The Jacksonville Jaguars could go one step further to reach No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft with a loss Sunday against the Chicago Bears, and the general manager and potential head coaching candidates are very alert, they said. tell ESPN league sources.
Since the annoying New York Jets victory last weekend against the Los Angeles Rams catapulted the Jaguars into position for No. 1 pick, GM jobs and Jacksonville head coach have returned much more appealing to the candidates, who have talked about what an opportunity it would be to work with Trevor Lawrence, the first project selection project.
The Jaguars would have an advantage over any other team that hired a general manager or head coach if they got the No. 1 pick, which, combined with their 2021 draft reserve, would make these jobs as attractive as any another potential opening. in the league.
The Jaguars are expected to have 11 picks in the April draft next year, including additional options acquired in trades with Jalen Ramsey, Yannick Ngakoue and Ronnie Harrison. The Jaguars will also have about $ 100 million in salary cap, at a time when many other teams will have to reduce players to reach a lower limit.
The Jaguars (1-13) own the tiebreaker with the Jets (1-13) to get the best selection according to the strength of the calendar. Jacksonville could get the No. 1 pick on Sunday if they lose to Chicago and if the Jets get another opponent against the Cleveland Browns. According to ESPN’s football power index, the Jaguars have a 74.2% chance of reaching the top spot, with the Jets at 25.6% and the Bengals at 0.2%.
The Jaguars have been looking for a new GM since they fired Dave Caldwell last month. Former GM GM Rick Smith and ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Louis Riddick met with Jacksonville last week.
Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone, who has a one-season contract later this year, said last week that Jacksonville would try to win his last two games, even if that means losing the opportunity to draft Lawrence . Jacksonville is 12-34 years old with Marrone since the start of the 2018 season.
The Jaguars have lost 13 straight games, tying a franchise record, and yet there is a real move in the city to extend the losing track and draft of Lawrence, Clemson’s star quarterback. Even the mayor of Jacksonville, Lenny Curry, posted a couple of tweets last Sunday night, the second of which said, “It’s season and Santa smiled at Jax today.”
ESPN’s Michael DiRocco contributed to this report.