Ranking Jaguars top 5 options at No. 1 in the 2022 NFL Draft

No. 4 prospect the Jaguars can draft at No. 1 – Ikem Ekwonu, OT.

If you had said one year ago that North Carolina State offensive line Ikem Ekwonu would have a realistic shot to go No. 1 overall in this year’s draft, you would have gotten plenty of blank stares and confused looks. Not because he’s a bad prospect but rather because he’s worked his way up NFL big boards. He’s put up a pretty good college tape and more often than not, he was one of the most dominant players on the Wolfpack’s sideline whenever he suited up.

The fact that there’s no consensus top prospect in this year’s selection meeting might have given Ekwonu’s stock a boost. But even if there were a surefire No. 1, he would be among the best players in the draft. In fact, the North Carolina native should get his name called early in the draft even if the Jags pass on him.

Ekwonu himself wouldn’t be shocked if he’s drafted first overall. Similarly, he’s aware he needs to work on his pass-blocking technique. While he’s a mauler in the running game and will open big lanes for the team that drafts him, he’s not nearly as polished as a pass-blocker and has work to do if he wants to make an impact from Day 1.

As recently as March, various mock drafts had the Jaguars taking Ekwonu but the hype has faded in the last couple weeks. He’s already visited with the team’s brass and seems to have left a pretty good impression because of “how smart he is” and his willingness to understand he still has room for improvement. This should make him an intriguing prospect for teams interested in bolstering their offensive line, including the Jags.