Jacksonville Jaguars: Value of seventh round draft selections
By Larry Brake
The Jacksonville Jaguars will have two picks in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Will those two selections ever see playing time?
The Jacksonville Jaguars have two seventh round selections in the 2018 NFL Draft. Most attention is given to the last player selected in the Draft. He is affectionately referred to as “Mr. Irrelevant“.
The Jaguars have never been in the position to take Mr. Irrelevant. However, they have the 247th pick out of 256 total draft picks. Have you ever wondered how Jacksonville’s seventh round picks have fared?
Since 1995, the Jaguars have had 40 seventh-round draft picks. In 2000, Jacksonville had five picks in the seventh round. But they did not have any seventh round picks in 2010 or 2011. In the Dave Caldwell era, Jacksonville has had multiple picks in the seventh round. Two defensive backs were selected in 2013. Only one was on an NFL roster last season.
Ben Koyack went in the seventh round in 2015. Neal Sterling was selected ahead of Koyack that year. Both players have made contributions for the Jaguars. Sterling was originally drafted as a wide receiver. Jacksonville moved him to tight end in 2016. The Jaguars released him and he signed with the New York Jets.
Koyack has played very well since being drafted. He has caught 24 passes for 199 yards with a touchdown. Most of all, he had a huge touchdown reception against Buffalo in the playoffs last season.
Blake Bortles threw to Koyack on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. His reception proved to be the game winner. Against Pittsburgh, the following game, he caught a pass for 21 yards.
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In 2017, Jacksonville selected Jalen Myrick and a fullback. The fullback did not make the roster. Myrick is a contender to become the slot corner due to Aaron Colvin signing elsewhere.
So, where will Jacksonville address with pick numbers 230 and 247? Could they trade one, or both, to move up into the fifth round? Expect the Jaguars to find value wide receivers in the seventh round.