Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Jaguars on verge of biggest drop in NFL common draft era history

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars set an NFL record last April by picking in the top five of the NFL draft for six consecutive seasons.

They're on the verge of setting another draft record this year, though for a much different -- and significantly more positive -- reason.

As one of four teams remaining in the NFL playoffs, the highest the Jaguars could draft is 29th overall. That's 25 spots later than they picked in 2017, when they used the No. 4 pick to take running back Leonard Fournette. Per ESPN Stats & Information, that's tied for the biggest drop in draft spots from one year to the next without the aid of trades in the common draft era (since 1967).

Two other teams had a 25-spot drop: The St. Louis Rams picked sixth in 1999 and then 31st in 2000, and the New Orleans Saints picked second in 2006 and 27th in 2007.

That means that if the Jaguars beat the New England Patriots on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, the highest they'll pick is 30th (provided they don't trade up) -- and that 26-spot drop would be the biggest in the common draft era.

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