2019 NFL Draft Mock 3.0: What if the Redskins traded back?

The Jaguars have a penchant for unimaginative, unorthodox decision making on NFL Draft day, and in this mock, they add to that reputation. But, as the old adage goes, every blind squirrel occasionally finds an acorn. And in T.J. Hockenson, the Jaguars could stumble upon a fully-grown tree trunk.

In the modern NFL, tight ends are undervalued, and the position itself is often dismissed as secondary. But as Rob Gronkowski displayed in the Super Bowl, a tight end who can block and function as a receiver with proficiency is a very potent threat, allowing offenses versatility.

The Jaguars might simply like Hockenson because they want to do everything they can to try and legitimize their woeful selection of Leonard Fournette. Adding a borderline elite blocking tight end would help do the trick; although some help is needed on the interior offensive line, if the Jaguars want to make the Fournette experiment work, they need to build their team to be physical. Adding Hockenson does that.

That said, Fournette’s future in Jacksonville is just as cloudy as Blake Bortles’, as the LSU product’s contract guarantees were voided by his team. He has since challenged that action legally, and it’s hard to imagine that the two sides don’t have an icy relationship at the moment. Even if Fournette is gone, however, Hockenson still serves a purpose. With top-tier upside as a receiving tight end, and a high floor, he’ll be a reliable safety valve for the team’s next quarterback right away.