The exodus of Jaguars players continued Thursday when Jacksonville dealt safety Ronnie Harrison to Cleveland for a 2021 fifth-round pick. Harrison, a 2018 third-round pick out of Alabama, started all 14 games in which he appeared last year and ranked second on the Jags in tackles (70) and passes defensed (nine) while adding two sacks and two interceptions.
It was a no-brainer trade for the Browns after they recently lost second-round rookie safety Grant Delpit to a season-ending injury. That trade likely rules out Earl Thomas for Cleveland.
Harrison became the third player drafted in the top three rounds since 2016 to be cut or traded by the Jaguars before finishing his rookie contract. He joined Fournette and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who was traded during last season to the Rams. Harrison is the fourth defensive starter to be traded since the 2019 season ended, and there's already social media scuttlebutt that linebacker Myles Jack could be next because of his big salary.
William Hill sportsbook lists Jacksonville as the clear-cut +300 favorite on the moneyline odds to have the NFL's worst record this season, and the Jags may not be favored in a single game.
On the bright side, with so many recent trades the Jags have the following 2021 draft picks: two firsts (one from the Rams via Ramsey trade), two seconds (one from Vikings for Ngakoue trade), a third, two fourths (one from Rams via Ramsey trade), two fifths (one from Browns via Harrison trade), a sixth and a seventh.
A team can return to contention quickly if it hits big on a that type of draft war chest, but most likely Marrone and Caldwell won't be around when the 2021 draft begins April 29 in Cleveland as Marrone is among the betting favorites to be the first coach fired this season. Both he and Caldwell nearly were canned after last year.
Via SportsLine NFL oddsmakers: Who will pick first in 2021 NFL Draft?
- Jacksonville +300
- Washington +500
- Carolina +600
- Cincinnati +700
- NY Jets +1000
- NY Giants +1100
- Miami +1200
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