JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The NFL draft begins on April 24 and the Jaguars have the No. 5 pick in the first round. We used Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator to make the first four selections, then made our own. We made two selections; who the Jaguars should pick in this scenario and a surprise pick.
Justin Barney, Jamal St. Cyr and Kyle Ashley make our selections for the Jaguars.
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The first four players off the board:
1. QB Cam Ward, Titans.
2. CB/WR Travis Hunters, Browns.
3. OT Will Campbell, Giants.
4. Edge Abdul Carter, Patriots.
Justin’s actual pick: DL Mason Graham, Michigan.
Why: The Jaguars were bad on defense last year. Very bad. And I’m not convinced they have the players on their roster to fix the defensive line. Yes, they are invested on the line with Arik Armstead, DaVon Hamilton and last year’s second-round pick Maason Smith, but they need more help. If you look at what James Gladstone was around with the Rams, you saw them go heavy on both lines in the draft. I think Graham is the easiest pick to make. Sure, it’s not the sexiest of picks but I do think he’s the best defensive lineman available. I’ve heard the chatter about Graham and another former Jaguars first-round bust, Taven Bryan, but that’s unfair. Bryan was widely considered an unpolished project when Jacksonville took him 29th in the 2018 draft. Graham is coming off an All-American final season at Michigan. I’d like to think Graham winds up more like John Henderson and Marcus Stroud (first-round defensive tackles) more than Bryan or Tyson Alualu (10th pick in 2010).
Justin’s surprise pick: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State.
Why: What better way to help Trevor Lawrence than to give him one of the best offensive weapons in the draft. Travis Etienne is playing on his fifth-year option and has plateaued. Tank Bigsby has been hot and cold but is probably best suited for a role where he gets six to eight carries a game. Jeanty probably isn’t Saquon Barkley 2.0 but Lawrence hasn’t had a back of that quality in the NFL. Yes, a premium pick on a running back feels like shades of Leonard Fournette but this is a different time and a different regime. Coen’s offense thrived last year with Bucky Irving (yes, he was a fourth-rounder) but think of what Coen and Grant Udinski could scheme up with Jeanty as the primary back. Draft odds have gotten more favorable on this pick, too.
Jamal’s actual pick: LB Jalon Walker, Georgia.
Why: Honestly, I think the Jags will say he is “intangibly rich.” All jokes aside, he is the type of person this Jags leadership is looking for. Walker is a coach’s kid he was a leader at Georgia and can “elevate the ecosystem by being nothing more than himself.” OK, I’m done with the Gladstone-isms now. Walker is going to go higher in the draft than people think. He is a good football player who could add to the Jaguars’ defense as we look for clues about how the Jags feel about their roster. Not picking up Devin Lloyd’s fifth-year option seems like a pretty clear signal. Walker will be what people projected Lloyd to be. He is a do-it-all all player who can stand up at linebacker on early downs and be a weapon as a blitzer and line up on the edge on passing downs. I see the vision. Not my favorite pick, but that’s how I think it will shake out right now.
Jamal’s surprise pick: OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas.
Why: This one is easy because if they put the pick in, people will be scratching their heads because no one is talking about Banks going this high anymore. But with Will Campbell off the board, who are they going to love? Why not Banks? If the plan to to upgrade the O-line, he is a great player to add to the room. Banks is a people mover. Physicality is one of the parts of the Jags definition of “intangibly rich,” and banks bring the Physicality. Draft him, plug him in at Guard or Tackle, and watch running lanes open up. Fans can just bring syrup with them to games because he will bring the pancakes.
Kyle’s actual pick: DL Mason Graham, Michigan.
Why: If the board falls the way many expect, the Jaguars may find themselves choosing between Georgia’s Jalon Walker and Michigan’s Mason Graham. In this scenario, I think they play it safe and follow the consensus — locking in Graham at No. 5. Graham is a disruptive force in the trenches and fits a major need for a Jaguars defense that struggled across the board last season. He’s a stout run defender with the motor and technique to contribute as an interior pass rusher — something this unit sorely lacked. Ranked high on many draft boards, Graham brings the kind of high-floor, high-character profile that teams love in a top-10 pick. If Jacksonville wants to get tougher and more dynamic up front, this pick makes a lot of sense.
Kyle’s surprise pick: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona.
Why: The Jaguars are in dire need of playmakers to support Trevor Lawrence, and while some analysts have cooled a bit on Tetairoa McMillan, I see him as the exact spark this offense needs. T-Mac checks every box you want in a top-tier wide receiver — size, strength, speed, and a knack for making big plays. There’s a bit of Mike Evans in his game — that physical dominance on the outside and the ability to win contested catches. Pair that with Liam Coen’s creative mind, and there’s real potential to build something explosive in Jacksonville. If the Jags take a swing on McMillan at No. 5, it might raise eyebrows on draft night. But come Sundays, I believe he could be the difference-maker that takes this offense to another level.
