For the second consecutive year, the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars are slated to make the first overall selection in the NFL Draft. Last spring, the franchise had no reason to second-guess its choice -- Trevor Lawrence was the consensus pick, and considered the best quarterback prospect in nearly a decade.
But this time around, there's no shoo-in on the league's most reputable draft boards. Jacksonville -- which finished 3-14 under one-and-done head coach Urban Meyer -- has glaring needs at several key positions, and could take its strategy in a few different directions. What's certain, though, is that the Jags need better protection for Lawrence. And CBS Sports NFL draft analyst Chris Trapasso believes the team should take an offensive lineman first overall.
"They're in a little bit of a conundrum. I do have them picking Evan Neal in my most recent mock draft, the offensive tackle from Alabama," Trapasso told the Reiter Than You show on Tuesday. "I don't think any of the top-three offensive tackles are the best players in the draft. But the season Trevor Lawrence had after all the hype, then getting sacked a bunch, taking a bunch of hits, it'd be crazy for the Jaguars to go defensive end.
"Crazy to just, kind of shy away from someone who can protect either the front or blind side of Lawrence inside the pocket. So, whether it's Evan Neal from Alabama, Ikem Ekwonu from North Carolina State, or Charles Cross from Mississippi State, it seems like it makes the most sense and would be the best decision for the franchise, moving forward, if Jacksonville went in the trenches on the offensive side."
Lawrence didn't benefit from the guidance (or lack thereof) from Meyer and the Jags' coaching staff in 2021. The Clemson product racked up 3,641 yards with just 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, and his 33.5 QBR ranked 38th in the league. Luckily, his top performance came in Week 18, as he threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns in an upset win over the Indianapolis Colts. With former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson now in charge, Lawrence should progress.
Overall, Jacksonville struggled mightily in all phases. On offense, they ranked dead last in the league in average points (14.9), 27th in average yards (305.4), and tied for 31st in total giveaways (29). As for the defense, they ranked 28th in average points (26.9), 20th in yards (353.1), and last in total takeaways (9). The opening round of the 2022 draft will take place on Apr. 28 in Las Vegas.
The entire 2022 NFL Draft conversation between Trapasso and Reiter can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Reiter Than You show on Twitter @sportsreiter and @CBSSportsRadio, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.