Jaguars draft ’21: Tight end Luke Farrell the pick in the fifth round

Luke Farrell of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a pass off of a fake punt in the BIG Ten Football Championship Game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) (Andy Lyons, 2019 Getty Images)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars finally addressed their glaring hole at tight end in the draft, selecting Ohio State’s Luke Farrell with their first pick of the fifth round.

Farrell (6-6, 258 pounds) is largely a blocking tight end. He had just 34 receptions in four seasons with the Buckeyes and four touchdowns. Tight end remains a roster black hole. Jacksonville signed Chris Manhertz in free agency, although he’s more of an extra offensive lineman. Manhertz has averaged just 2.4 receptions per season and has just 12 catches in five seasons.

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“I definitely think I’m one of the best, if not the best, block tight ends coming out of this class,” Farrell said. “But I think one of my biggest strengths is my versatility and my toughness. I think whatever they’re going to ask me to do, I can do at a high level — and we were asked to do a lot as tight ends at Ohio State and I know I can continue to do that. And then, I think I play the game with a lot of toughness, in every aspect.”

Jacksonville’s receiving tight end, James O’Shaughnessey, has just three touchdown catches in 73 regular season games.

Earlier Saturday, 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 opened Day 3 of the NFL draft by selecting defensive tackle Jay Tufele out of Southern Cal at pick No. 106, and then traded up to take UAB edge rusher Jordan Smith with pick No. 121.

The Jaguars focused on the secondary in the second day, taking cornerback Tyson Campbell and safety Andre Cisco in the third.

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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

130. Traded to Rams

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.