It’s been ugly for the Jacksonville Jaguars through three weeks. Trevor Lawrence looks lost, the offensive line is a turnstile, and on defense, well, things aren’t much better for head coach Doug Pederson. At 0-3, things are at a boiling point for a roster that was expected to compete for a division title. With roster holes overwhelmingly evident on either side of the ball, here is an early look at where Jacksonville could go come April.
Round 1 (No. 1 overall): Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Cam Robinson is a free agent next spring, and those in Jacksonville are about through with seeing the veteran lineman compete any longer. In this exercise, Kelvin Banks Jr. slots right in at left tackle to protect Trevor Lawrence’s blindside. In Week 3 alone, Jacksonville allowed 24 pressures to Buffalo, showcasing a massive need for talent along the front five.
Round 2 (No. 35 overall): Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
The Jaguars just handed Tyson Campbell a sizable extension, but the rest of the cornerback room is either underachieving or on an expiring contract. Jacksonville has struggled to limit anything in the secondary thus far, and it's going to be impossible for them to gain ground in the AFC until it’s fixed. Maxwell Hairston is an instinctive defender with the body type and athletic profile that fits what the Jaguars have historically prioritized at the position.
Round 3 (No. 66 overall): Jonah Monheim, IOL, USC
The move to bring in Mitch Morse raised eyebrows when it happened, and so far, he hasn’t met expectations. Considering the team eyed an ‘upgrade’ from Luke Fortner in the form of Morse, another move could be expected following 2024. Enter Jonah Monheim, who has some work to do technically, but has the experience and anchor to provide a high-floor prospect up front, whether he starts from the jump or not.
Round 3 (No. 96 overall): Tai Felton, WR, Maryland
Top five in the country in targets (54), receptions (41), receiving yards (600), and touchdowns (5), Felton has wasted no time in asserting himself as one of the Big Ten's biggest risers at wideout. He's remained a major reason why Maryland has started the year 3-1 and is a playmaker on the outside who should continue to see a hefty target share as conference play kicks into gear.
Felton is looking to become the first wideout from Maryland to be drafted since the Panthers selected D.J. Moore (first round) back in 2018 and would provide another set of hands for Lawrence on the outside.
Round 4 (No. 102 overall): Jared Ivey, EDGE, Ole Miss
Jared Ivey has turned it on the last few games (10 pressures, three sacks the last two weeks). Behind a 275-plus pound frame that fits what Jacksonville wants to do up front, his ability to push the pocket at his weight would slide in well rotationally. Jacksonville has consistently added talent along the front four over the last few years, and Ivey’s positional versatility and explosiveness would add juice to the unit.
Round 4 (No. 133 overall): Jonas Sanker, SAF, Virginia
Jonas Sanker is just a flat-out good football player. He won’t blow anyone away during the pre-draft process, but he’s a player who projects as an immediate multi-phase contributor who is always in the right spot. He’s an excellent tackler in space, instinctive in coverage, and is the type of young player who can compete right away in a multitude of roles.
Round 5 (No. 141 overall): Nazir Stackhouse, IDL, Georgia
Let’s add more beef up front for what has been an underwhelming unit thus far. The team brought in Arik Armstead and drafted both Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson, but production is missing. Nazir Stackhouse isn’t a flashy defender, but he clogs gaps well and would allow LBs Devin Lloyd, Foye Oluokun, and Chad Muma to fly around.
Round 6 (No. 177 overall): Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas
When presented with targets, Gunnar Helm consistently makes the most of his opportunities. 30 receptions thus far in his career paint an initial picture of a minimally involved weapon, but his 9.7 yards after the catch per reception showcases an intriguing athlete with a knack for creating chunk plays. At minimum, Helm has the experience as a Y and F tight end that would compete with the long list of names in the Jaguars’ tight ends room.
Round 6 (No. 205 overall): J.J. Weaver, EDGE, Kentucky
One of the more mature prospects in the class (sixth-year senior), J.J. Weaver’s flashes are extremely, extremely bright (29 pressures in 2023). You can never have enough pass rushers, and Jacksonville needs more push at the position behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.
Round 7 (No. 215 overall): David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas
With it being so early in the process, I like to use these selections to introduce players to the audience that are currently unknown to the public eye. Walker has remained one of the country’s most productive pass-rushers, regardless of level, over the last three seasons. A multi-year All-American at Central Arkansas, David Walker’s 110 pressures and 31 career sacks (as of W4 in 2024) showcase a lower-level prospect that has dominated the competition on a weekly basis—a trait NFL evaluators need to see in smaller-school talents. He’s a name to follow.
