The Jacksonville Jaguars will enter the free agency period with several needs, but one that fans would say is among the top of their list is the receiver position. In 2021 it was clear that the team didn’t have a No. 1 at the position and rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence struggled as a result and for many other reasons.
The team’s need for help at the position is something that even they haven’t hid as Jags general manager Trent Baalke has said it was a position that the team paid “extra” attention to at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. That said, many experts have slotted the Jags a receiver at some point in the top-3 rounds of their respective mocks.
However, on Saturday, their desire for help at the position became even more clear as several reports came out saying they tried to add a veteran player at the position. That veteran player was former Dallas Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper, who is now headed to the Cleveland Browns for fifth and sixth round picks in April’s draft.
I’m told Dolphins and Jaguars were both interested in landing WR Amari Cooper before his trade to Cleveland.
Dolphins would have been strong option for Cooper if he was indeed cut and reached free agency. Miami still would like to land another WR.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 12, 2022
I’m told Dolphins and Jaguars were both interested in landing WR Amari Cooper before his trade to Cleveland.
Dolphins would have been strong option for Cooper if he was indeed cut and reached free agency. Miami still would like to land another WR.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 12, 2022
This missed opportunity is one that Jags fans have been extra vocal about because it puts them in a predicament where they have to hope for a WR1 in free agency. The problem with that is the class isn’t strong at the position with notables Allen Robinson, Christian Kirk, and Juju Smith-Schuster atop it.
When considering what the Browns gave up for Cooper, one would have to think the terms of a trade wasn’t the issue. They have three sixth round picks thanks to the Gardner Minshew and Sidney Jones trades and have a fifth from Minnesota for Yannick Ngakoue.
Regardless of what the issue was, though, the missed attempt on Cooper just adds to the list of reasons fans are concerned about Baalke’s ability to add talent. However, it’s early in the offseason and there is still free agency and the draft for him to find weapons around Lawrence.