April 27, 2019
CLASS HIGHLIGHTED BY DE/LB JOSH ALLEN WITH SEVENTH-OVERALL PICK
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars selected seven players in the 2019 NFL Draft, held this year in Nashville from April 25-27. The 2019 class features four offensive players and three defensive players. Three draftees hailed from SEC institutions, while the Mountain West, Ohio Valley, American and Pac-12 conferences each had one selection apiece.
| ROUND, OVERALL PICK | NAME | POS. | HT. | WT. | AGE | SCHOOL |
| Round 1, 7th | Josh Allen | DE/LB | 6-5 | 262 | 21 | Kentucky |
| Round 2, 35th* | Jawaan Taylor | OL | 6-5 | 312 | 21 | Florida |
| Round 3, 69th | Josh Oliver | TE | 6-5 | 249 | 22 | San José State |
| Round 3, 98th^ | Quincy Williams | LB | 5-11 | 225 | 22 | Murray State |
| Round 5, 140th* | RyQuell Armstead | RB | 5-11 | 220 | 22 | Temple |
| Round 6, 178th | Gardner Minshew | QB | 6-1 | 225 | 22 | Washington State |
| Round 7, 235th* | Dontavius Russell | DL | 6-3 | 320 | 22 | Auburn |
* Jacksonville obtained the 35th overall selection (second round), the 140th overall selection (fifth round) and the 235th overall selection (seventh round) in a trade with Oakland for the 38th overall selection (second round) and the 109th overall selection (fourth round).
^ Jaguars’ third-round pick (98th overall) was obtained from Los Angeles Rams in a trade for DE Dante Fowler.
Jacksonville traded its 236th overall pick (seventh round) to Seattle in exchange for a 2020 sixth-round selection.
NOT JOSHIN’ AROUND: With the team’s first-round selection (seventh overall), the Jaguars selected DE/LB Josh Allen from the University of Kentucky.
Allen, 6-5, 262, did not miss a game in his four-year career, appearing in all 51 games with 35 starts. He totaled 224 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 31.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and eight passes defensed. In 2018, Allen had a team-high 88 tackles, 17.0 sacks, 21.5 TFL and five forced fumbles, earning consensus first-team All-America honors, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and was honored with the Bronko Nagurski Award, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive player. Allen’s 17.0 sacks were the most by a SEC defender in a single season since the NCAA started tracking official sack records in 2000.
“Allen was very high on everyone’s board, said Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin. “As it was coming down, there were a number of picks in front of us where we thought he would go, but as it turned out, we had some choices to make if in fact he was gone, but when he fell to us, he was a superior football player and too good of a player to possibly pass up. He is outstanding athletically.”
Allen represents the second Wildcat ever drafted by the Jaguars, and the first since Jacksonville selected S Marlon McCree in 2001. He is the eighth defensive lineman drafted in the first round by the Jaguars and the third in the last five drafts. Since General Manager Dave Caldwell began his tenure with the Jaguars in 2013, Jacksonville has selected a player from the SEC in the first round in five of his seven drafts. Overall, the Jaguars have selected 27 players (14 offensive; 13 defensive) in the first round of the draft, and Jacksonville’s eight defensive linemen selected in the first round are the most of any position.
JAGUARS ALL-TIME FIRST-ROUND DRAFT SELECTIONS
| YEAR, ROUND, OVERALL PICK | NAME | POS. | HT. | WT. | SCHOOL |
| 2019, Round 1, 7th | Josh Allen | DL/LB | 6-5 | 262 | Kentucky |
| 2018, Round 1, 29th | Taven Bryan | DL | 6-0 | 228 | LSU |
| 2017 Round 1, 4th | Leonard Fournette | RB | 6-0 | 228 | LSU |
| 2016, Round 1, 5th | Jalen Ramsey | CB | 6-2 | 208 | Florida State |
| 2015, Round 1, 3rd | Dante Fowler Jr. | DE | 6-3 | 255 | Florida |
| 2014, Round 1, 3rd | Blake Bortles | QB | 6-5 | 236 | Central Florida |
| 2013, Round 1, 2nd | Luke Joeckel | OL | 6-6 | 312 | Texas A&M |
| 2012, Round 1, 5th | Justin Blackmon | WR | 6-1 | 210 | Oklahoma State |
| 2011, Round 1, 10th | Blaine Gabbert | QB | 6-4 | 235 | Missouri |
| 2010, Round 1, 10th | Tyson Alualu | DT | 6-3 | 304 | California |
| 2009, Round 1, 8th | Eugene Monroe | OL | 6-5 | 309 | Virginia |
| 2008, Round 1, 8th | Derrick Harvey | DE | 6-5 | 268 | Florida |
| 2007, Round 1, 21st | Reggie Nelson | S | 5-11 | 210 | Nebraska |
| 2006, Round 1, 28th | Marcedes Lewis | TE | 6-6 | 267 | UCLA |
| 2005, Round 1, 25th | Matt Jones | WR | 6-6 | 218 | Arkansas |
| 2004, Round 1, 9th | Reggie Williams | WR | 6-4 | 212 | Washington |
| 2003, Round 1, 7th | Byron Marshall | QB | 6-5 | 250 | Marshall |
| 2002, Round 1, 9th | John Henderson | DT | 6-7 | 328 | Tennessee |
| 2001, Round 1, 13th | Marcus Stroud | DT | 6-6 | 310 | Georgia |
| 2000, Round 1, 29th | R. Jay Soward | WR | 5-11 | 185 | Southern California |
| 1999, Round 1, 26th | Fernando Bryant | CB | 5-11 | 185 | Alabama |
| 1998, Round 1, 9th | Fred Taylor | RB | 6-1 | 234 | Florida |
| 1998, Round 1, 25th | Donovin Darius | S | 6-1 | 225 | Syracuse |
| 1997, Round 1, 21st | Renaldo Wynn | DT | 6-3 | 296 | Notre Dame |
| 1996, Round 1, 2nd | Kevin Hardy | LB | 6-4 | 258 | Illinois |
| 1995, Round 1, 2nd | Tony Boselli | OT | 6-7 | 324 | Southern California |
| 1995, Round 1, 19th | James Stewart | RB | 6-1 | 224 | Tennessee |
TAYLOR MADE FOR DUVAL: The Jaguars entered the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft with one pick in the second round (38th overall) and two picks in the third round (69th overall and 98th overall). Once the second round began, the Jaguars traded their 38th pick (second round) and the 109th selection (fourth round) for Oakland’s 35th pick, 140th pick (fifth round) and 235th pick (seventh round). After moving up to No. 35, Jacksonville selected Florida OL Jawaan Taylor.
Taylor, 6-5, 312, started 35 of 37 career games in three seasons for the Gators. As a junior in 2018, he appeared in all 13 games and started 12 at right tackle, as Florida’s offensive line allowed just 18 sacks during the season’s entirety. Taylor earned second-team All-SEC honors and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in his final season. In 2017, he started all 11 games, the first nine at right tackle and the final two at left tackle. As a freshman, Taylor garnered freshmen All-America honors by ESPN.com, FWAA and Pro Football Focus.
“He came through and we thought he would be long gone by now,” Caldwell said. “He has done a really good job of re-defining his body. He came in here and he was in great shape. We did a workout here and he almost knocked [Offensive Line] Coach [George] Warhop down. He has a lot power in those legs and in those arms. I was impressed with him. He is a very fit 315-pound guy.”
Taylor is the 11th player from the University of Florida to be drafted by the Jaguars, following DL Taven Bryan (29th overall) in 2018. The Jaguars’ 11 draft selections from the University of Florida are the most among any college or university.
COAST TO COAST: With their third-round pick (69th overall), the Jaguars selected TE Josh Oliver from San José State. Oliver, 6-5, 249, is the second Spartan drafted by the Jaguars and the seventh tight end drafted by Jacksonville (first since TE Ben Koyack in 2015), the earliest since former TE Marcedes Lewis was selected 28th overall in 2006.
Oliver played in 49 games (36 starts) at San José State and totaled 98 receptions for 1,067 yards. As a senior in 2018, he earned first-team All-Mountain West honors after recording 56 catches for 709 yards and four TDs. Oliver’s 709 receiving yards were fifth nationally among FBS tight ends. In 2017, Oliver tallied a breakout junior season, recording 35 catches for 296 yards after registering four catches as a freshman and three catches as a sophomore.
“I could not feel better about the landing spot – just the things the Jaguars do with the tight end in their offense and my personal game,” Oliver said. “I’m expecting to come in, compete and play football.”
QUINTESSENTIAL QUINCY: With the 98th overall pick in the third round, the Jaguars tabbed former Murray State LB Quincy Williams.
Williams, 5-11, 225, played in 43 games during his collegiate career and recorded 231 tackles (142 solo), 18 tackles for loss, nine passes defensed, three INTs and three forced fumbles. In 2018, Williams led the Racers with 111 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, two INTs and two forced fumbles. As a junior in 2017, Williams played in 11 games (10 starts) and finished fourth on the team with 57 tackles. Williams is the second player from Murray State to be drafted by the Jaguars, joining DE Austen Lane who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.Originally from Birmingham, Ala., Williams is the older brother of DT Quinnen Williams, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
BABY ROC: The Jaguars selected former Temple RB RyQuell (ruh-KWELL) Armstead with the 140th overall selection (fifth round).
Armstead, 5-11, 220, played in 47 collegiate games and recorded 2,812 career rushing yards and 34 TDs on 573 attempts (4.9 rush avg.). As a senior in 2018, he finished 10th in the nation in rushing TDs (13) and 11th in rushing yards per game (115.8) and earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors. Armstead also recorded a sack in a game against Tulsa, becoming the third player in the FBS since 2000 to rush for 100 yards and register a sack in the same game.
Armstead is the second player from Temple to be drafted by the Jaguars, joining DT Terrance Knighton, who was selected in the third round in 2009. Originally from Millville, N.J., Armstead attended Millville High School.
‘STACHE IT: With the 178th overall selection, the Jaguars selected former Washington State QB Gardner Minshew
Minshew, 6-1, 225, played at Washington State in 2018 after playing for East Carolina in 2016 and 2017. He had a prolific senior campaign with the Cougars, finishing fifth in the 2018 Heisman Trophy voting and being named Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 4,779 yards and 38 TDs. Minshew’s 367.6 passing yards per game and 468 completions both led the FBS and he was the only player in the NCAA to record six 400-yard passing games and 11 300-yard passing games. Prior to playing for East Carolina from 2016-17, Minshew was a national champion at Northwest Mississippi Community College in 2015.
Minshew is the third selection in Jaguars history from Washington State and first since 2000 (DE Rob Meier). He’s originally from Brandon, Miss. and attended Brandon High School.
DOMINANT DONTAVIUS: With the team’s final selection (235th overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Jaguars selected DL Dontavius Russell.
Russell, 6-3, 320, was a four-year starter from 2015-18 for the Tigers and appeared in 52 games (49 starts) and recorded 154 career tackles. In 2018, he started every game and earned second-team All-SEC honors from Lindy’s and AL.com after recording 36 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Russell, who earned an invite to the 2019 Senior Bowl, became the third player from Auburn to be drafted by the Jaguars in franchise history.
Overall, the Jaguars have selected 204 players in their 25-year draft history, including 94 offensive players, 102 defensive players and eight specialists. On the offensive side, the Jaguars have drafted 29 receivers, 29 offensive linemen, 19 running backs, nine quarterbacks, seven tight ends and one fullback. On the defensive side, the Jaguars have drafted 39 defensive linemen, 25 linebackers, 20 cornerbacks and 18 safeties. For the specialists, the Jaguars have drafted four punters, two kickers, one long snapper and one return specialist.
The Jaguars’ rookie class, including their seven draft selections and UDFA signees, report to TIAA Bank Field for rookie minicamp on May 9. Media availability around rookie minicamp and OTAs will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
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Jacksonville Jaguars media contacts
Tad Dickman, Director of Public Relations // dickmant@nfl.jaguars.com, (904) 633-6136
