[Editor’s Note: Version 1.0 below was originally published on February 5]
The Jacksonville Jaguars are in a strange position as a team, and it was definitely difficult to decide what to give them in this Jaguars 7-round mock draft. They have talent on the roster, but had a falling out with their best player and ended up having to trade him. On the bright side, that means that for this mock draft, they do have an extra first-rounder. In the Jalen Ramsey trade, the Jaguars also received a first-round pick and a fourth-rounder in 2021. The Jaguars have a ton of draft capital and will be able to add a number of talented players over the next two seasons. For this Jaguars 7-round mock draft, I chose to give the Jaguars the best player available at each pick, as long as each player fits a team need.
Team Needs
Tier 1: Needs that must be addressed this offseason
- WR: DJ Chark came on this year as a true threat and #1 receiver, but the receiving unit lacks size. The top two weapons are Chark and Dede Westbrook, both of whom weigh in less than 200 pounds.
- iOL: The Jaguars have two players I really like at tackle in Cam Robinson and Jawaan Taylor. However, the interior of the line struggled at times in 2019, and some depth would be very beneficial.
- DL: The Jaguars struggled mightily with interior run defense in 2019, and will need to address the position at some point in the offseason. Depth along the defensive interior is also something Jacksonville struggles with.
- EDGE: It seems all but set in stone that standout edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue will leave the Jaguars. They drafted Josh Allen in the top ten last draft but could add even more talent for the right value.
- LB: Myles Jack is a great player, but he can’t man an entire linebacker corps by himself. Getting him a strong running mate should be a top priority.
- CB: After trading Ramsey, there is a major hole in the Jaguars cornerback room. AJ Bouye, while still a good player, holds a major cap hit this offseason and his future with the team is cloudy.
Tier 2: Talent could be added, but not desperately needed
- QB: With Gardner Minshew and Nick Foles both on the roster, I find it unlikely the current Jaguars regime looks for a new quarterback. Unless someone they’re in love with falls to the ninth selection, don’t expect them to target a signal-caller.
- RB: A receiving threat to pair with Leonard Fournette out of the backfield would be a very strong addition to the Jaguars offense. New Jaguars offensive coordinator Jay Gruden loved using a receiving back during his time in Washington.
- TE: There’s a fair bit of talent in the Jaguars tight end room, but their top three guys ended the season on injured reserve. Good value would be hard to pass up at this position.
- SAF: Adding a safety with good range and ball skills would be a nice addition, but it’s not a requirement for the defense.
This is how I viewed Jaguars’ biggest needs, and it’s how I approached each selection in this Jaguars 7-round mock draft. I used Fanspeak’s On The Clock simulator and chose player value by using my own big board. If you liked or disliked the picks, let me know on Twitter @MVScouting!
Jacksonville Jaguars 7-round mock draft
Round 1, Pick 9: Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson
Some might view this as a selection that simply couldn’t happen. “There’s no way Isaiah Simmons falls that far!” or “Simmons is a lock to go top four; what are you thinking?” Well, if you look at it logically, the three teams picking ahead of the Jaguars that have a major need at linebacker are the Redskins, Lions, and Giants. The Redskins, picking second, are all but guaranteed to take Chase Young, and would only take Simmons if they were to trade back.
As for the Lions and Giants, they could use Simmons, but he might not fit their preferences. The Lions are notorious for taking heavy, thickly-built linebackers. Simmons weighs in at 230, which is not what the Lions like. The Giants, meanwhile, have constantly spoken about their drive to run the football. With a trio of elite offensive tackles on the board at four, I’d expect them to go in that direction. There were even recent reports about Dave Gettleman and his infatuation with Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs. Simmons falling to Jacksonville is a very real possibility, and it happened in this Jaguars 7-round mock draft.
I know many would like to take a receiver here, but the value of the pick simply doesn’t support that idea. The 2020 linebacker class is horrible, and once Simmons is off the board, there’s only one other player that I have graded with a Top-50 grade. Meanwhile, the receiver class is widely regarded as the deepest in years. The Jaguars could easily find a starter on late Day 2, or even early Day 3. Simmons is my third-highest ranked prospect, and him falling to ninth overall is simply too good to pass up.
Simmons is an elite athlete. He stands at 6’3″ and will likely run a sub 4.4 at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He’d come into the NFL as one of the premier pass coverage linebackers, and he has the length and athletic ability to be an impact run defender. Simmons is the next of a rare breed; a player who can do it all. Pairing Simmons with Myles Jack would give Jacksonville the most athletic linebacker corps, maybe ever. Simmons is a slam-dunk pick to start this Jaguars 7-round mock draft.
Round 1, Pick 20: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE LSU
Losing Yannick Ngakoue is going to be a massive blow to the Jaguars’ defense. The development of Josh Allen will be key to sustaining pass rush production, but adding another high-upside edge rusher would be a great move. Calais Campbell also rushes off the edge, but he’s getting up there in age, and the lack of depth on the interior could be a reason for him to slide inside even more often.
A defensive core of Jack, Simmons, Allen, and Chaisson would constitute the first true position-less defense. Jack and Simmons are the perfect blend of athletic ability and size, blurring the line between defensive back and linebacker. Meanwhile, Allen and Chaisson both have experience as edge rushers and off-ball linebackers. They could drop into coverage just as quickly as they could burst off the line of scrimmage. This quartet of players would be the first true evolution into the new age of defending spread football.
Round 2, Pick 42: Trevon Diggs, CB Alabama
With the loss of Jalen Ramsey, the Jaguars might feel that they must address the cornerback position in the first round. However, I think the value is better for them in the early second round. Getting a player like Trevon Diggs or Jeff Gladney is very possible at #42, and it would allow them to target the best player available with their two first-round picks.
Diggs has some similarities to Ramsey. He’s got long arms, great ball skills, and an alpha mentality. Now, he’s nowhere near the player Ramsey is, nor is he on the same level of prospect Ramsey was. However, I believe Diggs could develop into one of the league’s premier defensive playmakers in the right scheme. Letting Diggs keep receivers in front of him, and utilizing his ball skills and instincts, will be paramount to his success.
Round 3, Pick 76: Leki Fotu, DT Utah
As mentioned earlier, the Jaguars were shredded in between the tackles all season. They need someone to eat up space. Leki Fotu does a great job of doing just that. Fotu is incredibly strong and long and is a plus run defender. However, he’s more than just a space filler. Fotu is a great athlete for his size and shows impressive flashes of pass-rushing ability. He can play any position on the defensive line but has a special affinity for the 3-tech. He could also learn under a player like Campbell, someone I think he played a bit like.
Round 4, Pick 106: Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
This is a fit I like a lot, and right in the range of where I value Michael Pittman. Pittman thrives as a jump ball machine. He physically dominates cornerbacks, and his playstyle is a perfect pairing with Chark and Westbrook. Pittman is a great fit as the second boundary receiver across from Chark. The receiving corps could spend a year together before Jacksonville potentially looks for a new franchise quarterback in 2021 if Minshew and Foles don’t work out.
Round 6, Pick 170: Jonah Jackson, iOL Ohio State
Jonah Jackson is a player I’m very high on. He could very well receive a Top 50-grade from me, though Top-75 is much more likely. He only played one year at a great program and has some serious athletic limitations. What he does well, however, he does very well. He’s a wall in pass protection, displaying nimble feet and great hands. He’s also a mauler in the run game, constantly moving people aside. Jackson is the perfect fit for a Fournette-led rushing attack.
Round 6, Pick 187: Antonio Gibson, RB Memphis
I had mentioned in the Tier 2 needs that a running back who can function as a receiver out of the backfield would be a great addition for Gruden’s Jaguars offense. Well, Antonio Gibson is the best receiving back I’ve ever evaluated. That may be because he primarily played receiver in college, however. Gibson has some development to do as a rusher, but his impact as a day one threat out of the backfield would be great value in the sixth round.
Round 7, Pick 201: Jauan Jennings, WR Tennessee
This was just a “best player available” pick. Jauan Jennings had a strong week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, and he has strong size and athletic ability for the position. He may not be a polished prospect, but he should come in and instantly be a depth upgrade over the likes of C.J. Board, Charon Peake, and Michael Walker.