There are many different directions the Jacksonville Jaguars could go in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
After winning the AFC South and a playoff game in January, the Jaguars are in relatively unfamiliar territory with the 24th overall pick. And after spending big money last offseason, there aren’t many needs that scream out.
While there’s little depth at tight end behind Evan Engram, the Jaguars don’t seem concerned about the state of the position. And although the offensive line has question marks with the departure of Jawaan Taylor and the impending suspension of Cam Robinson, it seems the Jaguars are looking at the other side of the ball.
Most signs have instead pointed toward the Jaguars hunting for a player who can bolster their pass rush. Other NFL teams are reportedly convinced it’ll be a defensive lineman headed to Jacksonville.
While it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if the Jaguars added a defensive back like Brian Branch, Deonte Banks, or Emmanuel Forbes, our prediction is that the pass rush will a slightly higher priority.
The likeliest candidates would seem to be Georgia’s Nolan Smith, Clemson’s Myles Murphy, and Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness.
Jaguars Wire’s prediction: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
Sitting back at 24th would be a risky proposition if Van Ness is truly who the Jaguars covet. While general manager Trent Baalke hasn’t traded picks often during his time in Jacksonville, all three times he did swap picks in the last two drafts were to make small jumps up the order. That included a climb from 33 to 27 last year to take Devin Lloyd.
It’d be a shock if Baalke recreated the Jaguars’ Derrick Harvey moment and launched into the top 10, but a slide up four or five spots would be a very characteristic move for the veteran general manager.
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