Most of the attention surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft has centered on whom they'll take with the fifth overall selection. However, they have nine additional picks and will need to nail most of them if they want to put themselves in a favorable position to compete in the division next season.
And while there are several paths the Jags can take on Days 2 and 3, an edge rusher out of Louisville is making it too difficult for them to ignore him after hitting it out of the ballpark in his Pro Day.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that edge rusher Ashton Gillotte ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds at the Louisville Pro Day.
#Louisville edge Ashton Gillotte, a name that is already generating buzz as we get closer to the NFL Draft, ran a blazing 4.63 40-yard dash today at his Pro Day in front of representatives from all 32 NFL Clubs, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 25, 2025
A third-star prospect out of high school, Gillotte appeared in 51 games in Louisiana, racking up 26.5 sacks and 41 tackles for a loss.
Gillotte's encouraging 40-yard time could alleviate concerns about his lack of burst. As Matt Holder of the Bleacher Report scouting department points out, the former Cardinal's get-off didn't stand out on tape. Also working against him is his lack of bend when getting after the quarterback.
On the other hand, Gillotte has the strength required to go against both offensive tackles and guards at the line of scrimmage. Moreover, he plays with a good pad level that allows him to set the edge against the run. For that reason, Holder sees him as a development pass rusher who could develop into a viable starter.
Holder projects Gillotte to go in the fourth round. Meanwhile, he ranks 21st among pass rushers on Pro Football Focus' big board. Having said that, his latest 40-time may incentivize teams to take a flyer on him as early as the third round.
Related story: The Jaguars supercharge their defense in this 3-round NFL mock draft
Why Ashton Gillotte would be a high-upside pick for the Jaguars
Just recently, Chad Reuter had the Jacksonville Jaguars taking Landon Jackson in the third round of his 4-round mock draft. This is understandable when you take into account that the team's brass didn't address the defensive trenches in free agency but intend to do so in the selection meeting.
There's no doubt that Jackson would be an intriguing prospect, popping up at No. 8 in PFF's big board of pass rushers. He's projected to go late in the second or early in the third. But if he's gone, Ashton Gillotte will become an intriguing option.
Granted, the Jags, like any other team, will consider other traits besides a prospect's 40-yard time, but Gillotte could potentially round out their pass-rush rotation. With Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen in the fold, the team's brass don't have to invest an early-round pick in a defensive end, so waiting until Rounds 3 and 4 makes sense.
Of course, there's always a chance the Jaguars add a pass rusher in the second round, someone like Shemar Stewart. That said, Ashton Gillotte would definitely be an appealing choice later in the round.
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