Fournette release highlights Jaguars' astounding run of mismanagement

Picture this.

It's 2013. You're the new general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hoping to build a competitive franchise for years to come, you understand it may take a year or two of rebuilding to get there. A crystal ball enters your possession and reveals your team will earn a top-five pick in each of the next five drafts. It's the perfect recipe for success, right?

This was (aside from the crystal ball, of course) David Caldwell when he was hired by the Jaguars. What followed was some of the more questionable moves the NFL has seen over the last decade, and the club's decision to waive Leonard Fournette highlights what is the poorest run organization in the league.

Caldwell has made a handful of head-scratching free-agent signings during his tenure - Julius Thomas, Chris Ivory, and Nick Foles are a few - but he'll mostly be remembered for draft blunders and an inability to retain core pieces.

A few notable busts actually precede Caldwell, but here's a look at Jacksonville's recent high-profile selections:

Early years

Caldwell didn't get off to a hot start. Holding the second overall pick in 2013, the Jaguars selected their future left tackle in Joeckel. Battling injuries and inconsistencies, he was mostly unimpressive across four campaigns.

The draft that year wasn't as talented overall compared to recent classes, but three-time Pro Bowler Lane Johnson was snagged two picks later by the Philadelphia Eagles. Ezekiel Ansah and Sheldon Richardson were also on the board for a club in desperate need of a pass-rush boost (Jacksonville's 20 sacks ranked dead last in 2012). DeAndre Hopkins and Xavier Rhodes were also chosen later in the first round.

It was a defining year for Caldwell in 2014, and not in a good way. The Jags chose Bortles as their franchise quarterback after giving up on Gabbert, who was drafted three years prior. We know how that ended, though Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater were the other two first-round passers selected in that draft. It's worth mentioning that after Bortles, 12 of the next 14 picks have earned Pro Bowl nods.

Unfortunately, mistakes were made in Caldwell's first two drafts as Jacksonville reached for needs and targeted players thought to be the best prospect available. Two swings, two misses.

Key players driven away

Jacksonville followed the Bortles blunder with a few solid decisions in the draft. The most notable example was in 2016 when Caldwell added Ramsey, Myles Jack, and Yannick Ngakoue in the opening three rounds. The problem? Two of them were driven away.

Ramsey and Ngakoue quickly emerged as premier young players at their respective positions, but problems with team culture highlighted by the hiring of former vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin ultimately cost the organization.

The two defensive stars repeatedly voiced their concerns with upper management's handling of contract extensions and other issues within the organization. As a result, Ramsey and Ngakoue refused to commit long term to the franchise and were ultimately traded.

2017 draft

We've reached our climax. Entering the 2017 NFL Draft, Bortles earned a paltry 11-34 record as a starter with 69 touchdowns to 51 interceptions across three campaigns. While many would have cut their losses, the Jaguars selected Fournette fourth overall.

The selection is by no means a knock against Fournette as a prospect - the running back shined at LSU and offered a unique blend of size and speed - but most evaluators saw this coming. Opting for a tailback with such a high pick in a passing league will have anyone questioning the decision.

What's more astounding is that if Caldwell and Jacksonville had correctly identified the need to select a quarterback, both Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were available. Perennial All-Pro candidates Jamal Adams, Christian McCaffrey, and Marshon Lattimore were also passed on for Fournette.

Imagine how different the NFL would look with Mahomes in Duval County ...

Where to next?

The Jaguars made a run to the AFC title game at the end of the 2017 season, but what remains of that roster is stunning. Of the team's 22 starters that year, only five are still with the organization (three offensive linemen, Jack, and defensive tackle Abry Jones).

Jacksonville's mostly avoidable roster turnover in the last three years is beyond comprehension, and the majority of the responsibility falls on Caldwell. With a 2020 lineup easily among the weakest in the league, the general manager and head coach Doug Marrone are on borrowed time. The question actually is, how have they lasted this long?

At least the club stands a pretty good chance at drafting Trevor Lawrence in 2021.