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The Jacksonville Jaguars used their fourth round pick on Oklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook, a player with as many red flags as anyone else in the 2017 NFL Draft — which is why general manager Dave Caldwell made it clear from the start that Westbrook will have a very short leash.
"There's no margin for error."
— John Oehser (@JohnOehser) April 29, 2017
--Jaguars GM David Caldwell on Dede Westbrook off field moving forward
Westbrook has been twice accused — though never convicted — of domestic violence by the mother of his children. He also nearly died as the result of a ruptured intestine suffered during a high school football game.
So why is Westbrook worth the risk?
The Oklahoma receiver was one of the NCAA’s most explosive playmakers in 2016. He finished with 80 catches for 1,524 yards last fall, gaining a ridiculous 19.1 yards per reception. He scored 18 touchdowns for the Sooners in their 11-2 campaign — 17 through the air and one on a punt return.
There’s no shortage of weapons in the Jaguars wide receiver depth chart, so Westbrook won’t be asked to step up as a starter any time soon. He’s added to one of the better wide receiving corps in the NFL and will likely have to fight for playing time, but adds explosive ability to a team that needs to generate offense.