Jaguars fans made the best of a long night before LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas was picked
Jacksonville Jaguars Hall of Famer Tony Boselli jokingly tried to drag some information out of coach Doug Pederson during an appearance at the Jags’ “Duuuval Draft Party” on Thursday at EverBank Stadium, 30 minutes before the start of the first round from Detroit.
“So, who are we taking?” said Boselli, who was participating in an interview with Pederson on a large stage with thousands of Jaguar fans listening.
“We’ll find out around 10:15 [p.m.],” Pederson said, projecting the time of the 17th overall pick that the Jaguars owned.
Pederson was only about 45 minutes off.
On a start-stop evening, the anticipation of the Jags’ pick was dampened somewhat when they traded down six spots to No. 23. When the NFL Network announced the trade with Minnesota, there were scattered boos and perhaps a third of the announced crowd of around 12,000 decided to leave.
But those who stayed cheered enthusiastically when the Jaguars finally drafted LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas, a burner and a 1,000-yard wide receiver for the Tigers last year who has the raw skills to replace departed Calvin Ridley and be an even more dangerous weapon for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Most of those who left are likely to be just as happy with the first wide receiver taken in the first round by the Jaguars since Justin Blackmon in 2012. Thomas runs a 4.3 40-yard dash and caught 68 passes for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns last season for the Tigers.
Fans were divided over wide receiver or cornerback
Before the pick, many fans were split over a wide receiver or cornerback and when Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze were picked, some groaned.
“I’d love to see them trade up for Rome Odunze,” said Mark Fitzpatrick of Washington’s wide receiver who was snared by the Chicago Bears with the ninth pick. “There are a lot of good ones. We need defensive linemen too but I’d be happy either way. We can do a lot of stuff.”
I just want to see good football this season,” said his wife, Tawny Fitzpatrick. “Let’s get the best players we can and not make any stupid decisions.”
But it was clear from the cheers when Thomas' name was announced that most Jags fans at the party approved.
Jaguars fans enjoyed a variety of activities
The draft party moved from Daily’s Place last year to the stadium and as a result of the bigger venue, more than double were able to attend.
Just before the first round, the playing surface was nearly covered by the large stage and fans mingling, talking sports and watching interviews with Pederson, and later, during the first round, roundtable chats with active players Travis Etienne, Ross Matiscik and Foye Oluokun, and retired players Leon Searcy, Josh Scobee and Paul Posluszny.
The player appearances were interspaced with performances by the Roar of the Jaguars and the team’s Drum Line.
In the North End Zone, kids flocked to a series of drills patterned after the NFL Combine, and the Jaguars also added some wrinkles such as a small putt-putt course around a Jaguar statue, corn hole and a bouncy house.
Fans from 21 NFL teams crashed the party
Jaguars fans weren’t the only ones to come to the party. Fans with jerseys repping 21 other NFL teams were in attendance and just as eager to see who their teams were going to select.
"We got our quarterback," said John Spencer of Jacksonville, a Chicago Bears fan who cheered loudly when USC quarterback Caleb Williams was taken with the first overall pick. "Now I'd like us to get some linemen. He can't throw if we can protect him."
“I’d love to see us take [Georgia tight end] Brock Bowers,” said Indianapolis Colts fan Kevin Miles.
Would Colts quarterback and former University of Florida player Anthony Richardson have a problem throwing to a Bulldog?
“Not at all,” said Damein Sanders. “They’d both be Colts.”
Their wish for Bowers was dashed when the Colts took UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu.
And there’s clearly a family rift. Sanders’ wife Christian is a Jaguars fan but didn’t have a preference for the pick.
“Whoever they feel is great,” said Christian Sanders. But she added a zinger for her Colts fan husband. “Anthony Richardson isn’t it,” she said. “We’re 2-0 against him.”
Ross Matiscik said Jags draftees will get a warm welcome
Jaguar players on hand seemed to be more like fans and keenly interested in who the team would take.
But they also weren’t in the war room.
“I don’t get paid enough to make those decisions,” Matiscik said “But anyone who comes to Jacksonville ... they’re going to walk into a great locker room and play in front of a great fan base that is probably in the best town in the NFL to play in.”
Matiscik was an undrafted free agent for the Jags and didn’t get the thrill of getting a phone call from the team and hearing his name announced on TV. But he said having the Pro Bowl experience last year more than made up for it.
“My journey is my journey and I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” he said.
Etienne said draft day always brings back the excitement he felt anticipating the 2021 draft and his eventual selection by the Jags.
“It’s an amazing experience,” he said. “There’s nothing like it. It’s knowing that all the heart and the work you put in for three or four years in college has paid off.”
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 'Duuuval Draft Party' featured interviews, kids activities and a long wait
