JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars put the finishing touches on their 2024 draft class Saturday, staying put at every pick and adding some much-needed reinforcements on both lines, on the edge and at corner, running back and kicker.
The Jaguars put the finishing touches on their 2024 draft class Saturday, staying put at every pick and adding some much-needed reinforcements on both lines, on the edge and at corner, running back and kicker.
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Jaguars 2024 draft class
Pick, Pos., Player, College
First round, 23. WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Second round, 48. DL Maason Smith, LSU
Third round, 96. CB Jarrian Jones, Florida State
Fourth round, 114. OT Javon Foster, Missouri
Fourth round, 116. Jordan Jefferson, LSU
Fifth round, 153. CB Deantre Prince, Ole Miss
Fifth round, 167. RB Keilan Robinson, Texas
Sixth round, 212. K Cam Little, Arkansas
Seventh round, 236. Edge Myles Cole, Texas Tech
Jacksonville addressed major needs on its offensive and defensive lines, using its fourth-round picks on Missouri offensive tackle Javon Foster and then LSU defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson two spots later.
Foster (6-6, 313 pounds) went at No. 114 and Jefferson (6-4, 317 pounds) at 116 were notable choices because of what general manager Trent Baalke said was a desire to beef up on the line of scrimmage and in the trenches. Too often in 2023′s collapse, Jacksonville was bullied at the point of attack.
Foster, 24, is a big body and adds depth to an offensive line that was among the worst in the NFL last year. Left tackle Cam Robinson is steady but his future is a bit uncertain as a high ticket player. Backup Walker Little is entering the final season of his contract and could be jettisoned, too. After last year’s struggles on the line, and Trevor Lawrence’s health a major priority, Foster adds some help.
On the opposite side of the line, Jefferson is a familiar name for inside linebackers coach Matt House, who arrived in Jacksonville after two seasons as LSU’s defensive coordinator. Jefferson played at West Virginia four seasons before transferring to LSU for his final year. He’s not a pass rusher but could be a valuable rotational piece on the line and serve as a backup to DaVon Hamilton. Jefferson had 90 tackles and 21.5 for loss in five seasons. He also had six sacks.
Jacksonville added Ole Miss cornerback Deantre Prince in the fifth round at No. 153, and he’ll fight for reps as a backup in Ryan Nielsen’s press man defensive scheme. He’s likely more of a special teams player early in his career. Prince had 146 tackles and six career interceptions for the Rebels.
Jacksonville added Texas running back Keilan Robinson in the fifth round, more of a special teams-type pick than anything. Robinson wasn’t a high volume back (82 career carries, 542 yards, 6 TDs). Jacksonville addressed its kicking issues with Arkansas’ Cam Little in the sixth round. Little never missed an extra point and hit 83% of his field goals with the Razorbacks.
It wrapped up its draft with Texas Tech edge Myles Cole (6-6, 278 pounds), a physical specimen who had 44 tackles and 3.5 sacks in two seasons with the Red Raiders.