3 defensive end prospects Jaguars can consider with 25th overall pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars did a good job of solidifying the defensive line in free agency. They signed defensive end Jihad Ward, defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris, brought back 2010 first-round pick Tyson Alualu and even traded for former New Orleans defensive tackle Malcom Brown.

Moreover, they re-signed Dawuane Smoot and Adam Gotsis, so it’s fair to say the unit is in significantly better shape than it was after the 2020 season. However, they still have the chance to keep upgrading the defensive line in the 2021 NFL Draft.

After trading a seventh-round selection for Brown, the Jags have ten draft picks, four of them in the first two rounds of the selection meeting. They will most likely take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawerence with the first overall pick but they will have another first-round pick, the 25th overall, which they got as part of the trade for cornerback Jalen Ramsey in the middle of the 2019 season.

While the Jaguars could target a cornerback or a wide receiver with their second first-round selection, they will have a vast amount of options as they addressed most needs in free agency, so they can actually go with the ‘best player available approach. The 2021 defensive end class may be a bit underwhelming, as there isn’t a clear-cut top prospect and one or two of the top prospects — each with his own set of pros and cons — will be available when the Jaguars are on the clock at 25. Here are the best three in the draft.