3 players the NFL will regret letting fall into Jaguars' range on Day 2 of draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars were spectators on Thursday night -- but pleased ones. As someone who studies the draft for months, I am "jaw on the floor" stunned by some of the choices we saw in Pittsburgh during Round 1.

The L.A. Rams chose Ty Simpson at No. 13 overall. Jacksonville's divisional rival, Tennessee, produced an all-time stunner in the top five. Then, two teams tried to draft USC's Makai Lemon. Seattle -- curiously -- took a running back with the last pick of the round.

As a result of some of those shenanigans, the Jaguars probably don't feel too down about missing the festivities. Armed with four picks on Day 2, James Gladstone can get as aggressive as he wants to move up from the team's initial selection (No. 56) and secure a player that was supposed to be drafted Thursday.

Here are three players that Gladstone has to be working the phones to try and secure.

Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State

As I wrote Kayden McDonald's draft profile at Black & Teal, I wrote this phrase that has all of a sudden become reality:

"Defensive tackle depth is arguably the Jags' most important need, so if any of them fall further than expected, could a completely unexpected move be on the horizon? Ohio State's Kayden McDonald would absolutely be that."

Austin Swaim, Black & Teal

For reasons unknown to me, defensive tackles Caleb Banks and Peter Woods both went ahead of McDonald in Thursday's first round. Woods is a shiftier 3-technique that represents almost a different position, but Banks is a nose that has battled severe foot issues since the start of the 2025 season.

Minnesota's loss is Jacksonville's win. The Jags are within striking distance of my No. 19 overall player entering Thursday's festivities, and the cost wouldn't be great at this stage.

Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan

As anticipated, the depth of this year's EDGE class worked against some of the top prospects going in Round 1.

Clemson's T.J. Parker, Missouri's Zion Young, and Texas A&M's Cashius Howell tumbled to Day 2 and sit atop most "best available" lists. Without a trade, Jacksonville might be a bit too far back for any of those three, but it does bring into focus a target in the next tier of pass rushers: Michigan's Derrick Moore.

As mentioned in Derrick Moore's draft profile, it might behoove the team to address the position in Round 2 rather than wait, as defensive tackles, cornerbacks, and wide receivers could be available in the third:

"Beyond [Moore] in the second round, you get to the range of more athletic projects, like USC's Anthony Lucas, or smaller EDGEs with size concerns, like Texas Tech's Romello Height. I would not wait when this is a sneaky need. The Jags finished the final four games, including the postseason loss, with just five total sacks. This group wore down from a lack of depth."

Austin Swaim, Black & Teal

Moore's significant experience in a four-man front in Ann Arbor -- with 10.0 sacks last year -- makes him an ideal depth piece behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.

Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

I mentioned Jacob Rodriguez as a name that Jacksonville hoped to slide to Round 2 on Wednesday. The league granted that wish.

The uncertainty of losing Devin Lloyd in free agency and thrusting Ventrell Miller into a large role could certainly be eased if the Jags -- even with the aid of a trade up the board -- could lock down one of the most popular prospects in the draft.

Rodriguez is a household name after forcing 11 turnovers at Texas Tech last year, and he was a star at the Senior Bowl before a surprising combine effort where he posted top-nine performances in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, and shuttle. He's a better athlete than expected in addition to the playmaker you see on tape:

Linebacker is loaded to the gills after just one (Sonny Styles) went in the first round. Georgia's CJ Allen, Cincinnati's Jake Golday, Texas A&M's Anthony Hill Jr., and Missouri's Josiah Trotter are all names the Jaguars could target on Day 2 if they get cold feet about the Miller expansion plan.

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