Jacksonville Jaguars: Predicting the team’s first round draft picks

What will the Jacksonville Jaguars do with their two first-round picks in the NFL Draft? The team is officially on the clock.

The NFL Draft is hours away. The Jacksonville Jaguars and 31 other NFL teams are officially on the clock. If you are like me, this is Christmas in April, a time where the NFL ramps up its 2020 season with the annual selection process.

I’ll admit when I was younger, I wanted to be Mel Kiper, Jr. minus the hair.

What will the Jaguars do with the No. 9 and the No. 20 picks in the first down? Will general manager David Caldwell and head coach Doug Marrone seek more picks by moving up and down the board? Will other teams come up to No. 9, hoping to grab a quarterback, wide receiver or offensive tackle?

The thought is what Jacksonville does with their first pick will impact the rest of the first round. Talk about pressure. And of course, there are the rumors surrounding Leonard Fournette and Yannick Ngakoue we are all closely paying attention to. Nothing like the day before the start of the Draft to get things moving at a brisk pace.

We here at Black and Teal have our own thoughts on the first round and how the Jaguars will use their two first-round draft picks. Oh, and once again, thank you, Jalen Ramsey. Our staff makes their own predictions as the selection process begins tomorrow evening.

Grant Gunderson – With the ninth pick, the Jaguars select Jedrick Wills Jr., Offensive Tackle, Alabama,

I most definitely thought for a long time that fellow ‘Bama alum, Jerry Jeudy would be the pick here. I think Jeudy fits the offense slightly better than CeeDee Lamb when it comes to route running, but recent concerns about his health and more specifically with his knee, make me wonder if he will fall like Myles Jack?

More from Jaguars Draft

• Jacksonville Jaguars fortify secondary in 4-round 2023 Post-Combine NFL Mock Draft
• The Jaguars may look for edge rushers with pick 24
• The Jacksonville Jaguars got so lucky with the 2021 NFL Draft
• Jaguars fortify OL with Jaelyn Duncan in CBS Sports’ 2023 NFL Mock Draft
• Jacksonville Jaguars don’t need to trade up in the 2023 NFL Draft to land a cornerback

With the 20th pick, the Jaguars select Javon Kinlaw, Defensive Tackle, South Carolina.  I’ve seen a few situations in mock drafts where Kinlaw falls way outside the top-15. At first, I thought it was absolutely nuts to even consider. Then again, you start to think about all the offensive tackles, skill position players, and the handful of quarterbacks that may get picked in the top half… Kinlaw may very well take a slide right into our laps at 20.

Lorenzino Estrada – With the ninth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars will select Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. While it is possible one of the three talented defensive players (Jeff Okudah, Derrick Brown, and Isaiah Simmons) will be available, Jacksonville needs offensive talent to ensure Gardner Minshew’s success in 2020. Drafting Jeudy will alleviate DJ Chark from potential double teams and give Minshew another weapon.

With the 20th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars will select Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa. There is no replacing Calais Campbell, but Epenesa fills the role similarly as a big defensive end with a series of skills that will translate well to the NFL and set a strong edge. Epenesa and Josh Allen will be the next pass-rushing duo.

Kathy Clark – Due to the fact that I believe winning football starts at the line of scrimmage I would choose Tristan Wirfs from Iowa with the No. 9 pick. He has the size, character, and athleticism to be successful in the NFL.

He can play guard or tackle and could play beside Cam Robinson at either position.  The left side would be set with two young and talented players.

I continue to look at the line and go with a defensive tackle with the athleticism and speed to stop the run and rush the passer.  My choice with the No. 20 pick is Justin Madubuike, a defensive tackle from Texas A&M. He played very well in college against tough competition and had one of his best games against Georgia.

Put him beside an improved Taven Bryan and the middle of the D-line will give other coaches something to worry about.

Jesse Overby – Dave Caldwell said there are four “can’t miss” players in this years’ NFL draft. I’m guessing those four players are: Derrick Brown, Jeff Okaduh, Isaiah Simmons, and Chase Young. I expect all four of them to be gone before the Jaguars pick.

The teams picking before them have similar needs as Jacksonville does, which means that players they might be targeting will most likely be gone when it’s time for them to pick. I believe if the four are gone then the Jaguars will try to trade down. If they can’t, then I believe they’ll pick the best available player at one of their need positions, and they’ll pick, Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina.

With so many teams needing an offensive tackle, I believe there will be a run on the ones available, with four selected with the first 11 picks and the first wide receiver doesn’t come off the board until pick 3.

The two or three best cornerbacks will be gone so with their second pick in round 1, No. 20, Jacksonville selects a wide receiver. I think it’s possible that Henry Ruggs III from Alabama may still be available and that’s who I’d pick. If he’s gone then I expect Brandon Aiyuk from Arizona St. to be the pick.

Joshua Walker – I personally don’t feel the Jaguars stay with the ninth pick, between a potential trade up for one of the big three defenders (Okudah, Simmons, Brown) or trade down into the teens for a stud wide receiver. If the Jaguars stay where they are they’ll go offensive tackle and I have to think they select the massive Mekhi Becton OT Louisville.

I would go Tristan Wirfs over Becton but I feel the Giants snag the Iowa tackle. At pick 20 it’s a toss-up, but I think the Jaguars go with A.J. Epenesa, the EDGE from Iowa to bolster the pass rush.

Anthony Robertson – The Jaguars are lucky enough to hold two first-round picks in what looks like could be yet another rebuild. It is very important that Jacksonville hits on both of these picks. With the 9th overall pick, I believe Jacksonville will take wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb, out of Oklahoma. The Jaguars can go a lot of ways with this pick, however, if Lamb is available his talent may be too much to pass up.

He’s drawn comparisons to DeAndre Hopkins. He’s quick, a great route runner, and can beat corners 1 on 1 with a tremendous catch radius. Jacksonville could look to move towards a more pass-oriented offense and Lamb gives the Jaguars another weapon to pair with DJ Chark and Dede Westbrook.

With the 20th overall pick, I believe the Jaguars will select safety Grant Delpit out of LSU. I have been bouncing back and forth between Delpit, Iowa defensive end AJ Epenesa, and linebacker Kenneth Murray. I believe Delpit will be the choice because of his incredible range and versatility. He can cover tight ends, slot receivers, play up in the run game, and play as the single-high safety.

He may be the answer for Jacksonville who has struggled with consistency at the safety position ever since the release of Tashaun Gipson.

David Levin – This is a Draft where there is plenty of depth along the offensive line and at wide receiver – two areas of need for the Jaguars. I am torn, however as I believe the defense is behind the offense in the number of potential playmakers on the roster.

My mind tells me to take care of both lines firs and fill in the other areas of need later.

With the No. 9 pick, I am sticking to my original prediction of Mekhi Becton, Offensive Tackle, Louisville. While Doug Marrone and David Caldwell are happy with the players they have I personally believe Becton is better than Cam Robinson and depth is a concern at all of the five positions.

With the No. 20 pick, I am going with Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver, LSU. I concede to the notion the team needs another big wide receiver to team with DJ Chark. It’s a real possibility Dede Westbrook, Chris Conley, and Keelan Cole will all be gone next season. Jefferson is rising draft boards. It’s also possible the Jaguars may need to move up in Round 1 to grab him.