Without a first-round pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be looking to address key needs starting at No. 56 overall. Of course, a potential trade involving Brian Thomas Jr. could conceivably change that, but we'll roll with the picks in James Gladstone's hands as of now.
At that second-round selection, Black & Teal's own Carlos Sanchez — properly — identified that defensive tackle is the team's largest remaining need. Sure, it looks like Arik Armstead will stick around in 2026, and DaVon Hamilton is more of a run-stuffer rather than a pass rusher. However, the depth chart is pretty empty behind them.
Therefore, defensive tackles in that range of the draft are naturally linked to Jacksonville, starting with Georgia's Christen Miller. Miller is a polarizing prospect on the fringe of the first round for some analysts, but he's a third-round prospect on Todd McShay of The Ringer's draft board.
This begs the question, is Miller the answer at No. 56? What are his strengths and weaknesses?
Christen Miller NFL Draft Profile and Combine Measurements
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 321 pounds
Arm Length: 33.0"
Hand Span: 10.0"
40-Yard Dash: N/A
10-Yard Split: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Miller didn't do any testing at the combine, which you never love to see from someone who is universally considered as no "lock" to go in Round 1.
However, the measurements do confirm what you see on tape, including a 6-foot-4 height that might actually be a touch taller than ideal for someone who profiles as a 0-technique or 1-technique as a massive force in the middle of the defense. His length (33.0" arms) is phenomenal, though.
Christen Miller NFL Draft Tape Evaluation: Strengths, and Weaknesses
Strengths: Play strength, initial punch, rush instincts, and overall athleticism and balance
Weaknesses: Pad level, inconsistent footwork, and ability to eat double teams
Christen Miller's tape is not a smooth ride, but you do see the impactful, disruptive traits for a junior who has stood out on one of the best defenses in college football over the last three years.
Initially, I was probably too low on Miller to flirt with excluding him from my first top 100 in February. Immediately upon popping in the tape, Miller's pad level is a huge issue for someone who is 6'4". The best nose tackles in the NFL use their low center of gravity to chew blocks.
However, the longer you watch Miller, the more you believe he'll figure it out at the next level. He just has tremendous play strength and grip strength for his size, and his short-area burst once shedding a block and getting into the backfield is tremendous for someone who will likely start next season north of 325 pounds.
All in all, Miller is the No. 84 prospect on my board and ranks ninth among the class's defensive tackles.
Christen Miller's Fit with the Jacksonville Jaguars
Though lower than consensus on Miller myself, I don't think he'd be a "bad" selection for the Jaguars at No. 56 by any means.
After having logged considerable playing time for a team routinely in the College Football Playoff, Miller is ready to contribute right away at the next level, and next to DaVon Hamilton, his job wouldn't be to plug the run as a pure nose tackle. Instead, he can focus on being a chaos-causing force on the inside for a team that has another pair of hyper-athletic players, Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, rushing the passer.
If cap concerns don't get in the way, Arik Armstead would actually be a perfect mentor for Miller; he's had to overcome his height (6'7") to win leverage battles during an outstanding career. He's a faster archetype of player than Miller, but it's still a decent pairing.
Christen Miller played three times at Everbank Stadium in college for the Georgia-Florida rivalry and went 3-0 in those games, so the vibes are pretty solid for bringing him to Jacksonville as a member of the home team, too.