2023 NFL Draft: 3 Observations on Anton Harrison, Jaguars' First-Round Fortunes

We believe the Jaguars had a stellar showing on Thursday night, and we explain why below.

Anton Harrison is a player the Jacksonville Jaguars were always drawn to -- which made Thursday night that much sweeter for the Jaguars' fortunes. 

From a stellar combine meeting to zooms with offensive line coach Phil Rauscher to a pro day performance in front of Rauscher that helped seal the deal, signs always pointed toward Harrison for the Jaguars at the end of Thursday's first-round. 

"The more you get around guys, especially get your hands on them, get to feel them, especially the bigger guys, O-linemen, D-linemen, there's some value in that," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said. 

"When you get the coach there, they cannot only feel the power, see them move in person, but then spend quality time with them, several hours on the board just talking to them, getting a feel for his football IQ, just his passion for the game. He's a young man that checked all the boxes for us.”

So, what do we make of the Jaguars' selection of Anton Harrison and the rest of their first-round? We break it down below. 

Why the Jaguars were smart to take Harrison, even with other options

The Jaguars' selection of Harrison has been seen by many as a reach for a need after the news of an expected suspension for offensive tackle Cam Robinson, but that simply isn't the case. Harrison has always been a first-round prospect -- one who I thought was going to be selected in the top-20. In terms of offensive linemen, Harrison is the only one after the 'Big Four' at offensive tackle who belongs in the first round. The gap between Harrison and the next offensive tackle, Matthew Bergeron, is massive. 

That is why the Jaguars were smart to take Harrison, even with options like Nolan Smith, Myles Murphy, Brian Branch, and Joey Porter Jr. on the board. There are plenty of Day 2 options at EDGE and cornerback, but the tackle market is dried up after Harrison. The Jaguars played the value of this specific draft's market exceptionally. 

"That's when you get into trouble, when you know that the position group may be thinned out. There's not enough numbers in the draft at, let's say, tackle. You start moving guys up, pushing their value above what their true value is. We try to set the board," Baalke said. 

"Coach and I worked tirelessly along with the other coaches and personnel staff, really worked hard at it, making sure when we pick a guy, place him on the board I should say, that the value is right, that we're going to get that type of player when we make the pick. If we pick a player in the first round, we want to look back and say, you know what, that was good value.”

Trent Baalke navigated the first round with perfect precision 

A year ago, the Jaguars had a so-so process in the first round, trading picks to move up for off-ball linebacker Devin Lloyd. This time around, though, few general managers had a better night than Baalke. Baalke was able to turn the No. 24 pick -- which the Jaguars were prepared to use on Harrison -- into the No. 27 pick, the No. 130 pick, the No. 160 pick, and the No. 240 pick. Moving down three spots to pick up a fourth, a fifth, and a seventh all while not missing out on your original target? That is how good teams operate. 

"That was one of the things that coach [Head Coach Doug Pederson] and I talked about as the thing was unfolding," Baalke said. 

"We knew we didn't want to make any big moves back, but when the opportunity came to move one back, pick up some draft capital, move two back, it was just too good a situation for us based on the way the board sat at the time. Then, when it got to the point where we made the pick, we just felt there was too much risk in going any further back. We had some opportunities, like I said earlier, to move back again.”

Baalke also had a clear understanding of the draft market. He knew the Giants were not going to take Harrison after taking an offensive tackle the year before in Evan Neal. He also knew the Cowboys at No. 26 weren't in the tackle market after taking Tyler Smith last year. 

The team that was in the tackle market? The Cincinnati Bengals at No. 28 overall, who could have easily selected Harrison and placed him at right tackle. Instead, Baalke made a deal with the Bills, holding leverage over Buffalo due to the Cowboys' need for a tight end. 

It was, truly, a masterclass. 

The Jaguars made the right move not trading back a third time

As Baalke mentioned, the Jaguars had a third chance to trade back but ultimately decided to stick at No. 27 and select Harrison. While this is just a gut guess, it would make sense if the Saints, Eagles and Chiefs were all the teams interested in moving up for a pass-rusher. But moving back even a handful of picks could have been dangerous for the Jaguars.

As we noted, the Bengals were a prime candidate to select Harrison at No. 28. La'el Collins is coming off an uneven season and major injuries, while Jonah Williams has put in a trade request and seems determined not to be their starting right tackle. If the Jaguars have moved down a third time, Baalke and the Jaguars very easily could have missed out on Harrison.