Jaguars NFL Draft: Looking at Daniel Jeremiah’s First-Round Picks

Could more quarterbacks taken in the first half of the NFL Draft affect how the Jaguars select their two first-round draft picks?

The first thing you notice when you look at the NFL mock draft by Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com is he is higher on some of the quarterback prospects in this year’s class. Some of that excitement may affect the Jacksonville Jaguars.

With four signal-callers taken in the first 15 picks, the Draft Jeremiah outlines is a bit different than most that have come out on various publications. What those picks mean is the Jaguars help their defense while other teams around them search for offensive depth.

With their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the franchise used the ninth overall selection to grab Isaiah Simmons of Clemson.

Jeremiah has the ACC star playing as a safety, but he is more of a hybrid player who can help in the secondary or move to the middle of the defense and play linebacker. The idea of Simmons and Myles Jack on the outside of Todd Wash’s scheme is an imposing proposition for offenses looking to send a running back through the line or a tight end over the middle on a short-yardage play.

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"“Pairing Simmons with last year’s first-round pick, Josh Allen, will give the Jaguars two elite defensive athletes to build around. He can play linebacker or safety,” Jeremiah added."

The front office acquired the 20th pick in the first round thanks to the trade that sent Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams in the middle of the season. Jeremiah has Jacksonville adding to their defense with this selection.

With their second first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jacksonville used the 20th overall selection to grab cornerback C.J. Henderson out of Florida.

"“The Jaguars have a need at cornerback, and Henderson is widely viewed as the second-best player at the position in this draft class,” Jeremiah writes."

While hitting on two big picks in the first round, the Jaguars still have needs at other positions of priority. Jacksonville had one of the worst run defenses in the league last season, so finding interior help on the defensive front. There could also be changes to the roster that warrant the need to draft a defensive tackle.

The team must also look at adding beef up front on the offensive line, a unit that struggled as a whole last season. It’s possible the front office could look for a top tackle in the early rounds. The team has four picks in the top 73 selections in April.