Jacksonville has never had the first overall pick before. Even as an expansion team in 1995, they had to pick second behind the Carolina Panthers. But now, after a 1-15 2020 season, the Jaguars are on the clock, and they have the opportunity to take a generational talent at the quarterback position.
While speaking with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Jags owner Shad Khan didn’t go as far as to confirm that Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence would be the pick there, but he did speak about the significance of the pick. He also spoke about how it will affect the franchise in the years to come.
“If you know anything about football, if you know anything about the Jaguars, yeah,” Khan said when speaking on the assumption of the Jags’ pick. “But this is a decision that … it’s gonna define us, certainly for the rest of my life. And everything I read and hear from people who know a lot more about football than I do, for them, it’s like stating the obvious.
“The Jaguars, being among the two youngest teams in the league, I can talk about my nine years — it’s by far the most important time for the Jaguars,” he said. “That’s why I think having Urban [Meyer] leading the team, and where we ended up with the season, I knew that this would be arguably the most important decision I’d be making, maybe in my lifetime. How the stars aligned … it’s something that can really secure the future for the Jacksonville Jaguars.”
It’s hard to understate how important this pick could be for Jacksonville. If it goes well, the team will land a franchise quarterback for the next decade or more. For a team that’s finished above .500 just once since 2017, that’s an attractive thought.
Khan discussed the 2017 Jaguars team that went to the AFC Championship. Though that team was so close to breaking through, he said that the pieces weren’t in place like they are now.
“I mean, it’s surreal,” Khan said. “It’s like you can see the promised land. But I gotta tell you, three years ago, we were in the [AFC] Championship Game, and so, so close to being in the Super Bowl. I mean, hard to believe — three years ago! So this, it’s different. All the pieces are aligned, this isn’t a one-off, you’re setting the path for sustainable success.”
Only time will tell if that path leads to a Super Bowl in Jacksonville, but one thing is certain: With Lawrence coming to town, the Jaguars could land the best quarterback they’ve had since Mark Brunell, at the very least.