The Jacksonville Jaguars’ history is full of draft day misses that fans look back on until this day. While Dave Caldwell has been heavily criticized by fans during his seven-year tenure as general manager, he’s been far more successful than the regime before him in terms of the selections he’s made.
One of the more costly mistakes taken under former general manager Gene Smith was the selection of Derrick Harvey in the first-round of the 2008 NFL Draft. In addition to just spending three seasons with the team, it hurt the franchise even more when looking at the fact that they passed on first round selections Aqib Talib, Chris Johnson, and Duane Brown to get him.
But wait, it gets worse.
Per former Jags defensive lineman Calais Campbell, the team had informed him that he was going to be the pick at their original spot (No. 25), but evidently there was a change in heart as they traded up to the No. 8 slot to take Harvey.
Jacksonville called me the night before the draft and told me they were drafting me at 25 with their first round pick. I was so mad when they traded up to get Derrick Harvey! But it all worked out. I’ve had a dream of a career! Only thing left to do is get that Super Bowl Ring!!!
— Calais Campbell (@CalaisCampbell) April 12, 2020
Not that he meant to, but this definitely put salt on the wounds of Jags fans who’ve already been through a lot. Hey, at least he was able to join the team down the road while providing them with some of his best seasons though.
Harvey ended up playing just three seasons with the Jags and finished his overall career with 92 career tackles and eight sacks. Campbell, on the other hand, came out with a better supporting cast and even got to participate in a Super Bowl after the Arizona Cardinals took him in Round 2, so Jags fans can at least be happy about the situation he avoided. He ultimately had a very successful run with the Cardinals, receiving two Pro Bowl nods while accumulating 501 tackles and 56.5 sacks.