The 2022 NFL Draft starts on Thursday, April 28. As a lead-up to the draft, we’ll be giving a team-by-team breakdown for positional needs. For each team, we’ll give an overview of the current depth chart and how big of a need each position is in the upcoming draft. You can find the rest of the team needs (as they’re updated) and the rest of our draft content in the 2022 NFL Draft hub.
What Picks do the Jacksonville Jaguars have in 2022
The Jacksonville Jaguars have 12 picks.
Round 1 (1)
Round 2 (33)
Round 3 (65)
Round 3 (70)
Round 4 (106)
Round 5 (157)
Round 6 (180)
Round 6 (188)
Round 6 (197)
Round 6 (198)
Round 7 (222)
Round 7 (235)
Jacksonville Jaguars Top POSITIONS OF NEED
- OT
- EDGE
- LG
- Outside WR
- LB
Jacksonville Jaguars Strength of Schedule, 2022
The Jacksonville Jaguars have the seventh easiest NFL strength of schedule for the 2022 NFL season.
Jacksonville Jaguars Offense
By Rich Hribar
QUARTERBACK
Trevor Lawrence
C.J. Beathard
Jake Luton
Trevor Lawrence had lofty expectations built up for multiple seasons on an Andrew Luck level as a franchise savior, but the initial results are a strong reminder that the NFL can be humbling for anyone.
Lawrence had the most incompetent head coach in the league overseeing his initial development to derail things, but not much went right for him on the field.
He ranked 35th out of 42 passers with 100 or more pass attempts in completion percentage (59.6%) while the only passers with a lower yards per attempt than Lawrence’s 6.1 Y/A were Tyler Huntley, Jacoby Brissett, Cam Newton, and Mike Glennon.
Lawrence ended the year with just 12 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions. The only games in which he threw multiple touchdowns were the season opener and final game of the year.
In year two, now under Doug Pederson, there is a low bar for improvement while Jacksonville is all in with giving Lawrence what they can.
Backups C.J. Beathard (unrestricted) and Jake Luton (restricted) will both be free agents after the season.
RUNNING BACK
Travis Etienne
James Robinson
Ryquell Armstead
Nathan Cottrell
Mekhi Sargent
The Jaguars have two viable running backs on rookie contracts, but both Travis Etienne and James Robinson enter 2022 coming off significant injuries for players at their position.
Etienne missed his entire rookie season after suffering a Lisfranc injury in the preseason.
In college, Etienne posted three-straight 1,500 yards seasons while scoring 13 or more touchdowns all four seasons. He improved as a pass catcher every season at Clemson while he scored at least one touchdown in 46 of his 55 career games while 24 of his touchdowns came from outside of the red zone and 17 from 40 yards or longer.
The Jaguars had a full staff upheaval this offseason to pair with Etienne’s unknown offensive role off injury, but with James Robinson suffering an Achilles injury to end the 2021 season while entering a restricted free agent contract year, Etienne has more of a head start this offseason in leading this backfield.
Etienne is the only member of this backfield signed beyond 2022, although Robinson will be a restricted free agent.
Robinson showed once again that he can be productive in a subpar environment, averaging 5.1 yards per touch. Robinson then suffered an Achilles injury in late December that will surely have him sidelined for the entirety of the offseason.
We did see Cam Akers return from the same injury in six months to keep the door open for Robinson’s return, but with Etienne returning and new coaching staff as added elements to his injury, Robinson has a lot of question marks entering the season.
The Jaguars could still add an option here late on day three as insurance for both Etienne and Robinson coming off those injuries.
WIDE RECEIVER
Marvin Jones
Christian Kirk
Zay Jones
Laviska Shenault
Jamal Agnew
Laquon Treadwell
Terry Godwin
Tim Jones
Jeff Cotton
Josh Hammond
The Jaguars hit free agency hard after dealing out 120 targets to Marvin Jones (73-832-4) and 100 targets to Laviska Shenault (63-619-0) as their top two options in the passing game while their next highest target was Laquon Treadwell at 51 targets.
Jacksonville immediately added both Christian Kirk and Zay Jones to this group at the start of free agency.
Despite the uneven production for Kirk over his time with the Cardinals, Arizona did find a role for him in 2021 to maximize Kirk’s on-field value.
Kirk ran a career-high 77.9% of his routes from the slot, after rates of 29.9%, 42.2%, and 14.6% over his first three years in the league. In the slot, Kirk collected a 63-809-4 line after 59-599-3 from the slot prior.
Kirk was not just a puddle jumper collecting shallow targets inside, posting an average depth of target of 11.8 yards downfield from the slot, which was sixth in the league.
Former second-round pick Zay Jones caught 47-of-70 targets for 546 yards and one touchdown in Las Vegas last season, getting a chance to play an extended role after the team removed Henry Ruggs from the roster. Jones secured 38-of-50 targets for 369 yards over the final seven weeks of the season.
He has 81 career appearances in the NFL, posting one 100-yard game, while scoring more than two touchdowns in just one of his first five years in the league.
Jones averaged 11.4 yards per catch and 6.9 yards per target (his lowest rates since his rookie season), in this offense as the top target attached to a struggling rookie, but the additions alleviate pressure in this final season of his contract at age 32.
With both Treadwell and Agnew returning to the team after spots of production in 2021, we could see Shenault still on the move sometime this offseason.
Shenault took a step back in 2021, seeing his yards per catch and target, catch rate, receptions, yardage, and touchdowns all drop from his rookie season.
Shenault was mismanaged this season immediately following the injury to D.J. Chark when the team forced him to play outside, but then was clearly outplayed by Laquon Treadwell to close the season when he went back inside.
While the Jaguars are unlikely to use front-end draft capital on a wideout, Jacksonville still likely does not have a legitimate alpha WR1 on this roster, so the door is still open for additions. Especially with so many free agent dollars locked up and only Kirk, Jones, Agnew, and Shenault signed beyond this season.
TIGHT END
Evan Engram
Dan Arnold
Chris Manhertz
Luke Farrell
Jacksonville tights combined for 4.4 receptions (19th) and 44.1 yards (17th) per game but ranked 31st in the league with just two touchdowns.
The team traded for Dan Arnold after three weeks, who still is under contract for 2022.
Paired with Doug Pederson’s history of using multiple tight ends, Jacksonville also went out and added Evan Engram to the position. In his past three seasons with the Eagles, those offenses ranked first or second in use of 12 personnel.
Jacksonville was not done adding pass catchers on day one of the tampering period, also agreeing to terms with Evan Engram on a one-year deal.
After a promising start to Engram’s career, sledding in the New York offense has been tough as he is coming off career-lows with 3.1 receptions and 27.2 yards per game with a career-low 8.9 yards per catch and 5.6 yards per target.
Engram’s usage has been a big mystery compared to his collegiate profile as he has not stretched the field since his rookie season. After a 9.0 average depth of target in 2017, Engram has carried a 5.5, 6.5, 7.4, and 6.1-yard aDOT since.
It was hard for anyone to produce anything in the Giants’ offense, but as mentioned above, this Jacksonville offense was a struggle in itself a year ago on levels equal to New York. Engram has a new lifeline, but still has to claw back to regain our trust as a TE1 or streamer we have faith in.
Engram and Arnold still have a long way to becoming Duval Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, but this is not a position the Jaguars will need to invest in through the draft unless taking a day three flyer on a player they like since the only tight end under contract after this season is Luke Farrell.
OFFENSIVE LINE
LT: Cam Robinson/Walker Little/Coy Cronk
LG: Ben Bartch/Will Richardson
C: Tyler Shatley/KC McDermott
RG: Brandon Scherff/Jared Hocker
RT: Jawaan Taylor/Badara Traore/Brandon Murphy
The Jaguars again fielded an offensive front near league average or below, ranking 18th in the league in ESPN’s Pass Block Win Rate (60%) and 21st in Run Block Win Rate (70%). At Pro Football Focus, they fared better, ranking 12th in collective run blocking grade, but 28th in run blocking grade.
The team allowed a 33.0% pressure rate, which was 14th in the league.
The team used the franchise tag on left tackle Cam Robinson again this offseason. Robinson was 48th among 95 left tackles in pressure rate allowed (5.8%) in 2021.
They could have an inhouse replacement in Walker Little, who they selected in the second round a year ago. Little logged 220 snaps at left tackle with Robinson missing three games and change. Little allowed a 4.7% pressure rate (28th among tackles) on those snaps.
Little also could outright start at left tackle while the team moves Robinson to the right side or still makes a draft day trade of the veteran tackle.
Regardless of what shakes out, tackle is still a need for insurance and depth as right tackle Jawaan Taylor is also only signed for 2022. Taylor was the 70th graded tackle per Pro Football Focus in 2021.
Jacksonville added Brandon Scherff as an immediate upgrade over A.J. Cann a year ago, signing Scherff to a three-year contract. Scherff was 19th among all guards in grade at Pro Football Focus.
Left guard is not as settled as Ben Bartch got his first taste of the field after being selected in the fourth round in 2020. Bartch started 11 games and played 73% of the snaps but graded out 53rd among guards at Pro Football Focus while he allowed a 5.6% pressure rate, 54th among qualifying guards.
Jacksonville Jaguars Defense
By Dan Pizzuta
Interior Defensive Line
Foley Fatukasi
Malcom Brown
Roy Robertson-Harris
DaVon Hamilton
Dawuane Smoot
Jay Tufele
Jeremiah Ledbetter
Raequan Williams
Foley Fatukasi was one of the best run-defending interior defensive linemen last season. He tied for third at the position in ESPN’s Run Stop Win Rate and was fourth in 2020. He also added 11 quarterback hits over the past two seasons. Fatukasi just turned 27 years old and signed a three-year deal with Jacksonville.
The Jaguars had a heavy rotation of interior linemen and given that most of those players return, that plan seems likely to repeat. Malcom Brown (61%), Dawuane Smoot (61%), Roy Robertson-Harris (49%), and DaVon Hamilton (40%) all played a part in a Jaguars defense that was 18th in EPA against the run.
EDGE
Josh Allen
Arden Key
K’Lavon Chaisson
Jordan Smith
Jamir Jones
Josh Allen was 23rd among edge rushers in pressure rate last season, per SIS. Arden Key was 22nd. Key had consistently been a player who was able to get to the quarterback, but was one of the worst players at converting quarterback hits into sacks year after year. A one-year reclamation project in San Francisco paid off and Key had career-highs with 6.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hits.
K’Lavon Chaisson only played 35% of the defensive snaps last season, even though he appeared in 15 games. Chaisson has just two sacks and 13 quarterback hits over two seasons. Chaisson has been more of a hybrid linebacker — he rushed on 62% of his pass snaps last season. That can be a useful piece for a defense overall, but a little disappointing for a first-round pick.
Allen and Key can lead the rotation, but in all likelihood, a pass rusher will be added with the first overall pick.
Off-ball Linebacker
Foye Oluokun
Shaquille Quarterman
Tyrell Adams
Chapelle Russell
Elijah Sullivan
Few teams love spending more on off-ball linebackers than the Jaguars. Joe Schobert and Myles Jack will still cost nearly a combined $15 million on the 2022 cap and neither is currently on the roster. Jacksonville gave Foye Oluokon a three-year/$45 million contract this offseason. Oluokon was 37th among 85 qualified linebackers in yards allowed per coverage snap in 2021.
Despite that contract — and the previous investment — the Jaguars could use some more help at the position. It should be noted new defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell was the Buccaneers’ inside linebackers coach for the previous three seasons.
Shaquille Quarterman, a 2020 fourth-round pick, played 13% of the defensive snaps while appearing in all 17 games. He’s in line to get more run in 2022.
Cornerback
Shaquill Griffin
Darious Williams
Tyson Campbell
Tre Herndon
Chris Claybrooks
Rudy Ford
Shaquill Griffin was Jacksonville’s big free agent acquisition last season and he was mostly fine through some ups and downs in his first season. Griffin ranked 69th among 93 qualified cornerbacks in Adjusted Yards allowed per coverage snap, which accounts for touchdowns and interceptions.
Darious Williams was the free agent get this season and he’s likely to play the slot. Williams had a fantastic 2020 in Brandon Staley’s defense with the Rams but his 2021 was more inconsistent. He was 58th in Adjusted Yards allowed per coverage snap last season.
Tyson Campbell, a 2021 second-round pick, was a bet on athleticism at the position but he had his rookie struggles last season. Campbell ranked 79th among those 93 corners in Adjusted Yards allowed per coverage snap. Some rookies have made immediate impacts at the position, but corner is a position that typically picks up in Year 2.
Tre Herndon and Chris Claybrooks bring experience for depth.
Safety
Rayshawn Jenkins
Andrew Wingard
Andre Cisco
Daniel Thomas
Brandon Rusnak
Rayshawn Jenkins played 75% of the defensive snaps in 2021 and 46% of those came in the box. Jenkins’s biggest impact came from tackles. Even though he played more often in the box, Andrew Wingard (70.4% of his snaps as a deep safety) had a lower average depth of tackle.
Wingard was better in coverage in 2020 but made up for some of that with more clean-up tackles.
There could be hope for 2021 third-round pick Andre Cisco, who flashed when he was on the field but fell victim to inadequacies from the coaching staff rotating players into the lineup. Cisco played 23 snaps in Week 1 and 18 snaps in Week 2 then played 26 snaps combined over the next 11 games. He finished the season playing no fewer than 47.5% of the snaps over the final four games with 90.3% in Week 17 and 100% in Week 18.
