Jacksonville Jaguars rookie offensive tackle Luke Joeckel had believed he was going to be the first player selected during the NFL Draft in April. It didn’t happen as the Kansas Chiefs selected Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher with the first pick instead.
Instead, Joeckel had to wait an extra 15 minutes before being selected by the Jaguars with the second overall pick.
But when Joeckel’s expectation had been to be the top overall pick in the draft, there was still some disappointment when his name wasn’t the first to be called by Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“At the time it was not the most pleasant thing ever,” Joeckel said on the Draft Tracker podcast at NFL.com.
Joeckel said he’s happy to be with the Jaguars and he believes it’s a good fit for him as well. Eugene Monroe is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract and Joeckel could ultimately replace him on the left side of the line after this season. For now, Joeckel is slated to be the Jaguars right tackle. Still, not being the top pick won’t be something he soon forgets.
“It definitely kind of put a chip on my shoulder, not being the first tackle taken,” Joeckel said.. “Which is a good thing. It’s a good thing to help drive you and help compete against another guy in your same position. A guy that got the first pick in front of me.”
Just don’t expect Aaron Rodgers to share in Joeckel’s pain of falling a whole one slot on draft day.