With The First Pick
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2020 NFL Draft: Jaguars begin to establish new era with C.J. Henderson

By Jeremiah Bogan

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 16: Defensive back CJ Henderson #1 of the Florida Gators in action against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri.
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 16: Defensive back CJ Henderson #1 of the Florida Gators in action against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. /
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ORLANDO, FL – AUGUST 24: C.J. Henderson #1 of the Florida Gators in action against the Miami Hurricanes in the Camping World Kickoff at Camping World Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. He heads to the JAguars in the 2020 NFL Draft (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – AUGUST 24: C.J. Henderson #1 of the Florida Gators in action against the Miami Hurricanes in the Camping World Kickoff at Camping World Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. He heads to the JAguars in the 2020 NFL Draft (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

It’s no secret that the Jaguars are tanking this next season, but they improve their defense by picking C.J. Henderson in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Jacksonville looks to be positioning themselves for quite the rebuild next year with the first of their two first rounds picks coming at nine in the 2020 NFL Draft on the evening. Selecting C.J. Henderson is the first step in what looks to be the Jaguars strategy at building their team before they get their quarterback of the future next year.

We have watched the Jaguars implode their team starting during the season with the trade of Jalen Ramsey. Undoubtedly the best player on their team and arguably a top 5 defensive player in the NFL, Ramsey’s departure was the first sign that that the Jaguars were ready to tear this thing down.

Following Ramsey we saw the Jaguars get rid of other cornerstone guys such AJ Bouye and Calais Campbell who were hallmarks in their AFC Championship run in 2018. They traded Nick Foles to Chicago for a fourth-round pick after giving him a big deal last off-season which leaves them with Gardner Minshew.

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Minshew played well enough last season to be their starter this year but it’s hard to believe that they see him as their long-term answer at the position. Now their former fourth overall pick in running back Leonard Fournette is on the trading block as they continue to clean house.

This pick of Henderson at nine is the Jaguars establishing what they want their culture to be in this new era of sorts. One can’t help but think though that maybe this could also end up being Doug Marrone’s last season considering that the team looks destined to tank. The Jaguars are in for an interesting season this fall but this draft could end up paying huge dividends in a worst to first type scenario two years down the road.

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