There was once excitement surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars and what they could do in the regular season, but that has died down. This month the team played themselves out of playoff contention, so now it’s on to the draft in the minds of fans.
With the way things have gone, fans are also hoping for sweeping changes in the front, and if that happens, they will at least have the excitement of a new regime making the picks. However, we’ll have to get to the end of December to see what Shad Khan decides to truly do.
Regardless of the Jags pending situations, the mock drafts haven’t stopped coming in and our comrade at Draft Wire, Luke Easterling, compiled another one this week. In it, he had the Jags addressing pressing needs throughout Rounds 1-4, starting with an attempt to replace their best player (formerly) in cornerback Jalen Ramsey with the selection of Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah, then taking a weapon on offense in Clemson receiver Tee Higgins.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State
After trading one of the NFL’s best corners, the Jags need to replace Jalen Ramsey with one of their multiple first-round picks in this draft. They luck out here, as this year’s top cover man falls to them at this pick. Okudah is a complete player who can make an immediate impact at a premium position of need.
Okudah would be a solid pick within the top-10 selections, especially when considering the fact that there has been a drop-off at cornerback since Ramsey left. Scouts seem to think Okudah can be a great man-to-man defender, though he’s no slouch in zone coverage. They also like his athleticism and hip fluidity.
Here’s what Easterling had to say about Higgins:
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR)
Tee Higgins | WR | Clemson
After getting a defensive playmaker in the top 10, the Jags need to use their additional first-rounder in this draft to give their offensive a true No. 1 receiver for whoever ends up throwing passes next season. Higgins has a rare combination of size, length, athleticism and body control.
The Jags could certainly use a No. 2 to pair with DJ Chark Jr., who is having a breakout season. Chris Conley has struggled with drops and hasn’t been overly impressive as a free-agent signing, while it’s hard to tell if Dede Westbrook will be what he was at college because the Jags aren’t utilizing him right. With that being the case, a new staff could want another threat on the outside with the mindset to possibly move Westbrook into the slot.
Afterward, Easterling had the Jags selecting two picks in the trenches in Rounds 2-3
40. Jacksonville Jaguars | Calvin Throckmorton | OL | Oregon
71. Jacksonville Jaguars | Leki Fotu | DL | Utah
Calvin Throckmorton is a player who would give the Jags versatility on the offensive line, which is a unit a lot of fans are the most concerned with. At 6-foot-6, 310-pounds, some shockingly like him at guard better, which would be fine for the Jags as Andrew Norwell and A.J. Cann aren’t consistently playing at a high level.
Leki Fotu is a player who has played a key role in leading one of college football’s most underrated defensive lines at Utah. At 6-foot-6, 335-pounds, Fotu has unreal strength and could anchor the Jags interior defensive line that is ranked next to last in rushing defense. He’ll need to work on coming out of his stance lower and developing pass rush moves when he’s in the league, but could be coached up to flourish with the right teachers on the staff.