The State of the Jaguars:
The Jaguars 2021 season was almost entirely negative. Urban Meyer’s tenure will forever be one of the worst coaching jobs in NFL history. After picking No. 1 for the first time in franchise history, the Jaguars find themselves right back in the same situation, selecting first. While No. 1 picks have recently been for QBs, combining a weak class with a team that holds Trevor Lawrence means that is likely not going to happen this year. Here are some players the Jaguars may be considering at each of their Day 1 & 2 picks.
#1 Overall
Aidan Hutchinson – Edge – Michigan
Hutchinson is the ideal modern NFL edge with a special blend of pass rush skills, athleticism, strength, hand use, and competitiveness that will make him a cornerstone player for an NFL franchise.
Josh Allen has been a reputable force on one edge, but a counterpart hasn’t stepped up. Hutchinson is comes with production & athleticism who could help resurrect the 2017 “Sacksonville” moniker.
Neal is a young prospect with the rare combination of size and athletic ability that give him both a high floor and a Hall of Fame ceiling as a blind-side protector.
Giving your young quarterback offensive line protection is paramount to their longevity and ability to succeed. Neal is a long-term immediate starter to protect Lawrence.
Kayvon Thibodeaux – Edge – Oregon
Thibodeaux is a game-changing pass rusher and strong run defender who plays with heavy hands and good leverage, though he needs to improve his flexibility and run a hotter motor to become a more complete player.
A preseason favorite for the No. 1 pick, Thibodeaux would create a hyper-athletic edge tandem that can succeed on all three downs.
#33 Overall
Jahan Dotson – WR – Penn State
Dotson’s size and toughness limit him in certain situations, but his explosiveness and body control allow him to make spectacular plays at all levels of the field.
Dotson is a versatile weapon with sure hands and can easily become a heavy target-share player, who can win at all levels from the outside, something the Jaguars must acquire.
Bernhard Raimann – OT – Central Michigan
Raimann is a raw athlete with good size and the strength to hold up early at the next level, though refining his hands and overall skill set as a lineman could allow him to develop into a solid starter one day.
With Cam Robinson’s second franchise tag, the Jaguars can afford to take the swing on the Austrian’s upside while he refines his technique.
Pickens is a big-bodied, big-play threat whose hands, tracking ability and competitiveness will make him a consistent contributor, especially once he learns an NFL route tree and if he becomes more dynamic after the catch.
A downfield threat that is a great replacement for DJ Chark, and his contested-catch ability is something the Jaguars don’t have anywhere on the roster.
#65 Overall
Trey McBride – TE – Colorado State
McBride has the hands, catch radius and body control as a receiver with the willingness and competitiveness as a blocker to start at the next level, but inconsistent separation skills and run block effectiveness could hold him back.
Doug Pederson previously emphasized TEs in Philadelphia, and McBride joining that room being a surehanded receiving tight end is a great fit.
Channing Tindall – LB – Georgia
While Tindall never started a game at Georgia, he has the athleticism, man coverage skills, and tackling prowess to be a starter in the NFL and he just needs to improve his power and intelligence to hit his ceiling.
Tindall’s athletic ability to play both against the run and in the pass gives the Jaguars a quality defensive player to build with, something they simply don’t have many of.
Bell needs to improve his route running separation skills, but his deep ball tracking and slippery ball carrying abilities should make for a multi-level threat and a reliable, alignment-versatile third option.
Bell’s after-catch abilities and downfield play from a wide position is something the Jaguars lack, and is capable of moving safeties back to allow Christian Kirk and TEs to operate underneath.
#70 Overall
Muma is an explosive player with ideal size and a motor that does not quit in order to make splash plays and contribute as a core special teamer, but he needs to refine his skills to make a consistent impact in all areas.
Muma’s high motor and ability to shed blocks becomes a great fit alongside Oluokun if they want to have an answer for division rivals Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor.
Joseph is a rangy, ball-hawking deep safety who has the smarts and skills to be a starter at the next level, though he’d become more of a threat if he gets a little more physical and is willing to mix it up more often.
Joseph would give the Jaguars a true no-fly-zone safety tandem along with Andre Cisco.
Myjai Sanders – Edge – Cincinnati
Sanders has a relentless mindset with the length, repertoire, and hand use to be an effective three-down player, but he’ll need to keep his pad level down and focus on mixing up his pass rush moves in order to hit his ceiling.
Growing up in Jacksonville, Sanders is an athletic upside rusher who consistently generated pressures with Cincinnati.
To learn more about the Jaguars and their needs, visit their team page on our NFL Draft website here.
