3 Miami prospects Jaguars must keep an eye on ahead of 2021 NFL Draft

Would the Jacksonville Jaguars take a flyer on Jaelan Phillips?

When it comes to Miami Hurricanes’ defensive ends in the draft, the Jaguars will have options. If they aren’t completely sold on Gregory Rousseau, Jaelan Phillips might be of their interest. A five-star recruit out of Redlands East Valley High School, the California native committed to UCLA. After dealing with injuries and concussions over a two-year period, he announced his retirement before transferring to Miami.

Finally healthy, Phillips logged 45 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks even one interception in 2020. While he will benefit from adding mass to his frame in the NFL, he has all the traits NFL teams crave in an EDGE defender.

On Miami’s Pro Day, Phillips ran a 40-dash in 4.56 seconds, registered a 36-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 10 feet, 5 inches, according to Reese’s Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy. His injury history should raise red flags, but draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media believes that the Miami standout could be a top 10 pick if it weren’t for the injury question marks.

If teams don’t feel comfortable about drafting Phillips in the first half of the first round, Phillips might be available at 25. It would be up to the Jaguars to decide whether his potential outweighs the medical flags.