We’re officially two weeks away from the NFL Draft, which will finally give the nation some live sports coverage as we deal with COVID-19. While it will be different from the drafts of the past, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be prepared under general manager Dave Caldwell to plug several holes on their team as they have 12 total draft picks.
Some feel the Jags will address their offensive line in the first-round despite Caldwell saying he likes the talent on the current unit. Pete Prisco is one of many pundits who is of that belief as he slotted Louisville’s Mekhi Becton with their No. 9 overall selection of his latest mock.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
Mekhi Becton OL – He is a big, talented tackle who would give them a nice pair of bookends with second-year player Jawaan Taylor.
At 6-foot-7, 364-pounds, Becton would add a massive road grader to Gardner Minshew II’s blindside who bullied the opposition in the ACC. His selection would be huge as the Jags would really address two needs by adding him because he’d kick Cam Robinson in to guard. However, with the Jags having a thing for taking Southeastern Conference offensive lineman in the top-2 rounds, I believe they may be more likely to go with Andrew Thomas instead.
After the selection of Becton, Prisco slotted the Jags Auburn cornerback Noah Igbinoghene with the No. 20 overall selection, which is a first out of all the mock drafts I’ve seen on the web.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars
Noah Igbinoghene CB – They need help at corner and this kid has a lot of coverage ability. He was much more physical on tape than I expected.
Prisco is right, Igbinoghene’s tape is impressive though most would say he’s a reach at No. 20. Our own Daniel Griffis did a scouting report on him, which mostly highlighted his most recent game against Alabama where he matched up well against the likes of Henry Ruggs and DeVonta Smith. He’s a cornerback who would bring a physical nature to the edge, explosive athleticism, and above-average recovery speed. The Jags would also be getting a player who isn’t just a cornerback, but a special teams contributor with kick return ability.
In my latest mock, I had the Jags taking Justin Jefferson at No. 20 instead of going with a corner, but addressing either pick would make sense. Overall, Jefferson grades out to be a better player than Igbinoghene in the eyes of most so I believe he’s a better fit in the first-round. Fans also shouldn’t rule out the possibility of the Jags trading down from the pick either.