The Jacksonville Jaguars spent a good amount of their available cap space, adding weapons for second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence. But they still have needs all over their defense.
CBS Sports expect the Jaguars to go defense with its first two selections in its latest mock draft released on Thursday. Jacksonville currently holds two picks at No. 1 and 33 overall in the first two rounds.
With the first overall pick, Josh Edwards pegged the Jaguars to take Michigan defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson. Here is his explanation:
There remains a chance that Jacksonville takes an offensive tackle with the No. 1 overall selection. Evan Neal and Cam Robinson have the flexibility to play interior positions so Robinson’s franchise tag, which could be rescinded or traded when signed, should not be a limiting circumstance. As it stands, it is more likely that Jacksonville takes the pass rusher from Michigan to pair with Josh Allen.
Most in the football community would be shocked if Jacksonville took an offensive tackle at No. 1 after it never signed a pass rusher in free agency coupled with the addition of guard Brandon Scherff and the decision to franchise tag Cam Robinson. Jaguars fans should expect the team to draft Hutchinson, barring an upset.
At pick No. 33, Edwards has the Jaguars addressing their need at linebacker and taking Georgia’s Quay Walker. There was no explanation for each team’s second-round choice. Most mock drafts have Walker going somewhere in the second round.
While helping Georgia to a national championship last season, he posted 63 combined tackles and 1.5 sacks. NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein scouted Walker and came away thinking he’s a linebacker ready for the NFL game because of his size and clear eyes from the second level with excellent play recognition. He projects that Walker will be a good backup with potential an eventual starter at inside linebacker.
Many Jaguars fans would probably like to see the team draft a wide receiver with their second choice because they still have a need for an outside receiver. But there will likely be a run of wideouts taken to end the first round, which may leave Jacksonville reaching for one.
Regardless of whether there is a late run of receivers taken in the first, Walker would be a very solid pick at No. 33.