I remember back in 2006 I went to the Landing for the lame Draft party the Jags put on. It was hot because the Draft was in the middle of the day back then. There were a few plasma screen tvs broadcasting the draft in the direct sunlight so the few Jags fans that showed up were squinting trying to see what was happening. I remember telling my friend I don't care what they do, I just don't want a TE in the first. I think I was pulling for Joseph Addai. Marcedes Lewis was drafted and I left sunburnt and disappointed and never went to another Jaguars hosted Draft party in the Weaver Era. (Now they are wayyyyy better!)
In hindsight it was good they took Marcedes instead of Addai because well Jones freaking Drew in the second round! Marcedes Lewis was a good player for the Jags but not for what they drafted him for. The Jags had Kyle Brady who was like having a 6th Lineman on the field and they needed Lewis to come in and be the pass catching, route running TE that they were missing. It never really happen.
This year there is talk of a TE in the first round again and those old feelings are creeping back into my head. The difference is the game has changed since 2006. The Game favors offense more and a pass catching TE is incredibly valuable. Three teams had 1,000+ yard receiving TE's Last year! Of those three, two of them made the playoffs. Three teams had 8+ receiving TD TE's last year and all three of those teams made the playoffs. The importance is there, but is the value?
So lets look back at the First round TE's since the Jags took Marcedes Lewis
2006
RD 1 Pick 6 Vernon Davis 49ers
RD 1 Pick 26 Marcedes Lewis Jaguars
Notable Picks
RD 4 Pick 98 Owen Daniels Texans
2007
RD 1 Pick 31 Greg Olsen Bears
Notable Picks
RD 2 Pick 38 Zach Miller Raiders
RD 5 Pick 153 Kevin Boss Giants
RD 5 Pick 162 Brent Celek Eagles
2008
RD 1 Pick 30 Dustin Keller Jets
Notable Picks
RD 2 Pick 61 Martellus Bennett Cowboys
2009
RD 1 Pick 20 Brandon Pettigrew Lions
Notable Picks
RD 3 Pick 89 Jared Cook Titans
2010
RD 1 Pick 21 Jermaine Gresham Bengals
Notable Picks
RD 2 Pick 42 Rob Gronkowski Patriots
RD 3 Pick 95 Jimmy Graham Saints
RD 4 Pick 113 Aaron Hernandez Patriots
2011
None Selected
Notable Picks
RD 2 Pick Kyle Rudolph Vikings
RD 4 Pick 102 Jordan Cameron Browns
RD 4 Pick 129 Julius Thomas Broncos
2012
None Selected
Notable Picks
RD 2 Pick 34 Coby Fleener Colts
RD 3 Pick 64 Dwayne Allen Colts
2013
RD 1 Pick 21 Tyler Eifert Bengals
Notable Picks
RD 2 Pick 35 Zach Ertz Eagles
RD 3 Pick 63 Travis Kelce Chiefs
RD 3 Pick 85 Jordan Reed Redskins
2014
RD Pick 10 Eric Ebron Lions
Notable Picks
RD 2 Pick 38 Austin Seferian-Jenkins
2015
None Selected
Notable Picks
RD 5 Pick 160 Jesse James Steelers
(173 O'shaugnessy, 229 Koyak, 246 Swaim)
2016
None Selected
Notable Picks
RD 2 Pick 35 Hunter Henry Chargers
RD 3 Pick 81 Austin Hooper Falcons
2017
RD 1 Pick 19 O.J. Howard Buccaneers
RD 1 Pick 23 Evan Engram Giants
RD 1 Pick 29 David Njoku Browns
Notable Picks
RD 5 Pick 146 George Kittle 49ers
2018
RD 1 Pick 25 Hayden Hurst Ravens
Notable Picks
RD 2 Pick 49 Dallas Goedert Eagles
Looking at the above List of names it just seems like the 2nd round is the best place to start drafting TE's. Just look at the 2010 draft, Jermaine Greshaim went in the first when Rob Gronkowski went in the second and Jimmy Graham went in the third. With names like T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant likely going in the first round at the end of the month just remember Gronk, Kittle, Ertz, Kelce, Reed, Graham, and Bennett all went after that first round ended.
So when I sit with my family in Daily's place at the end of the month, I will once again be rooting for the Jags not to take a TE in the first round (at least not at 7th overall) because recent history shows that there will be plenty of talent available when they pick in the second round.