Big Cat Country
With day one of 2024 NFL Draft now completed, the Jaguars head coach and general manager both spoke with the media to provide fans some insight into the trades and players added. Here's everything you need to know.
Day one of the 2024 NFL Draft is in the books and the Jacksonville Jaguars are one step closer to a finalized roster. Head Coach Doug Pederson and General Manager Trent Baalke spoke with the media to provide additional insight and background into the draft additions.
This article will be updated after each day of the draft, with the additional day two and three presser takeaways to be added. Here's everything you need to know.
Day One Media Availability:
Trading Up
With fans and national media initially expecting the team to be in the mix to potentially trade into the top 10 this draft, the question of trading up was asked of General Manager Trent Baalke early. He unsurprisingly replied that the cost of trading into the top 10 was too steep.
"We had a good beat on where those guys (top three WRs) were going to go, and they pretty much went where we felt like they were going to go. The price to move up into that territory would’ve been really steep. It wasn’t an option, if one of them would’ve slipped a little further, maybe you do it. We just didn’t feel they were going to get into our range and they didn’t get into our range.”
Local favorite Washington WR Rome Odunze was drafted at pick number nine, as expected, by the Chicago Bears. However, speaking of trading up, it seems the team may have been attempting to trade back into the backend of the first round, from pick 48 for a target. When asked about this Baalke coyly stated,
“We may have.”
However, upon follow up he provided more insight.
"We got here at the end of the draft so we may have. Read into that what you want.”
The final pick of the first round was traded away by the Buffalo Bills to the Carolina Panthers, who selected South Carolina WR Xavier Legette at 32. Presumably, the Panthers trade package was either much better or the Bills had no interest in moving all the way back to pick 48 (instead of moving one pick back).
Trading Down
Later, Baalke discussed the thought process that went into trading back with the Minnesota Vikings.
“You go into it and I’ve always said you listen to the board. When we were sitting around pick 15 and 16, we started getting some calls. The board looked good, we were in good shape with the needs that we had and the players we had targeted, taking a look at the teams that were between 17 and 23, what their needs were. We just felt the board was solid, it was well worth picking up three extra picks. Really, getting one of the players that we coveted in...
