The Jacksonville Jaguars can take a step further to secure first overall choice in the 2021 NFL draft with a defeat on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, and the general manager and potential head coach candidates are paying close attention, league sources said. ESPN.
Since the New York Jets’ victory over the Los Angeles Rams last weekend catapulted the Jaguars into the # 1 spot, Jacksonville’s GM and coach positions have become much more attractive to candidates, who have spoken about what opportunity it would be to work with the top draft designed Trevor Lawrence.
The Jaguars would have an advantage over any other team that hired a general manager or head coach if they won choice # 1, which – combined with their stock of 2021 draft teams – would make these jobs as attractive as any potential spots in the League.
The Jaguars are scheduled to have 11 choices in next April’s draft, including extra choices acquired in negotiations involving Jalen Ramsey, Yannick Ngakoue and Ronnie Harrison. The Jaguars will also have about $ 100 million in salary cap space, at a time when many other teams will have to cut players to stay below the reduced limit.
The Jaguars (1-13) hold the tie with the Jets (1-13) for the first choice based on the strength of the schedule. Jacksonville can guarantee choice number 1 as early as Sunday, with a loss to Chicago and if the Jets take another loss against the Cleveland Browns. According to the ESPN Football Power Index, Jaguars have a 74.2% chance of getting first choice, with Jets 25.6% and Bengals 0.2%.
The Jaguars have been looking for a new GM since Dave Caldwell’s resignation last month. Former Texas GM Rick Smith and ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Louis Riddick interviewed with Jacksonville last week.
Jaguars coach Doug Marrone, who has one season left in his contract after this year, said last week that Jacksonville would try to win his final two games – even if it means missing the opportunity to scale Lawrence. Jacksonville has been 12-34 under the command of Marrone since the start of the 2018 season.
The Jaguars lost 13 consecutive games, drawing a franchise record, and there is still real movement in the city for them to extend the skidding and draft of Lawrence, Clemson’s star quarterback. Even Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry posted two tweets last Sunday night, the second of which said, “The season is here and Santa Claus smiled at Jax today.”
Michael DiRocco of ESPN contributed to this report.