The NFL draft is next week and the Jaguars have the No. 5 pick. With a new regime led by head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone, it’s a new era for the franchise. The News4JAX sports staff is hammering out all sorts of draft content in the lead-up to the draft.
In this scenario, we looked at trades back for the No. 5 pick using Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator. We then let Chat GPT assign a grade for the deals.
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Making the pick and No. 5 and throwing in a surprise selection
The first four players off the board:
1. QB Cam Ward, Titans
2. WR/CB Travis Hunter, Browns
3. Edge Abdul Carter, Giants
4. DL Mason Graham, Patriots
Kyle Ashley
The trade: I traded the No.5 pick to the Chicago Bears to move back to No.10.
What I received: The Jaguars get the No. 10 pick, and they also get the Bears’ second-round pick (41).
The value: Similar to what Justin has below, I can now take two picks in the second round or trade them to move back into the first. This gives the Jaguars a range of options for what they can do after the first pick, especially if they get the guy they want.
Who I took: With the No. 10 overall pick, I had the Jaguars taking Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. He brings exactly the kind of physicality and instincts the Jaguars secondary needs. He’s “big nickel” with excellent route recognition and toughness at the catch point. Barron thrives in underneath coverage — an area where Jacksonville struggled last season. Teaming him up with Tyson Campbell and Jarrian Jones could definitely add a much-needed boost to the defensive backfield. His aggressive play style, combined with plus-size and the versatility to eventually cross-train at safety, makes him a great pick. He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and Barron could step in as an early contributor and develop into a long-term starter in the Jaguars evolving defensive scheme.
Chat GPT grade:
✅ Final grade: B-
- Value-Wise: You win the trade—getting pick 41 is a legit bonus for dropping five spots.
- Pick-Wise: Jaedae Barron at 10 is a reach. It could pay off if he’s a perfect scheme fit and becomes a star, but based on consensus value and positional norms, it dings the grade a bit.
If you’d taken Barron at 20 or even 30? Grade probably bumps up to an A-. But at 10, it’s bold.
Justin Barney
With how the board fell, I had the pick of the player who I prefer (RB Ashton Jeanty), reinforcements on the offensive line or a big receiver (Tetairoa McMillian). But I had three teams interested in the pick — Chicago, New Orleans and San Francisco.
The trade: I sent pick Nos. 5, 70 and 107 in this year’s draft to the Saints, along with a third and a fifth in next year’s draft.
What I received: In return, I picked up the No. 9 and 40th selections this year and New Orleans’ first-rounder next year.
The value: Using the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart, I sent out a total of 2,327 points in this year’s draft (the No. 5 pick is worth 1,700 points, pick No. 70 is worth 520 points and No. 107 is worth 245). There’s no exact value chart for future picks, but they are devalued. The best thing I could find in terms of future picks is that their value decreases by roughly a round, and the selection is thought to be No. 24. So, the 2026 picks become worth roughly 46 points for the third-rounder and 11 points for the fifth-rounder. I’m all in at 2,384 points. I received back the No. 9 pick (1,350 points) and No. 40 pick (500 points). Next year’s first is roughly the value of this year’s No. 24 pick (740). I’m getting back 2,590 points in this trade.
Who I took: I stayed put at No. 9 and selected Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker. He’s a natural replacement for Devin Lloyd and would be able to contribute this year by rushing the passer alongside Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. McMillian and Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen were also there but I thought Walker was a better value. Plus, defensive line depth in this draft is solid. And with a pair of second-round selections now (Nos. 36 and 40), I have the option to trade back into the first round. I’m excited about getting New Orleans’ first-round selection next year. With massive quarterback questions, there’s a very good chance that it could land in the top 10, similar to what Chicago pulled off with its heist of Carolina when the Panthers traded up from No. 9 to No. 1 and sent its first-round pick in the next draft, too. That pick eventually became the first overall selection.
Chat GPT grade
✅ Final grade: A-
This trade demonstrates a savvy approach to roster building, balancing the acquisition of immediate talent with future draft capital. While there’s a slight risk in moving down from pick 5, the overall gain in draft value and the selection of a high-caliber player like Jalon Walker justify the move.
Jamal St. Cyr
The trade: I traded down to 12. The Cowboys get No. 5 and one of Jacksonville’s third-round picks (88). Jaguars get the Cowboys’ second-round pick (44) and their first-round pick next year. On the clock and 12, and the phone rings again. This time it’s the Seahawks at 18. In exchange for the 12th pick, they send the Jags No. 18, their second-round pick (50) and a fourth-round pick next year.
What I received: After some draft gymnastics, the Jaguars have the 18th pick, as well as Nos. 36, 44, 50, 70, 107, 126, 142, 182, 194, and 221, plus an extra first-round pick and a fourth-round pick next year. Adding enough ammo that I could trade back into the first round for another player if we had gone through the full process.
The value: Oh, and they land one of the guys they love in this year’s draft class, Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas. Play him at tackle or guard; either way, he will be a starter for most of the next decade.
Who I took: After all the dealing, I took Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 18. This draft is an interesting one. When the Jaguars get on the clock at 5, unless they get lucky and someone falls into their laps, that player could go at 5 or could slide into the teens. It is that kind of draft class when there are good players, but many of them in that range aren’t going to be separated by much on team boards. Realistically, I think it will be tough for the Jags to find a dance partner to trade down, but my goal was to get as many top 50 picks as I could to maximize this draft and add meaningful and impactful players to the roster.
Right now, the Jaguars’ roster is at 59 players! Fifty-nine players, and they can carry 90 into training camp. They could sign a huge undrafted free agent class, or they could go and get more draft picks. That also means there are a ton of jobs open for rookies to be able to earn, so the more top 50 picks, the better. Also add in still being able to land Banks. Right now, it is all about Will Campbell and Armand Membou, but early in the process, there was more hype around Banks than anyone. The hype fell off partly because of some issues in his game, but make no mistake, he is a good player. His best position in the NFL might be guard, and that fits the agenda of upgrading the Jags offensive line perfectly. In an earlier article, I wrote about Banks as a possible surprise pick at 5, so getting him at 18 is a win.
Chat GPT grade
✅ Final grade: A
The Jaguars executed a series of trades that resulted in a net gain of approximately 560 points, according to the traditional draft value chart. By acquiring additional picks and a future first-round selection, they enhanced their draft capital while still securing a high-caliber offensive tackle in Banks. This approach demonstrates a balanced strategy of addressing immediate needs and planning for the future.
