The Jacksonville Jaguars have their work cut out for them after early free agency. While they managed to retain a pair of defensive mainstays in Dennis Gardeck and cornerback Montaric Brown, they've yet to address some of their most pressing needs. In particular, the Jags need to add reinforcements at defensive tackle and the pass rush. While they could try to trade for help, they'll probably wait until the draft to take care of both issues.
The trouble is that the Jags don't have a first-round pick after trading up for two-way star Travis Hunter last year, and their first pick in 2026 comes at No. 56. Working in their favor is that there will still be plenty of options available to either fortify the interior defensive trenches or the pass rush. Field Yates of ESPN thinks Jacksonville will focus on the latter.
The Jaguars take Keyron Crawford in ESPN's latest two-round mock draft
Field Yates did a two-round mock draft after the initial free agency spending based on his personal rankings and what he's heard across the league. He had the Jaguars going with Auburn pass rusher Keyron Crawford, pointing out that they need to round out their rotation.
"Jacksonville can use its first selection of the 2026 draft on pass-ruh depth, as Crawford brings some serious juice," Yates wrote. "He played just one year of high school football before joining Arkansas State, so he is still coming into his own as a player. Crawford is electric turning the corner on offensive tackles and was more impactful than Keldrick Faulk for Auburn in 2025."
For context, Crawford's Auburn teammate Keldrick Faulk is projected to go in the first round. Yates has him landing with the San Francisco 49ers at No. 27.
Regarding Crawford, his biggest appeal is that he's barely beginning to showcase his pass-rush potential. There's no doubt that he needs to develop a better repertoire of pass-rush moves. On top of that, his arm length isn't optimal, and he may need to bulk up to effectively get after the quarterback at the NFL level.
Having said that, Crawford possesses the bend and burst to develop into a productive pass rusher. Just last year, he had five sacks for the Tigers. Imagine what he could do once he puts it all together.
Why drafting Keyron Crawford would make sense for the Jaguars
While defensive tackle is a bigger need, the Jaguars must also add a No. 3 behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. This is especially important because Walker is scheduled to hit the open market in 2027, and adding a pass rusher gives them a bit of insurance.
The issue with Keyron Crawford is that if Jacksonville drafted him in Round 2, it would be because of his upside. Heading into the draft, the consensus appears to be divided on him. He didn't crack the top 100 of either Pro Football Network or The Draft Network. On the other hand, Dane Brugler of The Athletic has the former Tiger at No. 67 in his top 100.
It's also worth noting that Crawford could be available in Round 3, and Jacksonville may be better off addressing the interior defensive line and the pass rush later, especially when you take into account that this is a deep pass-rush class.
Make no mistake, Keyron Crawford is an intriguing prospect, and if the Jaguars think he's worth a Round 2 pick, they shouldn't hesitate to use him. On the other hand, they might get a lot of value if they wait to take him in the third round if he's still available.