Jacksonville Jaguars' 2020 NFL Draft Class: A Historic Failure
ICARO Media Group
With 12 picks at their disposal, the Jaguars managed to come away with no impactful players, leaving fans and analysts astounded by the lack of talent identified by the organization.
The disappointing journey began with their first-round selection, cornerback C.J. Henderson from the University of Florida. However, after just one season, the Jaguars realized his shortcomings and promptly traded him to the Carolina Panthers for a fifth-round pick and tight end Dan Arnold, who is no longer in the NFL. It was a swift recognition that Henderson was not the player they had hoped for, leaving them with a missed opportunity to select potential stars like wide receivers Justin Jefferson or CeeDee Lamb.
Their other first-round pick, defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson from LSU, was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams for Jalen Ramsey. The Jaguars had anticipated Chaisson to bolster their pass rush but he failed to make a significant impact, recording only five sacks in four seasons before leaving via free agency. Running back Jonathan Taylor or inside linebacker Patrick Queen were potential alternatives that could have filled the void left by Chaisson's underwhelming performance.
Wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., selected in the second round from the University of Colorado, provided a glimmer of hope with two decent seasons before being traded to the Carolina Panthers. Although he showed flashes of potential, Shenault's issues with dropped passes and struggles in the offensive scheme led to his departure. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was a missed opportunity that could have brought stability and playmaking ability to the Jaguars' secondary.
One bright spot in this dismal class was third-round pick, defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton from Ohio State. However, even Hamilton failed to live up to expectations as he struggled as a starter and eventually transitioned into a rotational lineman. His underwhelming performance highlights the lack of impact players the Jaguars were able to find in their 2020 draft.
The subsequent rounds proved equally disappointing, with players like offensive guard Ben Bartch and cornerback Josiah Scott failing to make a lasting impact before being cut from the team. Linebacker Shaquille Quarterman, safety Daniel Thomas, and wide receiver Collin Johnson also struggled to establish themselves as starters, instead finding limited roles as special teams players.
Quarterback Jake Luton, drafted in the sixth round, lasted only one season with the team, starting just three games and displaying a lackluster performance. Tight end Tyler Davis followed a similar path, being cut after just one season with the Jaguars and finding a depth role with the Green Bay Packers. Cornerback Chris Claybrooks, the team's seventh-round pick, started six games but faced legal troubles with domestic violence charges, which ultimately ended his NFL career.
The Jaguars' 2020 NFL Draft class serves as a glaring example of a failed scouting and evaluation process. Despite having a multitude of picks to rebuild their roster, the organization struggled to identify talent that could contribute positively to the team. With only two players remaining on the roster, the Jaguars' draft performance stands in stark contrast to other teams' ability to discover starters and potential stars even with fewer picks.
While the 2020 draft class may not have derailed the franchise's future entirely, it unquestionably goes down as one of the worst draft classes in NFL history. The Jaguars missed out on numerous opportunities to acquire impact players, leaving fans and analysts scratching their heads at the magnitude of this failure. Time will tell if the team can rebound and recalibrate their drafting approach, but for now, the Jaguars' 2020 class will be remembered as an unfortunate blemish in their draft history.