The 2022 NFL Draft has officially kicked off, and the Jacksonville Jaguars have made their first selection. As the seven rounds progress and the team makes all of their picks, we will provide a live draft grade and analysis for each of the Jaguars’ selections. How do these new prospects fit with the roster, what kind of impact will they have on the team, and what do the team’s needs look like now that the draft is complete?
Make sure to continue to check back as the 2022 NFL Draft continues for live Jacksonville Jaguars draft grades and analysis.
Jacksonville Jaguars grades for 2022 NFL Draft
What are the Jaguars’ grades for their selections in the 2022 NFL Draft as they look to address their main needs this offseason?
Round 1, Pick 1: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Travon Walker doesn’t have the production profile of a No. 1 overall pick, but he does have the athletic profile. Walker is an absolute freak, standing at 6’5”, 272 pounds, with 34.5” arms. At that size, he logged an absurd 4.51 40-yard dash, along with a 6.89 three-cone, a 35.5” vertical, and a 10’3” broad. Walker is a historic athlete on the defensive line – there’s no denying it.
Of course, football is about a lot more than athleticism. Walker needs to refine his hand usage before he can reach his maximum potential. He doesn’t have the refinement of a traditional No. 1 pick. But for Jaguars DC Mike Caldwell, who comes from the Todd Bowles defensive tree, Walker can be a versatile weapon early on, much like he was at Georgia. A designated destroyer with complete alignment versatility, Walker can repay the value of this pick easily at his ceiling. There’s uncertainty, but in this class, it’s worth banking on.
Grade: B+
Round 1, Pick 27: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
This is a pick that rarely showed up in mock drafts – largely because the Jaguars weren’t thought to be in range for this player. But during the real thing, Jacksonville changed that, taking matters into their own hands. They traded back up into the first round, taking Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd at 27th overall.
Lloyd wasn’t the first linebacker taken – that honor belongs to Quay Walker – but he is largely viewed as one of the best LBs in the 2022 NFL Draft. Alongside Foyesade Oluokun, he brings Jacksonville’s linebacker corps to a new level. Lloyd is an excellent fit in Caldwell’s defense. With his length and explosiveness, he can cover, sift through gaps against the run, and rush the passer.
Grade: A
Round 3, Pick 65: Luke Fortner, C, Kentucky
The Jaguars had a slight surprise earlier this offseason when veteran center Brandon Linder retired. They expressed confidence in his backup, Tyler Shatley. But there was still a sense that they had room to improve there. One could argue they’ve done that with the 65th overall pick. The Jaguars led off Round 3 with Kentucky center Luke Fortner.
Fortner isn’t a flashy pick, but he could go on to anchor the Jaguars’ line for a decade. He’s not an elite athlete, but his 1.77 10-yard split is more than passable. In every other facet, he’s a solid player. He has a strong base and good natural leverage. He’s a high-IQ blocker in short spaces, and he has the hip fluidity to stack blocks and adjust his attack angles. This is a pick intent on protecting Trevor Lawrence – and it’s a good one.
Grade: B+
Round 3, Pick 70: Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
Playing the value of the board is an art, and the Jaguars mastered it in Round 3. While many teams dealt to move up the board, Jacksonville stayed put at 70 and managed to land Wyoming linebacker Chad Muma. Muma is the second linebacker selected by Jacksonville – the first being Devin Lloyd in Round 1.
On the surface, Muma seems a little redundant with Lloyd. But the two linebackers can play off of each other well. Like Lloyd, Muma has a high-end size/athleticism combination, and he also has great instincts. He can habitually flow to the ball, and he’s able to stack and shed blocks. With Foyesade Oluokun as more of a coverage specialist, Lloyd and Muma can be a dangerous LB duo in the box.
Grade: A
Round 5, Pick 154: Snoop Conner, RB, Ole Miss
An underrated running back who has been in the shadow of standout athlete Jerrion Ealy at Ole Miss, Snoop Conner comes off the board before his more well-known teammate. Conner is an aggressive runner who already possesses an NFL frame and has the skill set to play in multiple schemes.
He has the physicality to bulldoze his way into the end zone but also possesses the vision to find and take advantage of holes in front of him. Furthermore, Conner can handle his business as a pass protector. The question mark here is how he fits in a rotation with James Robinson and Travis Etienne.
Grade: B
Round 6, Pick 197: Gregory Junior, CB, Ouachita Baptist
The Jaguars have one of the more athletic CB rooms in the NFL with Tyson Campbell, Darious Williams, and Shaquill Griffin. At this point, they don’t need a starter, but adding depth would be a valuable exercise. In the middle of the sixth round, Gregory Junior provides the Jaguars with the same athleticism they crave from their starters.
Junior, at 6’0”, 203 pounds, has 4.46 speed, a 39.5” vertical, and a 6.97 three-cone. His game needs some cleaning up, but his athleticism is appealing, as is his extremely physical nature. Junior is a feisty defender who’s not afraid to get in his receiver’s grill, and he can tackle as well. That ability could give him special-teams value early.
Grade: A-
Round 7, Pick 222: Montaric Brown, CB, Arkansas
It’s back-to-back defensive back picks for the Jacksonville Jaguars as they look to improve the depth at the cornerback position. Montaric Brown earned first-team All-SEC honors this season after snagging 5 interceptions during his final season with Arkansas. He has the size and skill set to man the boundary. Additionally, he has the instincts to be a proficient zone-corner option for the Jaguars.
A tough competitor who can battle in run support, Brown doesn’t achieve impressive production purely by look. Ball tracking, instincts, and catching ability make him a solid late-round investment.
Grade: B+
What were the Jaguars’ biggest needs entering the draft?
- EDGE, WR, S, LB, OT
The Jaguars have had quite the offseason in 2022. Signing Cam Robinson to a long-term contract certainly reduced the need at offensive tackle, but they still need to add a potential starting right tackle and depth. In terms of pass catchers, they have an intriguing trio of Christian Kirk, Marvin Jones, and Laviska Shenault. However, they could certainly add to that group and give Lawrence more weapons in 2022 and beyond.
On defense, the needs are all over the unit. Josh Allen and Dawuane Smoot are both set to be free agents next year, so Jacksonville needs to look at doing something with that unit. Both safety and linebacker have intriguing options but could certainly do with additional depth.