“Week Zero” of the 2024 college football season is upon us.
For the average football fan, that means games are on this week. For NFL draftniks, it is time to begin scouting prospects for the next selection ceremony in April, if they have not begun that process already.
ESPN’s Field Yates certainly has, to the point where he created a preseason mock draft, slotting anticipated draft prospects to pro teams just ahead of the upcoming campaigns for college football and the NFL.
Yates slotted Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 15 overall pick in the first round, with the draft order determined by ESPN’s Football Power Index rankings entering the season.
The Jaguars were commonly linked to cornerbacks in this year’s first round, and they eventually took one in the third round with Jarrian Jones. But they still need help opposite Tyson Campbell. Burke has excellent suddenness and the ability to drive back toward the football as a playmaking corner (24 pass breakups in three seasons). With his great speed, he can hold up on the perimeter on downfield throws.
Jacksonville will certainly return Campbell next offseason as he signed a four-year, $76.5 million contract extension with the club in July.
But who will operate on the other side of the field for the long term remains to be seen, especially considering Jones’ projection as a hybrid outside and nickel cornerback.
Set to start at outside cornerback opposite Campbell this year is Ronald Darby, who will turn 31 before the end of the campaign and signed just a two-year deal with the Jaguars in March.
Burke has emerged as a proven coverage commodity in his time with Ohio State.
In addition to two interceptions and the 24 pass breakups Yates mentioned that he has recorded in 35 games, Burke has allowed a career coverage completion percentage of 51.7%, per Pro Football Focus.