JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON, GENERAL MANAGER TRENT BAALKE
NFL DRAFT MEDIA AVAILABILITY
FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2022
Q: Why a second linebacker? Was LB Chad Muma’s value that much higher than anything else?
TRENT BAALKE: He was highly rated on our board for one. He fits the culture we’re trying to build. I don’t think we can ever have enough good linebackers. He’s a green dot guy. He can run the defense. He’s a really good special teams player as well. There’s just a lot to like. A very good value at that point in the draft, a guy that we had high on our board that plays the game that we want to play, plays it physical. He can play on all four downs. Again, when you say we’re overloaded at linebacker, you’re only one play away from being down a linebacker. As we’ve seen through the years that’s a position
where, knock on wood, you sometimes lose some guys. Very confident he’s going to come in and be a big part of this program.
Q: What did you like about OL Luke Fortner and do you like him at guard or center?
DOUG PEDERSON: There’s a lot to like about Luke. When you meet this kid, he’s wired the right way. We do like him at center, but he has the position flex to move to guard as well, so the position versatility is good for us. He gives us depth at the position. Great competition there. He’s a guy that when you watch him on film, he can do everything that we do in our offense in the run game. Whether he’s reaching the three-technique or climbing to the second level, he’s got the ability to do that. He can redirect. Just a really good fit for our offensive line and that room.
Q: Do you have a particular position in mind OL Luke Fortner?
DOUG PEDERSON: It kind of goes back to Travon [Walker] and Devin [Lloyd] and the guys we take. Obviously, we took him as a center and he’ll play that position. We’ll move him around too and allow him to play some guard and let him get comfortable with the offensive line. Being able to get them in here in a couple of weeks with our rookie minicamp, we can start that process with these guys and really see where they can best suit us, but right now we’re have him in there competing at the center spot.
Q: When you see LB Chad Muma still on your board with such a high value, is the conversation to just take him and figure out how to use all these linebackers later or do you have a discussion of their use right in that moment?
TRENT BAALKE: How they fit into the system and how much they are going to be used and what packages they are going to be used on, that’s up to Coach Caldwell and the defensive coaching staff. I know special teams-wise, he’s going to fit in day one and then you grow your role from there. All these guys have to come in and earn there [spot]. We’ve got some guys that are here also that are competing for these jobs. It’s not like they come in and a role is given to them. They’ve got to go earn it. We’re
very confident at the value, it was a pick we needed to make.
Q: When Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl, they had real depth at linebacker. Did Defensive Coordinator Mike Caldwell emphasize that position in his system?
DOUG PEDERSON: There’s versatility with the number of linebackers that you do have, as Trent alluded to. The depth that you have allows for the use of special teams and the value that we place on special teams. That’s the third element of what we do – offense, defense and special teams. Having guys now that are sort of the great athletes, but their sort of the high-speed internet guys that can process when things are moving extremely fast with the way offenses are designed and moving pieces nowadays, they can process that. Being able to even have a, as we go, if it’s rotating basis or what not, a guy goes down and it’s plug-and-play. That’s the versatility of having linebackers that can play left and right. They don’t have to switch. They don’t have to flip. They can process the information that is presented in front of them.
Q: On if they see any glaring needs still on the roster or if they plan on just taking the best players on their board
TRENT BAALKE: We always look at value. You’re not going to take a player that you had rated three rounds later because you feel like you have a need there. Iron sharpens iron, so there is nothing wrong with getting really good in one room. It’s a lot better than getting average in other rooms and that’s how we look at building the 53. We have a lot of discussions with the staff on this very thing. It’s easy to look and say you need somebody, but that person could get hurt and you’re back to square one. My experience is to build rooms as strong as you can and get as much competition as you can possibly get because it makes that room that much better. If we can address needs along the way and you always have needs, you never go into any part of the process and say we don’t have any needs. There are always needs to address, but we’re going to take the best player available and when a needs crosses over that then we will connect the dots. Otherwise, we’re going to take the best player.
Q. On consideration during the second round to move up and address other positions outside of linebacker and the value of the receivers available
TRENT BAALKE: No, we didn’t look at moving up. We felt like we could get the players that we were targeting where we got them and we were able to do that. It’s not to say that we didn’t have any interest in the wide receiver position, but the way the board fell we just weren’t there that. There are still guys on the board that we really like and if there in the right round or right spot for us then we will address that.
Q. On it being a priority for OL Coach Phil Rauscher to build an offensive line to protect QB Trevor Lawrence
DOUG PEDERSON: He [Phil Rauscher] takes pride in that and there is a reason I brought him in to coach the offensive line. He is obviously excited to get Luke in there and he is excited with the guys that we have. You look at the offensive line and you see guys that have been working here this past week and now we just add a little more value and depth at these positions. I know he is fired up and to have player versatility, meaning you can move guys around, having swing tackles, having swing guards and guards that can move to center gives you a lot of versatility as an offensive line and then when you go into gameday having eight guys available for you. I don’t want to say it’s easier but it goes make life a little easier when you have guys that can play multiple spots and I know he is excited for that.”
Q. On how impactful the run was on skill players and how that impacted their decision at pick number 65
TRENT BAALKE: Again, when you’re sitting at 65 and you’re in the mid 40’s and early 50’s you’re really not thinking about what’s happening and where you’re going to go because there is still up to 20 guys that have to come off the board before you pick. We just didn’t feel like we needed to give up more capital to move up. Again, very confident with how the board was falling that there would be two very good players at 65 and 70. We did look at some opportunities to move back but those didn’t materialize
and we were confident with making the picks at the time that we made them.
Q. On the importance of OL Coach Phil Rauscher to be able to attend pro days
DOUG PEDERSON: It’s great for him and it’s great for all the coaches that got out on the road, along with our scouts and working together on this part of the process. Phil did see a lot of guys and evaluated a lot of guys and it was for a reason to gather as much information as we could for this moment now.
Q. On Trent’s confidence that the defense will take a big step forward
TRENT BAALKE: We obviously feel good about the moves we’ve made and now we have to put it all together and these guys have to come in and gel. There is a lot of work to be done with the communication aspect of it and getting guys on the same page and playing together, all that factors in. We’re comfortable but there is still work to be done and we’re going to continue to try to build these rooms and make them as strong as we possibly can make them.”
Q. On how comfortable they feel with the offensive weapons around QB Trevor Lawrence
DOUG PEDERSON: I am encouraged by it, you know having these last three days with our guys doing what we did and just watching them. Trent just said it a few minutes ago, we’re not where we need to be but we have a lot of football ahead of us to get done and get prepared for the regular season. I am encouraged by what I saw. We obviously have some veteran leadership out there with guys like Christian [Kirk], Marvin [Jones Jr.], Zay [Jones] and Laviska [Shenault Jr.] and we have some younger guys that are also competing as well. I was really encouraged to see these guys really take from the classroom to the field and retain the information. That’s a really good start and a really good indicator to the things that we can do moving forward.”
TRENT BAALKE: We’re going to continue to try to build and make these rooms as competitive as we can make them
Q. On getting antsy with going a long time without a pick in the draft
TRENT BAALKE: You do and talked about it and really both decisions came down to the wire on whether we were going to trade back or if we were not going to trade back. I have just always been a firm believer that if there is a guy there that you like then take them. You never can go wrong if you believe in the player and you have him on the board in a position you would take him then you take him. If you don’t trust the board then it’s hard to be confident during the draft. We put a lot of time into putting that board together. You know the coaching staff, the personnel staff, so when we get to the draft then we’re not wavering and we’ve done all the work.
DOUG PEDERSON: You’re sitting there watching some good players go off the board but that’s part of this process too and that’s part of the draft. I’m with Trent, you always pick the best one at the spot for you and you go with that and you trust it. You have to trust what we’ve done and what the scouts have done and that’s how you build it. You have to trust it and believe in and last night we were able to move up to get Devin [Lloyd] and that’s a good player right there and we made that decision to do that and we did it together. We have several picks left and there are still some good players there.
Q. On what it was like having OLB Travon Walker in the building today and getting to meet him and his family
DOUG PEDERSON: It’s exciting for us obviously and I know it is for him and he is ready to get to work and you kind of have to pump the brakes a little bit and we have a couple weeks before we get him in here and get him going. It was just a thrill. He is excited and we’re excited and the building is excited. Obviously with the pick of Travon and getting to meet Devin [Lloyd] tomorrow. Just looking forward to getting these guys on the field.
Q: Are conversations that “Doug is an offensive guy” in the building or things that manifest themselves outside the facility?
TRENT BAALKE: I can say this. The thing that I appreciate from a personnel perspective is that even though Doug is an offensive head coach, he’s the head coach. He’s as much for the defense and special teams as we saw in the last pick we made as he is for the offense. This is a team sport and you win with 53-strong. You are trying to build the strongest 53-man roster you can so having said that, it’s comforting to me to know that we’re not going to concentrate on any one position or any one side of the ball. We’re going after the best players. Who makes this team the strongest? And that’s comforting from a personnel perspective.
Q: What did you see on field from LB Chad Muma and what does he sort of bring to your team in terms of versatility?
DOUG PEDERSON: A couple of things that jump out to you – his ability to run, his physicality also. I had a chance to really kind of visit with this guy and start building a relationship with him – just his character, who he is as a person, how he’s going to fit into the room. Talking to him again tonight, how excited he is, this is a guy that’s going to bring great competition in that room, going to give us depth, going to be a good special teams player for us. I’m looking forward to getting these guys out here.
JAGUARS OL LUKE FORTNER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2022
(On his experiences before the draft with the Jaguars) “I was fortunate enough to get a combine interview with them and they showed up to the pro day. We had a lot of communication and I felt like we meshed really well, jelled really well, feel like they’re a group that I’d love to play for and hope to accomplish something big with.”
(On his relationship with Jaguars DE/OLB and fellow UK teammate Josh Allen) “So I’ve been in school a
long time there. They put me up against him in one-on-ones when I think I was a redshirt freshman at
the time. It didn’t end so well for me but now I ended up here. He humbled me a little bit. I feel like we
have a good relationship. He’s an incredible dude. [I’ve] learned a lot from him and hopefully will
continue to.”
(On if he’s prepared to be a starting rookie center in the NFL) “Yeah, I think I am. It’s obviously going to
be a tall task, a tough job. There’s going to be some tough times, some ups and downs, but I think I’m
prepared. I think I’m prepared to handle it and I’m excited, looking forward to it.”
(On playing multiple spots on the offensive line) “I think versatility’s key. I think that’s something I excel
at and something I can do, and I think it paid off.”
(On celebrating being drafted into the NFL tonight) “I’ve been celebrating with my family, my girlfriend.
[I’m] just super excited, haven’t stopped smiling all night to be honest with you. I’m really excited.”
(On what the Jaguars’ expectations of him are) “They’ve just said they’re excited for me to get there and
be able to play all those interior offensive line spots, like the previous question [mentioned] just be
versatile. I’m ready to play whatever they need.”
(On his collegiate academic achievements) “It means a lot to me. School’s something I pride myself on,
academics, and being able to accomplish three degrees, an undergrad and two masters, is really cool.
For me it was kind of a silver lining with COVID, I got to stay in school, improve my draft stock, but also
get another degree and prepare myself for life.”
(On his expectations for the draft) “I thought it was going to be a third or fourth round, so being the first
pick of the round was absolutely incredible and something I’m really excited about.”
(On a comparison between him and the other centers in this year’s draft) “I think it’s a combination. I
think I’m going to provide something special to the Jaguars. I know [Eagles C and 2022 draft pick] Cam
Jurgens, [Ravens C and 2022 draft pick] Ty[ler] Linderbaum, and all those guys and they’re super
awesome dudes. I think we all bring something different, but I do believe I have my own special abilities
that I’ll be able to bring.”
(On his plans after a football career) “That’s a great question. I think either maybe something in aerospace or something similar. Then I’ve also considered going into the nonprofit world with an MBA degree and hopefully giving back to the community.”
(On being closer to NASA in Jacksonville given his interest in aerospace) “I haven’t really thought about it, but now that you bring it up, that would be interesting. I might have to take a visit.”
