are some unknowns there and you don’t know how it’s working. You don’t want to shut it off. I was hoping it would be better than where it is going. We haven’t heard much and it doesn’t sound like it’s going in the right direction. Like Dave said, we can’t count on him.”
Blackmon is an incredible talent at just 24, and he had an amazing rookie season with some strong numbers last season before being slapped with his latest suspension. He’s too good not to get a second chance from somebody else, but it looks like the Jaguars don’t want to get burned again. They aren’t alone in this, as Cleveland Browns superstar wideout Josh Gordon is facing a similar suspension and has troubles that are eerily similar to Blackmon’s. At least the Jaguars were able to stock up on wideouts in round two.