The Jacksonville Jaguars did a good job of replenishing their roster this offseason. However, they will need to continue to add talent next year if they want to become a legitimate playoff contender. The Jags have held the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft in consecutive years but there’s a chance they will pick outside the top 5 (maybe top 10) in 2023 if they live up to expectations.
Outside of quarterback, the Jags could fortify pretty much any position next year. With that in mind, here are five prospects they should keep an eye on in the 2022 college football season.
No. 5 draft prospect the Jaguars must keep an eye on: Cooper Beebe, OT
The Jaguars’ offensive line will look a bit different after undergoing a few changes in the offseason. They re-signed Cam Robinson and locked up Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff in free agency. Tyler Shatley will tentatively start at center while rookie Luke Fortner develops. Jawaan Taylor and Walker Little will compete for the starting job at right tackle in training camp.
Then, there’s Ben Bartch, who will have the chance to show he’s the long-term answer at left guard. The former St. John Johnny has steadily improved over the last two seasons but if he doesn’t show enough in 2022, the team’s brass might be inclined to target an offensive guard in next year’s draft.
Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe performed well in 2021, posting a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 85.4. Also, the Missouri native was the highest-ranked interior offensive lineman in PFF’s top 50 board ahead of the 2022 season.
Beebe has the flexibility to line up at both guard and left tackle. Furthermore, he didn’t allow a single sack on 367 pass-blocking snaps last year and if he has another solid season, he could become a top 15 prospect in 2023.
No. 4 prospect the Jaguars must keep an eye on: Antonio Johnson, S
Safety was one of the few position groups the Jaguars didn’t address this offseason and it seems like they will go with Andre Cisco and Rayshawn Jenkins as the starters. The former showed promise as a rookie and has a high ceiling while the latter should bounce back after having a down year. But if Jacksonville wants to upgrade their safety room in 2023 they should keep an eye on Texas A&M’s Antonio Johnson.
The Aggies standout is the highest-ranked safety on Pro Football Focus’ board, earning an 87.4 overall grade last season. Although he’s previously lined up in the slot, he will play safety full-time in 2022.
If Johnson keeps playing at a high level in 2022, he could become a top 10 draft prospect. At 6’3″ and 200 pounds, he has top-notch athleticism and the size to be an asset against the run.
Johnson can also drop in coverage. Last year, he was targeted 62 times and gave up a mere 228 yards (3.7 yards per target). Also, he logged 79 total tackles, 85. tackles for a loss, five passes defensed, and one interception. If that wasn’t enough, Auggies head coach Jimbo Fisher has praised his versatility and has described him as a “chess piece” in his defense.
Cisco is poised to have a breakout season in 2022 but if he doesn’t or Jenkins isn’t able to rebound, Johnson then becomes a realistic target in next year’s draft.
No. 3 draft prospect the Jaguars must keep an eye on: Michael Mayer, TE
Even though the Jaguars signed Evan Engram in free agency, there’s a chance that tight end will be at the top of their to-do list in 2023. After all, the former Ole Miss Rebel signed a one-year deal and may hit the open market once again next year. Dan Arnold is also set to become a free agent, so the team’s brass must have a contingency plan in place and start scouting collegiate prospects in case they aren’t able to retain either Arnold or Engram (or both).
The Jags should probably start with Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer, who is already been projected as a first-round pick in next year’s draft. He’s the highest-ranked tight end on PFF’s board and rightfully so. Although he doesn’t have top-notch speed, he doesn’t shy away from contact and is willing to take a hit if he needs to make a catch in traffic.
Last year, he broke Notre Dame’s single-season records for catches (71) and receiving yards (840) by tight ends. And while he might have a hard time putting up similar numbers in 2022, he should once again have a productive season.
Tommy Jaggi of FanSided sees Mayer as a better version of Pat Freiermuth, who was a second-round pick in last year’s draft and a highly productive tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jags passed up the chance to take Freiermuth in 2021, and they can’t afford to make the same mistake if Mayer falls into their lap.
No. 2 draft prospect the Jaguars must keep an eye on: Broderick Jones, OT
Either Walker Little or Jawaan Taylor will start at right tackle for the Jaguars in 2022 but if neither one proves to be the answer, the team’s brass could go offensive tackle in next year’s draft. In fact, Joe Marino of The Draft Network previously linked them to Ohio State’s Paris Johnson in a too-early 2023 mock draft.
Johnson is certainly a fine player, one with first-round potential, but he isn’t the only prospect the Jags should monitor in the 2022 college season. Georgia’s Broderick Jones showed flashes last year, when he was asked to fill in for Jamaree Salyer, who suffered a foot injury that forced him to miss several games.
With Salyer going to the Los Angeles Chargers in this year’s draft, Jones will play left tackle full-time for the Bulldogs. Although he’s only appeared in 463 offensive snaps throughout his college career, he’s shown he can play at a high level, posting a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 82.0.
The only caveat of drafting Jones and Johnson for that matter is that neither one has experience at right tackle, which is where they would potentially line up if they land in Jacksonville. Robinson is firmly entrenched at left tackle, so the reasonable approach would be to move Jones to the right side of the offensive line.
Then again, that’s precisely what they will do with Little in 2022, so it wouldn’t be particularly surprising if they did the same with Jones or any other left-tackle prospect.
No. 1 draft prospect the Jaguars must keep an eye on: Kayshon Boutte, WR
The Jaguars revamped their wide receiver corps in the offseason and got Trevor Lawrence a pair of new targets in Zay Jones and Christian Kirk. But in spite of the additions, there was a chance the front office would keep bolstering the position in the draft. In the end, Jacksonville didn’t use a single pick on the position (although they did sign Kevin Austin Jr. afterwards).
While the Jags’ wide receiver group looks in good shape ahead of the 2022 season and might even be a strength, it’s hard to tell how they will fare. Moreover, Marvin Jones Jr. is slated to become a free agent in 2023 and if management isn’t able to retain him (they should), they should consider taking a wideout in next year’s draft. The best one available might be Kayshon Boutte, who coincidentally has been named a prospect the Jaguars should keep an eye on.
Boutte caught just 38 passes for the Fighting Irish last year but he averaged nearly 20 yards per grab and did so despite the fact that he had to sit out six games with an ankle injury. The Jags could certainly use someone that can get deep and stretch the football field.
There’s a chance that the Jaguars’ new receivers will gel but if they fail to live up to expectations or the team wants to keep adding weapons next year, Boutte might be the best option available in the draft.