While it appears unlikely that Lamar Jackson will be available when the Jags pick at 29 overall in the upcoming draft, Couglin and Caldwell made sure to let it be known how fond they are of the Heisman winning QB prospect.
“I think he's an outstanding young man,” Jaguars executive V.P. of football operations Tom Coughlin said Friday during a pre-draft press conference, via Phillip Heilman of the Florida Times-Union. “I think he’s an extremely talented athlete.”
GM Dave Caldwell was on the same page with these comments “He’s a rare athlete,” Caldwell said according to profootballtalk.com. “As a quarterback, he’s a good player. He won a lot of games at that position. [Drafting him] depends what your scheme is, what you want to do and how you want to play and how he fits. I can’t say he’s the prototypical pocket passer, but you can win games with a guy like him.”
Blake Bortles just received a 3 year contract extension this off-season after leading the team to the AFC Chamionship. It can not be said for certain what Coughlin and Caldwell hope to accomplish with these praises, perhaps they want to let it be known they're interested in hearing offers to trade up or perhaps they want to send a message to Blake that he isn't totally safe in his position as starting QB. But one thing is certain, the comments are no doubt calculated.