Excitement on the part of Jaguars fans is likely the highest it has been in several yearsGetty Images
For a "long-suffering Jaguars’ fan base," clinching the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft "might turn out to be the most beautiful moment in their 26-year history," according to Gene Frenette of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. Locking up the No. 1 draft pick, and the "likelihood of landing" Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence with it, "does create legitimate hope." At a time when Jaguars Owner Shad Khan is "already in the process of hitting the reset button -- having already interviewed at least three candidates to replace GM Dave Caldwell and expected to dismiss head coach Doug Marrone next week -- the Jaguars now have one of the most appealing college quarterbacks in the last several decades in their sights." Jaguars’ fans had not been this "stoked with anticipation since midway through the fourth quarter" of their team's '17 AFC Championship game loss to the Patriots. That is the "power of Trevor Lawrence." Right now, every sports memorabilia shop in northeast Florida "can’t wait to put in orders for a No. 16 jersey," and every Jaguars’ sales person has "surely got a hop in their step for what might transpire starting Monday: the post-Christmas gift of 2021 season-ticket buys spiking up" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 12/28).
STARVING FOR A FRANCHISE QB: ESPN.com's Michael DiRocco wrote yesterday was "potentially the greatest moment" in Jaguars' history. Lawrence "instantly would become one of the biggest stars the franchise has ever had." The Jaguars "haven't had a franchise quarterback since Mark Brunell," and their signing of Nick Foles to a franchise-record $50.125M guaranteed deal in '19 "will go down as one of the biggest mistakes in franchise history" (ESPN.com, 12/27).
