Jaguars' Draft Class Superlatives: Biggest Risk Potential, Safest Pick & Sleeper
The Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping the 2023 NFL Draft will be as good to them as the last two drafts have been.
In the last two years, the draft has brought the Jaguars a franchise quarterback, an electric running back, a versatile and high-ceiling left tackle, a starting center, two potential Pro Bowl-caliber defensive backs, and more.
But what about the 2023 class?
The 13-player class -- which is the largest in franchise history -- is headlined by Anton Harrison, who the Jaguars selected at No. 27 overall. But he isn't the only player the Jaguars are banking on from this rookie class.
"We're going to find out over the next couple of months and, really, years. We feel really good today about the group that we've been able to assemble over the last three days, but now it's up to them," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said after the draft.
"They've got a seat, a chair in the locker room and that's all they have at this point. Where they fit on the roster, that's up to them to show us exactly where that lies."
With each rookie now through their first offseason with the team, we take what we know about the players and their roles and what we have seen over the last several months to determine which rookies are the safest picks, who has the biggest risk potential, and more.
Safest Pick: OT Anton Harrison
The Jaguars' first pick also happens to be their safest. A multiple-year starter at Oklahoma, Harrison is a ready-made pass-protector who was able to have solid outings against a number of highly-drafted pass-rushers in last year's class. Add his athletic traits, young age, and the factor of the Jaguars' scheme and Trevor Lawrence making things easier on the offensive line, and the Jaguars shouldn't have many concerns about Harrison's rookie season.
Biggest Risk Potential: TE Brenton Strange
One of the players with the highest upside in the Jaguars' draft class is second-round pick Brenton Strange, but there is also a question of whether the Jaguars can get the best bang for their buck after using the No. 61 pick on the Penn State product. The Jaguars have high hopes for Strange, but it is hard to envision him being a large part of the passing game early on due both to the Jaguars' other weapons and the fact that the tight end position typically is a tough one for rookies to quickly develop at.
Strange has a lot of physical potential and should be utilized early on as a blocker, but whether that is the kind of role that can make him worth the No. 61 overall pick in terms of value remains to be seen.
Biggest Reward Potential: RB Tank Bigsby
This is a tough one because the Jaguars made several high-ceiling selections during the 2023 NFL Draft. Fifth-round outside linebacker Yasir Abdullah is a natural choice for this selection thanks to his athletic upside as a pass-rusher, but it is hard not to give the nod to third-round running back Tank Bigsby after what we saw from him in training camp.
Due to the presence of starting running back Travis Etienne, it will be hard for Bigsby to find a high volume of touches until, at the earliest, 2025. But it is fair to say Bigsby has probably the most excitement among any of the Jaguars' rookies after offseason practices and workouts thanks to his blend of size and explosiveness and his natural ability as a pass-catcher. Bigsby could give the Jaguars two dynamic back to center their ground game around.
Sleeper: DB Erick Hallett II
Abdullah is once again worth considering at this spot, but we are opting for sixth-round defensive back Erick Hallett II. The former Pittsburgh defender was used all over the secondary in college, playing outside, inside, and even safety. For a Jaguars team that has depth questions throughout the secondary, Hallett's versatility could help him find the field sooner than later.
An athletic defender with solid production in college, Hallett has a chance to carve out a larger role in future years than most would expect from a sixth-round pick. His college tape and athletic testing suggest he should've been drafted a few rounds earlier than he was, giving the Jaguars a potential gem on their hands.
Core Special Teamer Candidate: DB Antonio Johnson
One player the Jaguars' staff seems to be pleased with after offseason workouts is fifth-round defensive back Antonio Johnson. Once projected as a potential top-50 pick, Johnson slid to Day 3 likely as a result of a middling 40 time and just one college interception. But the Jaguars won't need Johnson to be a rangy safety early on in his career.
Instead, the Jaguars can potentially develop their next core special teamer in Johnson. The Jaguars have done a terrific job of developing special teamers in recent years in Daniel Thomas, Chris Claybrooks, and Chad Muma last year before he found a bigger role on defense. Johnson is cut from the same cloth thanks to his game speed, tackling ability, and effort. If any rookie becomes a special teams star in 2023, it is going to be Johnson.
Most Pressure in 2023: OT Anton Harrison
The most pressure for any draft class is typically on the first-round pick, but that is especially true for the Jaguars' class and Anton Harrison. Not only is the No. 27 pick slated to be the only rookie Week 1 starter for a Jaguars' offense that is hoping to take another big leap in 2023, but he is going to be replacing former right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who was one of the NFL's top right tackles in 2022.
Harrison has the skillset and pedigree to slide into Taylor's seat and play well as a rookie. The pressure will be on him to do so.
