Jaguars draft ’21: Team trades up in fourth round for edge Jordan Smith

Linebacker Jordan Smith from UAB of the American Team during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) (Don Juan Moore, 2021 Don Juan Moore)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars made a quick move in the fourth round of the NFL draft, trading up nine spots and taking edge rusher Jordan Smith from UAB at pick No. 121.

Smith (6-7, 255 pounds) had 94 total tackles in two seasons with the Blazers. He can get to the quarterback, too, as evidenced by 14.5 career sacks. The Jaguars sent pick No. 130, 170 and 249 to the Rams for No. 121 and 209.

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“I honestly feel like this is one of the best draft classes of all the teams. They did a great job of picking what they needed: Trevor Lawrence as a quarterback, you have Tyson Campbell as a great corner to go beside CJ Henderson,” Smith said. “Also, we have Jay Tufele and me to try to build a dynasty. I feel like Urban Meyer has done this continually in the past, so I feel like it’s an honor for me to be a part of something, another dynasty that he’s about to create.”

Smith may be a name familiar to area fans. He signed with Florida out of high school and was suspended his entire 2017 season due to a credit card scandal involving nine Gators players. Smith pled no contest to a third-degree felony charge. He wound up at Butler Community College and later UAB, overcoming that incident and shining with the Blazers.

Smith called that time at Florida a “hiccup.”

The Jaguars opened Day 3 of the NFL draft by selecting defensive tackle Jay Tufele out of Southern Cal.

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Jaguars draft class

Round 1

1. QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

25. RB Travis Etienne, Clemson

Round 2

33. CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia

45. OT Walker Little, Stanford

Round 3

65. S Andre Cisco, Syracuse

Round 4

106. DT Jay Tufele, Southern Cal

(trade from Rams) 121. Edge Jordan Smith, UAB

Round 5

145. TE Luke Farrell, Ohio State

170. Traded to Rams

Round 6

(trade from Rams) 209. WR Jalen Camp, Georgia Tech

Round 7

249. Traded to Rams


About the Author

Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.

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