Should Jaguars target DT Christian Barmore in 1st or 2nd round?

The Jacksonville Jaguars bolstered their defensive line in free agency but they could still beef up the unit in the 2021 NFL Draft by taking Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore. If they are interested in him, how early should they draft him?

This year’s defensive tackle class is not particularly deep but Barmore is the best of the bunch and the only one that may go in the first round. Ben Rolfe of Pro Football Network recently talked about how this batch doesn’t compare to last year’s or the one in 2019, when Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver were drafted in the top 10. He later points out that the last time a defensive tackle wasn’t drafted in the first round was in 2017, which wasn’t too long ago.

This means Barmore will most likely be available when the Jaguars are on the clock at 25 and possibly once again at 33. Should this Jacksonville take the Alabama product in the first round or wait until the second round?

Christian Barmore would upgrade the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive front.

Last year, Barmore had a dominant five-game stretch prior to the National Championship, posting 16 pressures, ten hurries, and five sacks. Against Ohio State, he registered five total tackles, further solidifying his place as the top defensive tackle prospect in the draft.

The Jags traded for defensive tackle Malcom Brown and sophomores Doug Costin and DaVon Hamilton showed flashes in 2020. Nevertheless, their defensive line would benefit from Barmore’s presence, and by waiting until the second round, this Jacksonville team might miss on the chance to take him. In fact, Ray Wilson of CBS Sports believes they will take him at 25.

While it makes sense for the Jags to take an offensive tackle in with the 25th overall pick, this is a deep class, so they could afford to wait until the second round. Also, they need a tight end a maybe an edge defender, so they could use the 25th overall pick on either position. It will be interesting to see their strategy on draft night, but regardless of the path they take, if they want Barmore, they may be better off taking him in the first round.