2021 NFL Draft odds: Tanking Jaguars favorites for top pick after losing another starter in Ronnie Harrison
The Jacksonville Jaguars have given away three starters in less than a week, leading to "Tanking for Trevor" accusations.
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell say unequivocally that the team is not "Tanking for Trevor" this season in an attempt to land the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and the chance to take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He's considered by many scouts as the top quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck. However, after dumping a third starter in less than a week Thursday, forgive Jags fans if they already are looking toward next April's draft.
On Sunday, the Jags traded former Pro Bowl defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to Minnesota for a second-round pick in the 2021 draft and a conditional fifth-round selection in 2022. Not a great haul for a 25-year-old who has 37.5 sacks in four seasons.
On Monday, Jacksonville released running back and 2017 No. 4 overall pick Leonard Fournette with Marrone claiming the team couldn't get even a late-round pick in a potential trade. Fournette signed with the Bucs.
The exodus of Jaguars players continued Thursday when Jacksonville dealt safety Ronnie Harrison to Cleveland for a 2021 fifth-round pick. Harrison, a 2018 third-round pick out of Alabama, started all 14 games in which he appeared last year and ranked second on the Jags in tackles (70) and passes defensed (nine) while adding two sacks and two interceptions.
It was a no-brainer trade for the Browns after they recently lost second-round rookie safety Grant Delpit to a season-ending injury. That trade likely rules out Earl Thomas for Cleveland.
Harrison became the third player drafted in the top three rounds since 2016 to be cut or traded by the Jaguars before finishing his rookie contract. He joined Fournette and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who was traded during last season to the Rams. Harrison is the fourth defensive starter to be traded since the 2019 season ended, and there's already social media scuttlebutt that linebacker Myles Jack could be next because of his big salary.
William Hill sportsbook lists Jacksonville as the clear-cut +300 favorite on the moneyline odds to have the NFL's worst record this season, and the Jags may not be favored in a single game.
On the bright side, with so many recent trades the Jags have the following 2021 draft picks: two firsts (one from the Rams via Ramsey trade), two seconds (one from Vikings for Ngakoue trade), a third, two fourths (one from Rams via Ramsey trade), two fifths (one from Browns via Harrison trade), a sixth and a seventh.
A team can return to contention quickly if it hits big on a that type of draft war chest, but most likely Marrone and Caldwell won't be around when the 2021 draft begins April 29 in Cleveland as Marrone is among the betting favorites to be the first coach fired this season. Both he and Caldwell nearly were canned after last year.
Via SportsLine NFL oddsmakers: Who will pick first in 2021 NFL Draft?
- Jacksonville +300
- Washington +500
- Carolina +600
- Cincinnati +700
- NY Jets +1000
- NY Giants +1100
- Miami +1200
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