The Jacksonville Jaguars have been one of the busiest teams in the league this offseason.
The team fired head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke, bringing in Liam Coen and James Gladstone respectively as replacements.
Then, the team again spent big in free agency, bringing in guard Patrick Mekari, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, and wide receiver Dyami Brown, just to name a few of the biggest additions.
Now, the Jaguars’ new regime is preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft in which the Jaguars own the No. 5 pick in the first round.
There are some obvious needs remaining on the roster, such as the defensive line and secondary. Today, let’s identify four players the Jaguars should stay away from in the first round.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
This should not be considered a slight to Tetairoa McMillan in any way. The big-bodied receiver may very well be the best wide receiver in this class.
However, the Jaguars have far more pressing needs than wide receiver and this pick could be better used elsewhere. The Jaguars have Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, Parker Washington, and Dyami Brown already on the roster at receiver, making the position far from a need currently.
With the No. 5 pick, the Jags would be better off taking a player like Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham. Graham, unlike McMillan, would fill a major weakness and be an immediate contributor in Jacksonville.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Ashton Jeanty has been a trendy pick for the Jaguars of late, and it’s easy to understand the rationale there.
Jeanty is the best running back prospect in this class and could be an immediate game-changer. I know Travis Etienne had a less-than-impressive 2024 season, but running back still isn’t THAT big of a need at this current point.
Behind Etienne, the Jaguars have Tank Bigsby, who showed promise in 2024. Even if the team wants to add a running back, this class is extremely deep and the team could get good value in the middle rounds at the position.
Jahdae Barron, CB/S, Jacksonville Jaguars
The secondary is definitely an area of need for the Jaguars. No team allowed more passing yards than the Jags did in 2024, so adding a defensive back early makes sense.
However, Jahdae Barron shouldn’t be the team’s choice. Barron played on the boundary, as a slot corner, and as a safety in college at Texas. Barron is undersized to play on the outside in the NFL, though, with short arms and a slender frame.
Barron appears likely to thrive as a slot corner in the NFL. The Jags just spent big on Jourdan Lewis this offseason, so a boundary corner is much more of a need than another shifty, slot corner.
Will Campbell, OL, LSU
Will Campbell was a very productive left tackle for the LSU Tigers in college. In the NFL though, Campbell could be forced to move inside to guard due to his shorter-than-desired arm length.
The Jaguars need an offensive tackle, not a guard. The team is currently selected to start Walker Little at left tackle and Anton Harrison at right tackle. Harrison struggled in 2024, and Little has never spent a full season as a starter.
At guard, the team spent big to bring in Patrick Mekari, so the veteran will start for the foreseeable future. At the other guard spot, the team still has Ezra Cleveland, who was perfectly serviceable in 2024.
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