JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After using a pair of first-round draft choices on the offensive side of the ball, the Jaguars led off the second night of the draft with a focus on defense and cornerback Tyson Campbell out of Georgia.
Campbell (6-1, 193 pounds) fits into the secondary rotation behind projected starters C.J. Henderson and free-agent signee Shaquill Griffin. Henderson was Jacksonville’s first-round selection last year (ninth overall).
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Campbell said that he’s versatile and can line up wherever the Jaguars put him.
“I feel like I can do it all, but I do enjoy playing corner,” he said. “But like I said, with my athletic ability and my knowledge of the game, I do feel I could play inside or play safety if needed. [I can play] all over the field though.”
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The selection of Campbell certainly brings up a question about the staff’s comfort level in Henderson, who had an erratic rookie season, wound up on injured reserve and underwent shoulder surgery after the season.
Campbell had 29 total tackles in his junior season with the Bulldogs. He wasn’t big on production in college. Campbell managed just one fumble recovery and one career interception, despite playing in 33 games.
“I was just waiting on a call,” Campbell said. “I wouldn’t say I was surprised just knowing that I’m versatile and I can learn a new position, that I could play and fit with any team. I didn’t really come in not expecting anything. I do feel like with this defense I can fit in it and play well.”
With a slew of projected first rounders still on the board to start Friday night, the Jaguars had their pick of players who had slipped. That included defenders like DT Christian Barmore (Alabama), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Notre Dame), OLB Azeez Ojulari (Georgia) and S Trevon Moehrig (TCU). But they went with Campbell to help bolster the secondary.
Their other pick in the second round, No. 45 (Walker Little from Stanford) came from the the Yannick Ngakoue trade with the Vikings. Jacksonville took safety Andre Cisco with their third-round pick on Friday.
The Jaguars have five more selections on Saturday.
Round 1
1. QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
25. RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
Round 2
33. CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia
45. OT Walker Little, Stanford