Jaguars target defensive stars! Latest mock draft unveils elite linemen and playmaking linebackers poised to bolster Jacksonville's defense.
For football fans, it is mock-draft season and every media outlet that is worth its salt is putting out mocks to show where the top collegiate players may end up as they pursue their dreams of playing in the NFL.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off a 13-4 record and a playoff berth last season, in one of the greatest turnarounds in recent memory under first-year head coach Liam Coen.
In the latest mock draft by Jaguars Now, the Jaguars are expected to focus on the defensive side of the ball. Below are the prospects projected to be taken by the Jaguars in the NFL draft in April.
DT Darrell Jackson, Florida State
At 6-foot-5, 337 pounds, Jackson blocks all glimmer of light an opposing running back might see as he hits the holes looking for running lanes. As an honorable-mention All-ACC selection, Jackson logged 45 tackles and three tackles for loss. Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave a Jackson an overall grade of 74.4, and a run defense grade of 81.3.
LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
J-Rod swept all the awards one defender could win (Butkus Award, Nagurski Award and Lombardi Award), and finished fifth in Heisman voting. Last season, Rodriguez led the Red Raiders with 128 tackles, four interceptions, one fumble recovery for a score, 11 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and seven forced fumbles.
He is the type of football player every coach wants on his team. Rodriguez plays with a high motor and makes plays all over the field, and is a nightmare for opposing defenses. If he could have run a little faster and jumped higher at this year's NFL combine, he would be a first-round pick. With a PFF grade of 93.3, if the Jaguars pull the trigger on Rodriguez, they would be getting, arguably, the steal of the draft.
CB Devin Moore, Florida
At 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, Moore is adept at defending both the run and the pass, earning a grade of 83 from PFF. Moore logged two interceptions, 35 tackles, two tackles for loss, four pass breakups and one forced fumble.
S Michael Taafe, Texas
A first-team All-SEC selection and third-team All-American, Taafe racked up 70 tackles and two interceptions for the Longhorns last season. For his collegiate career, Taafe posted 222 tackles at Texas. Taafe has a nose for the football and is a playmaker in the secondary.
Edge Max Llewellyn, Iowa
At 6-foot-5 and 263 pounds, Llewellyn ran a 4.81 40-yard dash at the combine last week. Last season for the Hawkeyes, Llewellyn recorded 26 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, six pass breakups, eight quarterback pressures and two forced fumbles. He excels in rushing the passer, earning a PFF grade of 86.8.
DT Rayshaun Benny, Michigan
A third-team All-Big Ten selection for the Wolverines, Benny is another run stopper in the middle that could help Jaguars. At 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, Benny was part of a Wolverines defense that ranked No. 19 in the FBS in rushing defense, and allowed just 111 yards per game on the ground.
Any and all the players above would be helpful to a Jaguars defense that is going to lose some key starters and contributors from last year’s talented defense. Free agency is next on the agenda. The Jaguars cannot do much in the way of shopping the free-agent market, without restructuring some of the team’s bigger contracts.
You can rest assured that Coen and general manager James Gladstone are viewing game film at all hours as free agency will take its toll on the NFL, in one way or another. With regard to the draft, the Jaguars "big board" is looming large in the war room as the mindset switches to reload mode for the Jaguars.
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