The 2020 season has been a rough one for the Jacksonville Jaguars and their fans as the team is 1-14 with one game left. However, their agony has at least come with one good thing, and that’s the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Jacksonville is now on the clock pic.twitter.com/TgN8hybd9I
— PFF (@PFF) December 27, 2020
The Jags were able to secure the top selection as a result of losing their Week 16 game against the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets winning their contest against the Cleveland Browns. With just one game remaining in the season, the Jags can now finish with no more than two wins, which still won’t be enough for the Jets to jump them in the draft order.
The Jags’ last game will be on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. Even in the case of a win and a Jets loss to the Patriots (both would be 2-14), the tiebreaker rules would give the Jags the top selection as their strength of schedule will be weaker than New York’s.
Acquiring the top pick in 2021’s draft is huge for the Jags because it would give them the chance to select Clemson signal-caller Trevor Lawrence (if he declares), who is considered the best quarterback prospect to enter the draft since Andrew Luck. Of course, that selection would address the team’s biggest needs as they’ve rotated signal-callers Gardner Minshew II, Jake Luton, and Mike Glennon throughout their lineup in 2020.
Acquiring the top pick should also make the Jags general manager vacancy the most desired one of 2021. In addition to a clear path to Lawrence, the team is projected to lead the league in cap space (with around $77.6 million) and will also have 11 draft selections.
Now, the ball is in owner Shad Khan’s court as he’ll need to make the right hires if Lawrence declares.
