Two years ago, the Jaguars took wide receiver Justin Blackmon fifth overall. The hope was that he would give quarterback Blaine Gabbert, drafted 10th overall the year before, a legit downfield target. It never happened.
Gabbert was traded to the 49ers in March for a sixth-round pick, and the NFL suspended Blackmon indefinitely last November for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. On Friday, Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell didn’t sound optimistic that Blackmon would play in 2014 either. “It’s not something we’re counting on,” Caldwell said, via Mark Long of the Associated Press. The team has had little contact with Blackmon, and for coach Gus Bradley that means “we’ve got to get some guys in here at the position.”
