The 2024 NFL Draft has come to a close, and the reviews of the draft classes are starting to roll in. According to Sports Illustrated, the Jaguars’ draft class ranked 14th out of 16 in the AFC, with only the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans ranking lower. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans held the tenth spot and the Indianapolis Colts came in at fifth.
Despite their ranking, Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame was critical of the Jaguars’ draft decisions, particularly their choice to pass on high-upside talent and take Brian Thomas Jr. with their first-round pick at No. 23. However, General Manager Trent Baalke defended this decision, stating that Thomas Jr. was their target at No. 17 and were pleased he was still available at that point in the draft.
The Jaguars also made some smart moves by trading back and accumulating more picks in later rounds. Their picks of a kick returner/running back and a kicker should not be heavily criticized since there was limited talent available at that point in the draft. While there may be room for improvement in their draft class, overall their decisions were not as questionable as some may suggest.