Cream Of The Crop: Rating Baalke’s Finest Non-First Spherical Jaguars Picks

Because the NFL offseason transitions into the lifeless zone, it felt like the best time to revisit Jacksonville’s latest draft historical past. The final rule of thumb across the league is {that a} draft class needs to be given not less than three years to be pretty evaluated. With a number of Trent Baalke picks now approaching contract extension territory, that window has arrived. Baalke’s 2021 to 2024 tenure in Jacksonville attracts combined evaluations from the fanbase, however credit score the place it’s due, there are day two and day three picks price acknowledging.

So which one stands above the remainder?

Brenton Unusual | TE | 2023 | Spherical 2, Decide 61

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 07: Brenton Unusual #85 of the Jacksonville Jaguars alerts a primary down through the second half towards the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Picture by Mike Carlson/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs

The Case For: Unusual was one of many safer picks of the Baalke period, a refined, pro-ready tight finish out of Penn State who stepped right into a developmental position, behind Evan Engram, when chosen. Whereas a lot of the fanbase had, what appeared to be, a lukewarm response to the choice on the time, Unusual’s on-field manufacturing has induced a lot of the fanbase to rethink these early opinions. He has been a dependable chess piece in Jacksonville’s offense, providing reliable arms and the form of route working that makes him a constant choice within the intermediate passing recreation. For a second-round choose, the ground he has supplied, as each a blocker and reciever, is strictly what groups need from that draft vary.

The Case In opposition to: Secure is the operative phrase. Unusual has garnered a league-wide notion as a dominant blocker, whereas nonetheless awaiting that subsequent stage of elevation past the position of steady and dependable within the receiving space. For a second-round funding at tight finish, a place Jacksonville has continued to deal with in 2026, the ceiling he has proven nonetheless leaves room to query what the ultimate product will probably be: common, above common, or elite?

Parker Washington | WR | 2023 | Spherical 6, Decide 185

DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 21: Parker Washington #11 of the Jacksonville Jaguars completes a catch for a landing towards Ja’Quan McMillian #29 of the Denver Broncos through the first quarter of an NFL soccer recreation at Empower Area At Mile Excessive on December 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Picture by Brooke Sutton/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs

The Case For: On pure worth alone, this one is sort of not possible to beat. Washington was a sixth-round choose on a sub-$4 million rookie deal who turned himself into Jacksonville’s most dependable offensive weapon by the again half of 2025. Fifty-eight receptions, 847 yards, 5 touchdowns, and a Wild Card efficiency that introduced him to the nationwide viewers, all on a contract that hardly registers towards the cap. Once you add in his particular group’s prowess as a punt returner, the return on funding is extraordinary.

The Case In opposition to: The pattern measurement continues to be remarkably small, and Washington’s breakout got here largely on the again of alternative created by accidents. Questions stay about whether or not he can maintain that manufacturing in a wholesome, crowded, 2026 receiver room. A sixth-round hit is extraordinarily invaluable, and with out query, Washington’s title, would possible be close to the highest of this train.

Jarrian Jones | CB | 2024 | Spherical 3, Decide 96

Jaguars nook again Jarrian Jone (4) walks to a drill through the Jaguars’ fourth OTA of the 12 months, Monday June 1, 2026 on the Miller Electrical Middle in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] Doug Engle/Florida Occasions-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs

The Case For: Jones was drafted on day two as an extended, rangy cornerback out of FSU, with the athleticism to match up with the NFL’s greatest receivers. Whereas persevering with to develop his resume, Jones has clearly proven the traits and ball manufacturing to be named as a high slot cornerback within the NFL getting into 12 months three. When he wins, he wins convincingly, with the size and shutting velocity to disrupt throws down the sphere.

The Case In opposition to: Consistency has been the hurdle. Jones has flashed the instruments that simply made his third-round choice a success. However translating that athleticism into dependable, down-to-down manufacturing, as each an inside and out of doors cornerback has confirmed elusive. Jones has confirmed himself a serious commodity for this Jacksonville secondary, however continues to be very a lot within the technique of proving his ceiling as an inside/outdoors risk heading into 12 months three.

Cam Little | Ok | 2024 | Spherical 6, Decide 212

Jacksonville Jaguars place kicker Cam Little (39) is well known for his 70-yard subject aim by cornerback Jarrian Jones (22) and others through the second quarter of an NFL preseason matchup at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Corey Perrine/Florida Occasions-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs

The Case For: Discovering a professional NFL kicker within the sixth spherical feels fairly uncommon, and Little has been precisely that. Correct, composed below stress, constant, and most significantly a weapon. Little has quietly grow to be one of many extra widely-known specialists within the AFC, if not the NFL, after setting the NFL report for the longest subject aim made in a recreation. At his draft value, that form of reliability and leg power at a place that may swing video games is an simple win.

The Case In opposition to: He’s a kicker. The positional worth ceiling limits this dialog no matter how nicely he has carried out. Successful the perfect non-first spherical Baalke choose argument with a sixth-round specialist, nonetheless dependable, is a tricky promote when the dialogue includes gamers at premium positions.

Montaric Brown | CB | 2022 | Spherical 7, Decide 222

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 06: Montaric Brown #30 of the Jacksonville Jaguars reacts towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs through the fourth quarter at EverBank Stadium on October 06, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Picture by Megan Briggs/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs

The Case For: Brown has quietly carved out a professional roster position in Jacksonville’s secondary throughout a number of seasons. A seventh-round cornerback who has caught, contributed, and finally developed. That form of longevity from that draft vary is just not one thing to miss, and his physicality on the line of scrimmage, matched along with his ball abilities has given Jacksonville’s defensive workers a steady cornerback room for the primary time since possibly 2018? (AJ Bouye/Jalen Ramsey)

The Case In opposition to: What Brown does nicely is evident on the tape. Bodily on the press alignment, constant tackler, and nice at taking part in the ball within the air. Nevertheless, man to man protection and working with quicker receivers in off protection on these excessive variance performs are what may really separate Brown from a very good, high quality cornerback to a real standout at his place. He has been a dependable depth piece and a stable particular groups contributor, however the argument that he’s Jacksonville’s greatest non-first spherical Baalke choice could also be powerful.

Antonio Johnson | S | 2023 | Spherical 5, Decide 160

Picture by Andy Lyons/Getty Photographs

The Case For: Johnson, much like Brown, has been one of many greater developmental surprises on this Jacksonville secondary. A rangy, high-motor security with the flexibility to play each deep and within the field. His athletic profile drew preliminary questions when chosen, however from the second he arrived, he has proven constant flashes as a field security and constant tackler. On 2025, he took a chance on the security position and ran away with it to finish the season with 5 interceptions, whereas additionally rating as a high 5 security per Professional Soccer Focus. At a fifth-round worth, the upside he represents in 2026 is strictly why he’s in dialog for a potential contract extension, regardless of there being in depth competitors within the room.

The Case In opposition to: Upside and manufacturing are two completely different conversations, and Johnson has but to completely put all of it collectively for a full season on the NFL degree. The instruments are evident, and the flash is there, however translating them into constant, impact-level play on a week-to-week foundation stays the following step in his improvement. A fifth-round security who has but to completely arrive as a difference-maker is a tougher promote in a best-pick dialog that features a receiver and a kicker who already has.

CB Tyson Campbell (2022, Rd 2, choose 33)OL Walker Little (2022, Rd 2, choose 45)S Andre Cisco (2022, Rd 3, choose 65)RB Tank Bigsby (2023, Rd 3, choose 88)

Being honest to Baalke, when solely evaluating 4 draft courses, you’re in all probability not going to search out double digit hits inside 4 draft courses and be out of a job.

The trustworthy reply might be a detailed competitors between Parker Washington and Monaric Brown, for me. The manufacturing Washington delivered in 2025, on the value he was acquired for, represents the form of draft worth that entrance places of work spend years chasing, at a premium place. Unusual is an affordable argument on the deserves of his play, however as a second spherical worth, it turns into a tougher comparability. Jones nonetheless has time to make his case. However Parker turned a sixth-round flier right into a contract 12 months, league-wide dialog.

1) WR Parker Washington2) CB Montaric Brown3) TE Brenton Strange4) Ok Cam Little5) CB Jarrian Jones

For a normal supervisor who valued worth above all, Parker Washington was really the manifestation of that. When discussing positional worth, contract paid over the length of the rookie deal, on-field efficiency, and the choose used to aquire the participant, that’s the perfect non-first spherical choose Trent Baalke has made in Jacksonville. P-Dub.