The Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a blowout 41-17 loss to Chicago Bears on Sunday to set the franchise record of 14 consecutive losses. But the loss felt more like a win for the troubled franchise as it secured them the No.1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Jags became the favorites to get the first overall selection last week when the NY Jets got an upset win over the LA Rams. Both teams were at a 1-13 record, but Jacksonville had a tiebreaker due to the weaker schedule.
The Jets then got a win over the Cleveland Browns as well in Week 16, removing any doubts about the Jaguars’ draft position next year.
While a lot can happen between now and April, the No.1 pick puts Jacksonville in a position to finally get their quarterback of the future. And their pick will most likely be Clemson’s signal-caller Trevor Lawrence, who is considered head and shoulders above the rest of his class in terms of talent.
Jaguars didn’t have a long-term solution at the quarterback position since Mark Brunell left in 2003. Since then, the franchise had 14 different starters under center and made the playoffs only three times.
But Lawrence has the potential to change Jacksonville’s luck considering his success on the college level. He led Clemson to two consecutive National Championship games and one title while posting an impressive 38-1 record.
Having Lawrence will most likely impact the Jags off the field as well. The franchise will become an attractive destination for general managers and head coaches while also making it slightly easier for them to recruit free agents.
