Should Jacksonville Jaguars draft a linebacker with 25th overall pick?

Most mocks project that the Jacksonville Jaguars will use the first-overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. However, there’s no consensus regarding their second first-round pick, the second one they got from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for cornerback Jalen Ramsey in 2019. Taking a linebacker is a possibility.

Dalton Miller of Pro Football Network foresees the Jaguars drafting Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with the 25th overall selection. He believes the Virginia native could round out a linebacker corps that already includes Joe Schobert and Myles Jack. He thinks his versatility to play both in the slot and in the box would solidify the unit.

Owusu-Koramoah finished his two-year stint at Notre Dame with 96 total tackles (24.5 for a loss), seven sacks, five forced fumble, seven passes defensed, and one interception. He earned the 2020 Butkus Award, given to the top linebacker in college football, and was named 2020 First-Team All-ACC.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have options with the 25th overall pick.

This is not the first time a mock projects Owusuh-Koramoah landing in Jacksonville. Others have the Jaguars drafting Texas offensive tackle Sam Cosmi or Florida wide receiver Kadarious Toney. Looking at the team’s roster needs, they could go in any of those directions, and all of them would be solid pickups.

The Jaguars have committed a heavy amount of cap space to Myles Jack and Joe Schobert, so even though it would make sense to target someone like Lavonte David in free agency to round out their linebacker unit, they may choose to add one in the draft, and Owusuh-Koramoah is one of the most versatile ones.

Although the ‘Jags’ have more pressing needs on defense, they should definitely consider taking Owusuh-Koramoah with the 25th overall pick if he’s still available. As important as it is to fill every roster hole, they shouldn’t discard the ‘best player available’ approach.