Urban Meyer reveals NFL Draft pick that got away and Travis Etienne won’t like it

Urban Meyer revealed the NFL Draft pick that got away and in the process, may have alienated the pick he made, Travis Etienne.

Urban Meyer had an easy decision with the first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft with Trevor Lawrence the no-brainer pick and the primary reason Meyer is coaching the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first place.

However, the second pick in the first round was a bit tougher and it may have already alienated Meyer in the locker room for his honest response to the No. 25 pick.

The Jaguars took Clemson running back Travis Etienne with the pick, reuniting him with his college quarterback, but it’s not who Meyer really wanted with their second pick.

Urban Meyer wanted Kadarius Toney over Travis Etienne

Meyer admitted he was hoping former Florida receiver Kadarius Toney would be available.

“I’ve got to know him over the last couple weeks and obviously with my connection with coach Mullen and those guys,” Meyer said in a press conference on Saturday. “I just think, if you watch him play, he’s a human highlight reel.”

Toney ended up going five picks earlier to the New York Giants with the No. 20 pick. That gave Meyer and the Jaguars five picks to reshuffle their board and they took the second running back off the board.

Etienne is no consolation prize, however, as Meyer is very excited to take the ACC’s all-time leading rusher.

“He’s much more than a running back,” Meyer said. “He’s a guy that had a lot of production in the passing game at Clemson. He’s got excellent hands and he’ll be dual trained.”

That said, it wouldn’t be shocking if Etienne was a little miffed by the admission of his new head coach that he was the backup plan. It’s one thing for Meyer to have a number of plans in place for the draft because you have to be prepared, but it’s another to come out two days after the pick is made and express how much you wanted the guy you didn’t take.

Etienne is a competitor so he may have some hostility toward Meyer who just added to the chip on his shoulder. At the same time, Meyer did take Etienne so it’s not like Etienne is going to demand a trade, but it’ll probably make him a little miffed knowing he wasn’t Plan A.