The Jacksonville Jaguars made several upgrades to the roster in free agency and objectively look in better shape than they did at the end of 2024. But if they really want to challenge the Houston Texans for the AFC South next season, they'll need to ace most of their 10 picks in the NFL Draft.
The good news is that the Jags already addressed several needs, so they'll enter the draft without any glaring weaknesses, which in turn will give them ample flexibility. Having said that, they must avoid the following three catastrophes.
The Jaguars must avoid making a luxury pick, draft Ashton Jeanty at No. 5
Let's get it out of the way: Ashton Jeanty is a playmaker that could help several NFL. The Jaguars aren't one of them, even if the former Boise State Bronco turned out to be an upgrade over Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne.
On paper, drafting Jeanty makes sense. The Jags need depth at running back and a potential replacement for Etienne, who's entering a contract year. However, they have more glaring needs than running back, and this year's class is stacked at the position. Jacksonville could target someone like D.J. Giddens or Devin Neal in the third round and come out with a player who could make an immediate impact.
Simply put, the Jags will get more bang for their buck if they pass on Jeanty and wait for Day 2 to take a running back.
The Jaguars cannot pass up the chance to trade down in Round 1 of the draft
Nobody would bat an eye if Ashton Jeanty ends up being the pick at No. 5- Heck, he's been mocked to the Jaguars more than a few times ahead of the draft. Similarly, they could ultimately choose wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan or cornerback Will Johnson. All of them have first-round grades, so there's a realistic chance one of them lands in Jacksonville.
That said, the three of them could be available outside of the top 10, so Jacksonville should strongly consider the possibility of trading down, amassing extra picks, and choosing their preferred prospect with a lower selection.
The issue is that there don't appear to be many teams willing to move up in the first round, but if the Jags find a willing partner, they shouldn't hesitate to trade down a few spots. But if they don't, they might as well make the safe pick and roll with Mason Graham.
The Jaguars cannot afford to neglect the offensive trenches in the draft
The Jaguars signed Patrick Mekari and Robert Hainsey in free agency to start at right guard and center, respectively. Moreover, they brought in Chuma Edoga and Fred Johnson to add depth up front. With all the upgrades the team made, the offensive line should be much better than it was last year. However, Jacksonville could still add two or three more bigs in the draft.
Specifically, the front office should add another potential starter and another depth piece in the draft. Fortunately, Jacksonville will have a wide array of options from Rounds 1 to 4. With the fifth overall pick, they could target either Armand Membou or Will Campbell. Both of them could either compete for a starting job at offensive tackle or move inside.
But if the Jags want to wait until Round 2, they go zero in on Grey Zabel or Kelvin Banks Jr. Similarly, the likes of Tate Ratledge, Marcus Mbow, and Tyler Booker should be available in the third round.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars will have a plethora of options to beef up the offensive trenches and shouldn't pass up the chance to give Trevor Lawrence the best possible protection next season.