Jacksonville Jaguars: 7-Round 2018 mock draft in late February
Blake Bortles played well for the Jacksonville Jaguars down the stretch of their AFC Championship Game run. However, when push came to shove, the Jags knew that they could not count on Bortles to make the plays they needed to win big games. While he is not a terrible short term option, Bortles is simply not the ideal franchise quarterback for this team.
Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to find a franchise quarterback in the NFL Draft, especially when you are selecting late in the first round. However, in this mock draft, the Jaguars were able to find a potential franchise signal caller by landing Lamar Jackson with the 29th overall pick.
Jackson is one of the most polarizing prospects in this draft class. He won a Heisman Trophy for his incredible play in the 2016 season and improved even more as a passer last season. That being said, there are plenty in the draft community who do not think he has the overall skill set to be a quarterback at the next level. With Jackson, it typically goes one of two ways. You either think he is a legitimate franchise quarterback with an extremely bright future or you think he should immediately change positions and become a wide receiver. There is little in between.
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Personally, I am incredibly excited about Jackson as a quarterback prospect. He is an elite playmaker at the position, showing ridiculous raw arm strength and fantastic athleticism. His ability to improvise and make plays outside of the pocket is unrivaled. Plus, he has shown some real growth as a pocket passer over the past year.
While his accuracy is inconsistent, Jackson has shown the ability to make accurate throws to all levels. He also has a knack for putting proper touch on his passes, especially when throwing the deep ball. His decision making could still use a little work, but the Louisville product goes through his progressions well and can move opposing safeties with his eyes.
Jackson is a risky prospect who needs to be more consistent in order to reach his true upside at the next level. Plus, his slight frame coupled with him frequently taking off and running is not ideal when it comes to potential injuries.
That being said, Jackson is a particularly strong fit for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They already use Bortles as a running option a lot. Jackson will undoubtedly take that aspect of their offense to the next level. On top of that, his impressive deep ball will fit well in the Jags offense that lives on the play action passing attack.
Simply put, Lamar Jackson is a special athlete with exciting traits at the quarterback position. Add in his ideal fit in the offense and their obvious need for a long-term signal caller and this is an obvious selection for Jacksonville.