The AFC South is shaping up to be one of the most competitive divisions in football and an argument can be made that they are already one of the most competitive, despite the lack of success from their two most southern teams.
While the Jaguars hold the first overall pick, their draft doesn’t really start until their second selection at 25th overall. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, they have to wait for their division rivals, the Indianapolis Colts and Tennesee Titans, to pick before them at picks 21 and 22, respectively.
As for the Houston Texans, they don’t have a selection until the third round of the draft.
There are a lot of talented prospects the Jaguars would want on their team in the 2021 NFL Draft, but these same players are individuals Jacksonville won’t want to see as a challenger in the AFC South.
Jaguars may like EDGE Azeez Ojulari, but don’t want to face him
Edge rusher Azeez Ojulari has seen his draft stock rise significantly in his two years of being a starter at Georgia. During these two years, Ojulari had 36 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks. He also led the team in 2020 with 35 quarterback pressures, 11 more than any other player on the team.
While Ojulari is slightly undersized, his long arms make up for his height. He possesses serious competitive toughness and is a powerful tackler. He also has good burst and exceptional bend that forces offensive tackles into poor positioning.
Aside from pass-rushing, Ojulari is a solid run defender and can drop back into coverage when needed. He is a player who will not make things easy for the Jaguars’ offensive line and rookie quarterback if he ends up in the hands of the Titans or the Colts.
If Ojulari falls to the Jaguars at 25, it would be impossible to not consider taking him. His versatility makes him a fit for Jacksonville as he can be plugged in as a 3-4 outside linebacker or as a 7-tech in a four-man front.
CB Caleb Farley
Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley is an incredibly talented player and makes for an interesting cornerback prospect.
Farley was in consideration to be the first cornerback taken in the draft before it was announced that he would undergo back surgery ahead of Virginia Tech’s pro day. This has since created some dispute on where Farley will be drafted as the news of his back surgery has very well taken a hit to his draft stock.
Farley only has two official years at cornerback under his belt which gives him a ton of more room to develop. He can sometimes struggle to remain connected to routes and is still a bit new when it comes to fundamentals and technique.
He knows how to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage and his natural ball skills make him a serious threat for any offense he goes up against.
OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
Offensive linemen are among the most important positions in football and are often overlooked in the NFL. The Colts and the Titans will likely look for significant offensive line support in the draft.
USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker has experience at both left tackle and left guard which makes him one of the most versatile offensive lineman prospects in the draft. He’s solid both as a pass pro and a run blocker and has rarely been penalized in his career.
Due to his shorter arms, Vera-Tucker projects as a guard in the NFL by most scouts but can easily enough move around the offensive line as needed.
EDGE Jayson Oweh
Jayson Oweh is a developmental prospect who is an incredible athlete with a ton of upside. It will be interesting to see where teams value him, as many scouts seem split on grading him as a late first-round prospect or an early second-round prospect.
While he has great bend, explosiveness, length, and range, Oweh is still considered fairly raw. He has all of the athletic tools to be a successful edge rusher in the NFL, he just needs a little more time to mature.
If Oweh can polish his plan of attack, improve his technique, and run awareness, he could end up as one of the most dangerous designated pass rushers in the AFC South in just a few years.
WR Rashod Bateman
Indianapolis and Tennessee are both in need of a wide receiver but it’s unsure how early on in the draft they will decide to address the position.
Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman could be a likely target for these division rivals at picks 21 and 22, respectively, although this may be a bit generous considering his draft range.
Bateman is a well-rounded outside receiver with good size, speed, and ball skills. He has pro-ready hands and is a solid route-runner.
An area where Bateman can struggle is going up against top cornerbacks. He can be a bit limited if jammed by tight coverage.
If the Jaguars can’t fix their messy secondary, they are going to have trouble covering receivers with similar athletic ability as Bateman.