2017 NFL Draft Grades: Jacksonville Jaguars Day 2 Picks

By Jimmy Long | Apr 29, 2017

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Cam Robinson (74) against Clemson Tigers defensive end Austin Bryant (91) in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 3, 2015; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive end Dawuane Smoot (91) sacks Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. (4) at Memorial Stadium. The Fighting Illini won 14 – 13. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /

Pick No. 68: Dawuane Smoot, DE – Illinois

The Jacksonville Jaguars chose to bolster their pass rush with their third round choice. On the surface, this isn’t a terrible plan, except for how they chose to do it. Drafting Smoot here was a huge reach.

D. . DE. Illinois. DAWUANE SMOOT

I’m giving the Jags a D for this one. Not because they chose to address their pass rush even though they have a deep defensive line rotation. This is because of what they passed on. Jacksonville passed on several edge rushers that were more talented than Smoot.

Derek Rivers from Youngstown was still on the board. As was Carl Lawson out of Auburn. The consensus is that both are better players than Smoot. But, who knows? Perhaps the Jaguars saw something the rest of us didn’t.

Next: Jaguars Round 1 Grade

For right now, I’m going with my gut, and the opinion of most scouts. Smoot was not the best edge rusher on the board when the Jaguars picked. This pick was the very definition of a reach, and the Jaguars will find themselves wishing they took a different player in a few years.

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