The 2023 season is officially in the books and the Kansas City Chiefs are again champions.
In a month free agency will begin and the 2024 NFL draft is scheduled to get started on Thursday, April 25. For the Jacksonville Jaguars, there are a few potential avenues to upgrade the roster after a disappointing finish.
The interior offensive line jumps out as the team’s biggest weakness, but the wide receiving corps, cornerbacks, and defensive line could all use help too.
That has meant there’s no consensus about what direction the Jaguars will go with the No. 17 overall selection in April. Still, there’s a handful of prospects who are starting to be frequently paired with Jacksonville in mock drafts. Here’s seven who are standing out most:
LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.
Mocks: Chad Reuter (NFL.com), Scott Smith (Buccaneers.com), Tom Fornelli (CBS), Josh Edwards (CBS), Garrett Podell (CBS), Chris Trapasso (CBS), Ryan Roberts (College Sports Wire)
Via Reuter:
If Calvin Ridley departs in free agency, the Jaguars will need a downfield presence to complement Christian Kirk and Parker Washington underneath.
Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell
Mocks: Lance Zierlein (NFL.com), Damian Parson (The Draft Network), Bleacher Report, Nick Guarisco (Action Network), Alyssa Barbieri (Bears Wire), Phil Perry (NBC Sports Boston)
Via Zierlein:
Matching up against C.J. Stroud will be key moving forward for the Jaguars. Mitchell has great size and plus man-cover talent, which I saw him display at the Reese’s Senior Bowl last week.
Texas DT Byron Murphy II
Mocks: Ben Solak (The Ringer), Nick Baumgartner (The Athletic), Danny Kelly (The Ringer)
Via Solak:
The interior defensive line class is tough to figure out this year, but the Jaguars sure need to—defensive tackle was their shakiest position once DaVon Hamilton went down, and the lack of interior penetration made it harder for any non-Josh Allen edge rusher to produce. Murphy is a squatty but quick penetration player, which fits the role and mold that new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen has preferred of his interior defensive linemen.
Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson
Mocks: Field Yates (ESPN), Trevor Sikkema (Pro Football Focus),
Via Yates:
Powers-Johnson was incredible for Oregon this past season and then went down to the Senior Bowl and looked like one of the best players on the field. Among the many traits that stand out about JPJ is that when he gets beat — and that doesn’t happen often — he can recover quickly enough to keep his quarterback clean. He’s the best center in the draft and addresses a big position of need in Jacksonville.
UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu
Mocks: Eric Edholm (NFL.com), Ryan Wilson (CBS),
Via Edholm:
This pick might not work for the Jaguars if they keep Josh Allen from bolting in free agency, and Latu’s arm length isn’t exactly what GM Trent Baalke typically seeks in an edge, but finding a pass-rushing partner for Travon Walker will be pretty essential if Allen does ultimately depart Duval. Latu was a highly productive college player with a deep bag of pass-rush tricks.
Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
Mocks: Doug Farrar (Touchdown Wire), JP Acosta (SB Nation)
Via Acosta:
With Ryan Nielsen coming over from Atlanta and CB Darious Williams potentially being a cap casualty, the cornerback spot needs to be addressed. Wiggins is a high level athlete at the position who loves to play physically in press coverage, which he would do a lot of in Jacksonville.
Alabama CB Terrion Arnold
Mocks: Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today), Chris Spooner (Vikings Wire),
Via Middlehurst-Schwartz:
Sure, GM Trent Baalke dismissed the notion that new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen would bring a big change with substantially more man coverage, thereby necessitating a retooling of the secondary. Still, with Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams entering the final years of their deal, it would be wise to reload the back end of the defense, especially with a well-rounded and ascendant cornerback like Arnold.
