5 takeaways from Jaguars GM Trent Baalke and coach Doug Pederson's pre-draft presser

In the midst of a beautiful Florida spring day, the Jacksonville Jaguars held the team's annual pre-draft press conference and media luncheon to discuss next week's NFL Draft.

For much of the media, it was the first time they heard from general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson since the team's season ended in January.

Outside of TIAA Bank Field, construction continued on the team's sports performance facility, officially donned the Miller Electric Center, where the team's primary headquarters will set up shop beginning sometime in July.

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Inside the building, Baalke, Pederson and the rest of the Jaguars' coaching and scouting staff continue to prepare for the upcoming draft, which will likely dictate — at least in part — the direction the franchise will head in after a better-than-expected 2022 campaign.

The Jaguars will pick with the 24th overall selection in next week's draft. The team is in a different position than in years past — selecting first overall in each of the first last two drafts, the only drafts Baalke has been part of with the Jaguars as the team's general manager.

The mantra of the offseason has been continuity and culture, and that much didn't change after Thursday's press conference. Baalke and Pederson were guarded in their responses, but there were a few things to glean from the team's news conference.

Here are our five takeaways from Thursday's presser.

Jaguars have narrowed focus on potential draft selection

One of the more intriguing items to come out of the presser was the team's position on the number of draft-eligible prospects they currently have on their board.

Baalke indicated the team currently has specific interests and given the number of quarterbacks projected to go in the first round — five — he feels strongly they'll be able to get one of the players at a position they would like to fill.

"Hopefully we’ll have our pick of two or three guys that we have in mind right now — it’s down to that level —probably two to three guys that we’re really interested in, and we feel like we’ve got a good shot at one of those guys," said Baalke.

There will be more than 319 players — the number of players who were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this year — in the draft. The Jaguars have cut their list of players on their board by over 50 percent, meaning those are the players the team feels fine selecting, at least to some extent.

"Our board is not laden with guys. We’ve got 127 names on the board right now that are draftable for us," Baalke said. "When you figure 230 plus guys are getting drafted, whatever that number is, you look at that, your odds dwindle on having guys that are what you consider draftable as the draft unfolds."

Those are the players, Baalke explained, that fit the culture and values the team has put in place.

Fitting in with Jaguars culture will be paramount for draftees

The Jaguars spent much of last year fixing the team's culture.

They brought in players via free agency such as linebacker Foye Oluokun, receiver Christian Kirk and guard Brandon Scherff, to help with that, as well as adding high-character players in the draft such as Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma.

Expect more of the same in this year's draft.

"I think coach (Pederson) and I have said this, that locker room is pretty special. We’ve got a great group of guys in there. We want to keep it that way," said Baalke.

Pederson echoed Baalke's sentiments, adding he leaves it up to the players already here to handle the culture — not wanting to micromanage the locker room.

"Our scouts do an outstanding job of spending time with players and family members and coaches, as Trent said, anybody we can talk to to get answers on players," said Pederson.

"So we feel like the ones that are on the board are all great fits for us. Again, but our locker room can absorb that, and they either buy in, or they won’t be here.”

Jaguars continue to work on long-term deal with TE Evan Engram

Though the offseason workouts in Phase One are completely voluntary, tight end Evan Engram's absence stood out.

Engram, who was slated to be a free agent this year after his one-year deal with the team expired, was franchise tagged, locking him with Jacksonville for one more year just prior to the new league year.

Engram has yet to sign his tender and, as a result, he has not been in the building as the team and Engram, along with his agent, try to work out a long-term deal. When asked about Engram, Baalke reiterated the team would like to work out a deal with the playmaking tight end prior to training camp starting in late July.

“That’s the goal. The goal is to get this thing done," Baalke said. "These negotiations always have ups and downs as you go through the process and you’re just trying to come to a common goal of getting him signed. I think we’re trending in that direction, but we’re not there yet. We’re continuing to work to get him signed to a long-term extension, and hopefully we can get that done.”

Engram was the Jaguars' top tight end last year and one of the team's best playmakers after hauling in 73 passes for 766 yards and four touchdowns in his first season with the team.

Jaguars expect multiple compensatory picks next year

The Jaguars lost a couple of key players this offseason, including tackle Jawaan Taylor and defensive lineman/outside linebacker Arden Key, but they'll be gaining several players in next year's draft because of it.

The NFL awards teams with compensatory picks — extra picks added on to rounds three through seven — to teams that lose players to other teams in free agency while not acquiring many high-priced players themselves.

For Jacksonville, that formula — that isn't exactly understood, but has been broken down by several analysts — plays in their favor as they expect multiple picks next year due to their net losses.

Baalke said Thursday the team expects to have at least a third-round pick and more.

“I think right now we’re on schedule to get a third for sure, possibly a fifth or sixth for sure, and then the possibility of adding a couple of sevenths depending on how some things play out. I think we will have two for sure, with the ability to have up to four," Baalke explained.

The Jaguars haven't had a compensatory pick in 13 years, the longest streak in the NFL.

Age of potential draftees is no worry for Jaguars

There will be many players over the age of 23 that will be selected in next week's draft. A couple of players — namely Georgia Tech's Keion White and Tennessee's Hendon Hooker — will be over the age of 24 when selected, with Hooker being the second-oldest player in this year's draft at 25.3 years old. Both are expected to be first or second-round picks.

Oftentimes, that can skew teams from selecting those players due to their likelihood of future physical development and the potential of signing a third deal prior to the age of 30.

This year's draft, in particular, includes more older players due to players having the ability to extend their time at the collegiate ranks with an extra year of eligibility due to COVID in 2020. Some teams may avoid players that are a bit older.

The Jaguars are not one of those teams, though, Baalke said, noting it hasn't had any impact on their evaluations.

"I think you still look at the film, you go through all the information that you got, and regardless of whether they’re 23 or 22, you stack the board at the level of value that you place on the player," said Baalke.

"I don’t know if it has any more of an impact. This is a year where there are some older players in the draft, unlike some of the other years, but it hasn’t changed our approach at all.”

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @Demetrius82.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Five takeaways from Jaguars' Baalke, Pederson pre-draft presser