For weeks it seemed the Jacksonville Jaguars intended to focus their first-round efforts on upgrading their defense. Instead, the Jaguars traded down twice near the end of the round and opted to select offensive tackle Anton Harrison.
The move made plenty of sense for Jacksonville given the departure of Jawaan Taylor in free agency and the impending suspension of Cam Robinson. Still, it came with plenty of talent on the board.
With the Jaguars sitting at No. 56 and No. 88 overall in rounds two and three, respectively, there’s no shortage of exciting players still available Friday night. Here are 12 prospects who would make sense for Jacksonville to target:
Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State
Not many expected the three-time All-Big 10 cornerback to be available when the Jaguars picked at No. 24, let alone the second round.
At nearly 6’3, Porter is the type of tall, long cornerback that Trent Baalke typically covets and his 4.46 speed is more than enough.
It’d likely take a trade up in the second round to land Porter, as he probably won’t sit on the board for another two dozen selections.
Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson called upgrading the team’s pass rush “vital,” but no move has been made yet. Expect edge rushers to be a top priority for the Jaguars on Friday and White fits the bill.
The 6’5, 285-pound former tight end has the athleticism and versatility to play in multiple fronts. After transferring from Old Dominion, White finished his final season of college football with 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss at Georgia Tech.
Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
No player was paired with the Jaguars in mock drafts more than Branch. While Jacksonville didn’t pick him, neither did any other team on Thursday.
He probably won’t be available long on Friday, but if the Jaguars managed to land Branch, they’d get a highly productive defensive back who could be a playmaker in the slot.
O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
Would the Jaguars really double dip with another offensive lineman rather than add defensive talent? Probably not, but Torrence could be the exception.
If the consensus All-American guard is within reach for Jacksonville, the team could add a plug-and-play guard next to center Luke Fortner. That’d give the team a young and exciting group in front of Trevor Lawrence for the foreseeable future.
Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The Jaguars say that the tight end position isn’t in dire straits, and they’re right, but it sure wouldn’t hurt to add another premium player at the position.
After just one tight end (Dalton Kincaid) went in the first round, Notre Dame’s Mayer is head and shoulders above the other prospects still available at the position.
Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami (Fla.)
After Devon Witherspoon went in the top five, cornerbacks were largely pushed down the board in the remainder of the first round. Christian Gonzalez fell to No. 17 and the aforementioned Joey Porter Jr. dropped out of the first round, altogether.
While the Jaguars may want to jump up for Porter, that could be pricy. Stevenson, a 6’0, 198-pound Georgia transfer, could be a more realistic option and provide the Jaguars with another rangy corner to eventually start opposite Tyson Campbell.
Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
While Washington was one of the clear winners of the NFL Scouting Combine, it wasn’t enough to earn him a spot in the first round. His rare blend of size, power, and athleticism mean he won’t have to wait long to hear his name Friday, though.
What makes Washington a rare prospect is his blocking prowess. There’s upside for his playmaking abilities, but Washington can immediately fill the void left by the departure of Chris Manhertz and give the Jaguars the second coming of Marcedes Lewis.
Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Some thought Smith was a sleeper contender to be the Jaguars’ pick at 24. Instead, the South Carolina cornerback wasn’t picked in the first round and hasn’t been talked about much with other corners like Joey Porter Jr. also available.
But the 6’1 Smith could represent excellent value if he’s still on the board in the latter half of the second round. His blend of size and speed is very similar to the skills that Tyson Campbell brought as a prospect two years ago.
Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE, Northwestern
His name might not be easy to learn, but Adebawore’s prodigious athleticism would make it worth the effort.
The 6’2, 282-pound defensive lineman blew away the combine with a 4.49 40-yard dash and a 37.5-inch vertical jump. While his below average height and still unrefined skills kept him out of the first round, his explosiveness still makes him an intriguing prospect.
Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Brents is another long, rangy cornerback who would seem to fit what Trent Baalke is typically looking for in the secondary.
At 6’3, 198 pounds, Brents is about as tall as any cornerback you’ll find and he has a 41.5-inch vertical, just in case you wanted him to get even higher in the air.
The concern is a 4.53 40-yard dash that may mean he’s limited to playing in a zone defense, as he could be difficult to trust in a one-on-one man assignment.
B.J. Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
Ojulari may not boast the incredible measurables of other prospects, but he wasn’t a First Team All-SEC selection on accident.
The LSU pass rusher posted 12 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in his last two seasons with the Tigers. While he’s a little smaller than most at 6’2, 248 pounds, Ojulari’s 34.5-inch arms meet the threshold Baalke typically looks for.
Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
How about one more cornerback for good measure?
Ringo is a monstrous cornerback at 6’2, 207 pounds and he played high level football for the scariest defense in the country. He isn’t lacking for speed either with a 4.36 40-yard dash.
While the grabbiness that led to a lot of penalties will have to be cleaned up, there’s too much raw ability for Ringo to stay on the board long Friday.
