With a direct path to Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, it’s pretty much set in stone what the Jacksonville Jaguars will be doing to acquire a QB1. However, the big question past the first overall pick is which of the Jags’ many needs should they address with pick No. 25.
In his first mock draft for 2021, NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein predicts the Jags will address the cornerback position with a player who played in South Carolina just as Lawrence did. That player was South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars – QB , Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
This pick should be set in stone as the Jaguars hit reset with a brand new face of the franchise.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars – CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
The son of former NFL receiver Joe Horn, Jaycee has prototypical size (6-1, 200) and length. He’s best in press coverage, but has the eye discipline and athleticism to play in any scheme.
Cornerback is a need for the Jags, and we listed it as the third-most pressing need on the roster last month aside from quarterback and left tackle. Players like William Jackson III, Xavier Rhodes, and Troy Hill could be available if free agency if the Jags want to address the issue there, but if they can’t, drafting a cornerback in round one of the draft would make a lot of sense.
As for Horn, he’d bring a long and physical presence to the perimeter of the Jags’ defense to pair with last year’s first-round pick, CJ Henderson. Whether it’s as a zone defender or man defender, scouts love Horn’s ability in coverage and he’s a fit for a variety of teams as a result. As a player from the Southeastern Conference, Horn has also battled some of the best receivers in football, so there seems to be a lot of confidence in his ability to translate to the NFL.
Horn is a player who has come off the draft board around the 20th pick in other mocks, so he would mark good value at No. 25 it seems, and acquiring him with Lawrence would be a home run pairing in round one. Still, we would like to hear from our readers at home. Is Zierlein’s mock the perfect scenario, or is there another player who the Jags should add with Lawrence?