Corner, edge or receiver in the first round? Our 7-round mock draft for the Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The NFL draft is just about one week away. The Jaguars hold the 17th pick in the draft and could use an infusion of talent at receiver, cornerback and along the defensive line. The News4JAX sports staff used Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator and then our staff made its selections for the Jaguars in all seven rounds.

Here’s how it shook out and our full analysis below.

News4JAX Jaguars draft picks

Round 1, Pick 17

Best available: Cooper DeJean, Laiatu Latu, Johnny Newton, Byron Murphy, Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Amarius Mims, Adonai Mitchell, Adonai Mitchell, Brian Thomas Jr., Nate Wiggins, Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Jamal St. Cyr: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson

I am a best-player-available type of drafter so I love Justin’s pick of Laiatu Latu! But I went a different direction. Early in the process I thought Nate Wiggins wouldn’t be a good fit physically for the Jags. He is a lighter corner with a more slender build than some other guys in the class. He has grown on me the more I watched. He’s a combo of speed, competitiveness, and coverage skills you can’t teach. Plus while he isn’t a big hitter he is a willing tackler. Just look at some of the chase-down tackles he made for Clemson that sort of effort is exactly what a Ryan Nielsen defense is about.

Justin Barney: Edge Laiatu Latu, UCLA

My first choice was to trade up into the top 10 for a receiver, but we held off on trades. I went against my pre-draft thoughts on receiver here and picked the second-best player available in Latu. Package Latu with Josh Allen, Arik Armstead and Travon Walker and this defense gives Ryan Nielsen an arsenal of pressure. Sure, Latu has medical red flags that require scrutiny but the potential for this defense is off the charts.

Alessandra Pontbriand: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

I am confident the Jaguars are choosing a cornerback with the 17th pick. There are a ton of great ones on the board (obviously it’s the first round), but McKinstry is good. He was a solid college player and he learned from Nick Saban, so he should transition to the pros easily.

Round 2, Pick 48

Best Available: Zach Frazier, Mike Sainristil, Adisa Isaac, Keon Coleman, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Braden Fiske, Ricky Pearsall, Kris Jenkins, TJ Tampa.

JS: WR Keon Coleman, FSU

This was a consensus pick by the three of us and I love it. Coleman didn’t have the fastest 40 times at the combine and I flat-out don’t care! Keenan Allen ran a 4.71, Anquan Boldin ran a 4.71, and Allen Robinson ran a 4.6. All three of those guys went on to have great careers. Keon’s ability to go up and get contested catches is elite but he also has the ability make guys miss. A guys with his size and that sort of wiggle he sort of reminds me of when I was watching Robinson at Penn State after the catch at times. Coleman is a guy I am bullish on in the second round as being a guy who will be looked back at as a steal of the draft.

JB: WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

With no trade up for Rome Odunze, a receiver is a must. Coleman is a 6-4, 215-pounder who is just what the Jaguars needed here. He won’t have to come in and be a starter immediately, but his upside is stout. Jacksonville has been notoriously bad at drafting receivers in the first round, but picked stars like Allen Robinson and DJ Chark in the second round. Jacksonville can’t afford to keep paying receivers in free agency.

AP: WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

I watched Coleman tear up defenses this past college football season. He’s good and his size is great. Coleman should be a complement in the wide receivers room.

Round 3, Pick 96

Best Available: Malik Washington, Bralen Trice, Dominick Puni, Christian Mahogany, Michael Hall Jr., Jarrian Jones, Jamari Thrash, Sedrick Van Pran, Tyrone Tracy, Kamren Kitchens.

JS: DL Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State

With so many young and improving quarterbacks in the AFC south adding as much juice to the pass rush as possible has to be a priority. Hall (pictured below) adds that impact. He is a little undersized for a defensive tackle but has flashed good ability to slice into the backfield. Hall is a perfect fit for the Jaguars because he would have time to develop into a full-time player over the course of a few seasons. But on the first day of camp, he adds some interior pass rush in sub packages on third downs.

JB: OL Dominick Puni, Kansas

Jacksonville needs reinforcements on the offensive line. I’m not sold on the moves they’ve made thus far to add to that. In Puni (6-5, 313 pounds), they get a versatile player who has played the tackle and guard positions in college. He’s likely a guard long term in the NFL, and Jacksonville needs guard help. Sedrick Van Pran would have been my other pick here. He’d likely make Luke Fortner expendable.

AP: EDGE Bralen Trice, Washington

I was thinking either OL or defense in the third round. I went with a defensive player who can learn from Josh Allen and Co. and use his urgency and effort he’s known for to cause trouble up front.

Round 4, Pick 114

Best Available: Michael Pratt, Hunter Nourzad, Jarrian Jones, Brennan Jackson, Tykee Smith, Ainias Smith, Braelon Allen, T’Vondre Sweat, Sione Vaki, Brenden Rice.

JS: OT Caeden Wallace, Penn State

The other tackle from Penn State. Wallace doesn’t get nearly as much shine as his teammate but Wallace has the size and tools to be a right tackle in the NFL. The Jags need to add to the tackle room. Right now, only Anton Harrison is under contract past 2024. Wallace is a guy who could be ready to compete for a right tackle job as early as next year.

JB: CB Jarrian Jones, Florida State

Jones (6-0, 190 pounds) was very good in man coverage with the Seminoles and he had three picks last season. He played slot corner and showed flashes outside at Florida State and at the Shrine Bowl. Corner is a position that’s in transition in Jacksonville and Jones could eventually become a starter at slot or on the outside.

AP: G Trevor Keegan, Michigan

The Jaguars need help inside. If an offensive lineman from Michigan is still on the board, I’m drafting him. Keegan can help create openings for the running backs to actually run between the tackles this season.

Round 4, Pick 116

Best Available: Michael Pratt, Hunter Nourzad, Brennan Jackson, Tykee Smith, Ainias Smith, T’Vondre Sweat, Sione Vaki, Brenden Rice, Trevor Keegan, Mekhi Wingo.

JB: DL T’Vondre Sweat, Texas

Yes, there are questions about Sweat’s off-the-field issues. He was arrested for a DWI earlier this month, so he will drop in the draft. Talent wise, Sweat (pictured above) is a Day 2 type of player. Sweat is a massive, massive human (6-4, 362 pounds). He’ll need to shed some weight but he’s coming into a good locker room environment and he wouldn’t need to start immediately. The Jaguars last drafted a player with off-field question marks (Jordan Smith in 2021) and there was never an issue with him in town. Sweat’s upside and potential to eventually replace DaVon Hamilton, is too much to pass up here.

AP: DL T’Vondrae Sweat, Texas

What Justin said.

JS: Edge, Brennan Jackson, Washington State

Sorry, Alessandra and Justin I just don’t think the Jags will go for a guy like Sweat. I opted for a guy that you can describe with one word — “relentless.” That sounds like a Ryan Nielsen guy. The Jags have a need to add a third horse to their edge group. Jackson’s energy makes him a good guy to be able to slide into that rotation.

Round 5, Pick 153

Best Available: Malik Mustapha, Myles Harden, DJ James, Christian Jones, Cam Hart, Dallin Holker, Jaden Shirden, Jalen Coker, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Jordan Whittington, Zak Zinter, Nelson Ceaser, Braiden McGregor, Trevin Wallace.

JS: CB Decamerion Richardson, Mississippi State

He is 6-2 and ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash and is an elite athlete. With a change of scheme, Richardson adds to the remaking of the Jags cornerback room. Richardson is a developmental type of pick. He wasn’t as productive as you would like at Mississippi State, but with the tools he has he is the kind of guy you take a risk on in the fifth round. He has the type of tools that DB coaches will bang the table for.

AP: CB Myles Harden, South Dakota (pictured above)

Why not take another corner?

JB: CB DJ James, Auburn

He’s fast (4.42 in the 40) and provides help at the outside corner position where Jacksonville needs to replace Darious Williams. He had 38 tackles, 12 passes defended and a couple interceptions last season. Sure, his lowlight is easy to find, getting torched in the Iron Bowl on a fourth-and-a-mile play, but James represents good value at this point.

Round 6, Pick 213

Best Available: Tip Reiman, Dylan Laube, Dillon Johnson, AJ Barner, Jalen Green, Carson Steele, Jowon Briggs, Khristian Boyd, Sataoa Laumea, Elijah Jones, Tyler Owens, Jaylin Simpson, Carter Bradley, Will Reichard.

JS: OT Anim Dankwah, Howard

You can’t teach size! Dankwah is 6-7 and 353 pounds and started playing football as a junior in high school. He doesn’t have elite movement skills but he doesn’t need them because he is just massive. He has a size similar to Orlando Jones who has been a quality NFL starter. Dankwah is similar to last season’s giant, Dawand Jones. Teams overthought Jones. He slid to the fourth round but was a solid starter for the Browns last season when he saw the field. Dankwah is the light version of Jones. He still has room to improve but with a year in an NFL program, Danwah could grow by leaps and bounds.

JB: OL Sataoa Laumea, Utah

More offensive line help here. Laumea (6-4, 319) started four years for the Utes, 25 of those at right tackle and 19 at right guard. He played the the Senior Bowl and likely projects as a backup early.

AP: RB Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss

Draft another running back late. What do you have to lose? Also it would be part of Jaguars history to pick Frank Gore’s son.

Round 7, Pick 236

Best available: Tyler Owens, Will Reichard, Carter Bradley, Frank Gore Jr., Austin Reed, Cam Little, Marcus Harris, Ryan Watts, Jaylan Ford, Tarheeb Still, Donovan Jennings, Daijahn Anthony.

JS: S Tyler Owens, Texas Tech

Drafting an elite athlete in the seventh round is a no-brainer. Owens’ floor should be a special teams demon. His defensive tape isn’t great but it showed flashes. He needs more on-field experience to see what he really can be as a player. But taking a swing on a guy with elite athleticism and a floor as a core special teams guy in the seventh round is a no-brainer.

JB: RB Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss

Went back and forth on this one between a kicker and Gore. I’m not sold on Tank Bigsby as RB 2 in Jacksonville, so why not kick the tires on Gore. It was his famous father who helped beat the Jets in 2020 to deliver Jacksonville the No. 1 overall pick that ultimately became Trevor Lawrence. Gore (5-8, 201 pounds) is probably a practice squad candidate, but he rushed for 1,131 yards and 10 TDs last season and had three TD catches on 27 receptions.

AP: K Will Reichard, Alabama

He’s good and consistent. The Jaguars needs that on special teams.