With the upcoming draft, many draft experts and fans alike have voiced different opinions on who the Jaguars should draft. The one thing everyone has mostly agreed on is the pick should be made for a player on the defensive side of the ball. With a handful of likely players that could potentially be picked, we will go player by player and analyze what is best for the team and the likelihood of it happening.
Will Johnson: With the Jaguars spending money on Jourdan Lewis in free agency, much of the speculation on him has disappeared, as the assumption is that Lewis plays nickel and Jarrian Jones will play outside, pairing up with Tyson Campbell. Still, it's important to consider what Johnson brings to the table. With how short cornerbacks' shelf life is in the league, you can never have too many corners. Johnson is listed at 6'2, 203 pounds, racked up 9 interceptions in college, and is debated as the top corner in the draft along side Heisman trophy winner Travis Hunter. The perfect height for a big physical lockdown corner. His main draft comparisons have been to Patrick Surtain II and funnily enough, Jalen Ramsey. Simply put, he is the perfect guy for what the Jaguars need at the position.
While Tyson Campbell is a fan favorite, he has not consistently demonstrated the ability to be a top-end lockdown corner. He has shown flashes at times, such as the game in 2024 against the Vikings where he held Justin Jefferson to 5 completions for 48 yards. But then he will have games against the Lions and Texans where it feels like he can't cover anyone. If the Jaguars did not sign Jourdan Lewis, to me this pick is a no-brainer, but that is what makes this complicated. Often times we see a case of teams taking best player available over need and while there is certainly an argument that cornerback is still a need, it is no longer THE need for the defense. It will be interesting to see what the Jaguars plan for Johnson will be should they take him, but this appears to be a position that won't be addressed until the later rounds.
Mason Graham: The most common name now linked to the team is Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham. Graham is 6'3, 320 pounds, an All American and is widely considered the best defensive tackle in the draft. While his 9 sacks in 39 games does not instantly jump off the page, his disruption behind the line of scrimmage is what sets him apart, recording 15 tackles for loss in his final 2 seasons at Michigan. This could also be a question mark. While one could argue the need for this position is higher, there is still capital committed to it.
Josh Allen and Travon Walker are the obvious core of the line, along with Arik Armstead on a 3-year, $43.5 million deal with $28 million guaranteed, a contract that will be difficult to move, and Maason Smith, the rookie out of LSU. While these are far from top-tier talents, Armstead is on a big contract and will likely have to play, and Smith flashed promise late last season. If Graham is drafted, he might take Smith's spot, pushing him into a depth role. This could be an easier decision for James Gladstone, who has no ties to the current roster. My take is that the Jaguars should draft him, given how weak the pass rush has been the past few seasons, and I believe they will.
Tetairoa mcmillan: Tetairoa is the best receiver in the draft, plain and simple. He stands at a huge frame of 6'5, 212 pounds, was an All American his senior year and lead the Pac-12 in yards with 1319. This would likely be the most controversial player if the Jaguars were to take him, simply for the need for defense based off of last season. However, I think this would be an excellent pick that the Jaguars should and likely are strongly considering. While it is easy to point out the fact that Brian Thomas was a standout wide receiver as a rookie last year, it would be an understatement to say that the rest of the receiver group was dissapointint. Christian Kirk was having a subpar season for his standards, then got hurt in week 8 and left in free agency, Gabe Davis was a disaster and contributed next to nothing for the team, and Parker Washington while a solid player given his expectations as a 6th round pick, is not someone who should be a major piece of the offense, rather a complimentary player. Adding Tetairoa would be huge in elevating the offense.
While Tank Bigsby had a breakout start to last season, he quickly tapered off and became an average running back duo along with Travis Etienne. This offense needs another stud playmaker, and I believe Tetairoa is the guy. His biggest knock is his speed, while a still fast 4.48 40 time, is nothing that will jump off the screen. This should not be a concern however, as he plays fast, finds soft spots in the field, is a dynamic playmaker averaging over 100 yards a game his final 2 seasons, totaling 26 touchdowns over his career, and is a great playmaker after the catch, averaging 16.1 yards per reception in his collegiate career, even leading the Pac-12 in this category at 18.1 as a freshman. This would be a great pick to make and would instantly improve the offense and more importantly, help Trevor develop as a player and rebuild his confidence.