You haven't heard this much in the current century of Jacksonville Jaguars football, but a strong foundation has the team positioned to be aggressive again this year if they want to be.
Jacksonville is armed with three third-round picks after No. 56, so ammo is present if James Gladstone and Liam Coen really want to add a marquee piece somewhere in the late first or early second. That's even without mentioning that Brian Thomas Jr. would absolutely net a top-40 pick if he were dealt.
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.
McDonald is largely considered one of -- if not the -- best defensive tackles in the class. Could he be a potential whale that Gladstone is debating hunting? Would it be a good move?
Kayden McDonald NFL Draft Profile and Combine Measurements
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 326 pounds
Arm Length: 32.3"
Hand Span: 9.8"
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
Don't let the incompletes be entirely accurate. Kayden McDonald did impressive on-field work at the combine. He just didn't test.
As unusual as it is, I do like a 40-yard dash and vertical jump from big men. It's a sign of lower-body explosiveness and general athleticism at a position where traits usually win out. He didn't test at his pro day, either, unfortunately.
Still, the nose tackle has ideal size and strength for the position that shows up on tape. He had 84 combined tackles his last two seasons in Columbus, and the Buckeyes allowed 3.0 yards per carry or fewer in both seasons. That starts up front and in the middle.
Kayden McDonald NFL Draft Tape Evaluation: Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:Â Â Chewing blocks, lower-body drive, tracking of the ball carrier, and violent power in his hands
Weaknesses:Â Â Ferosity of pass rush and lateral quickness over a significant distance
McDonald is a professional block consumer. Like you wake up and wolf down breakfast, the nose tackle takes on double and triple teams with a violent punch and the ability to press forward even with suboptimal leverage.
The marquee question you'll see about him is his upside to rush the passer. The way he closes lanes and sheds blocks with violent hands is going to translate to stopping the run in the pros. However, I wouldn't write him off as a rusher with an ability to get slow-footed guards off balance and squeeze into the backfield:
One thing I noticed in McDonald's tape is an unusual awareness of the quarterback's or ball carrier's position. That's not always the focus of a big interior lineman focused on winning individual matchups, but it's what allowed him to finish so many plays with tackles at the collegiate level.
There's a reason McDonald will -- easily -- be the highest-selected player of those we've covered on Black and Teal so far. He's got very few true weaknesses with a projectable pro future.
Kayden McDonald's Fit with the Jacksonville Jaguars
DaVon Hamilton graded out 89th of 124 eligible defense tackles in Pro Football Network's Defensive Tackle Impact (DTi) score, which controls for overall defensive performance. He'd probably be best suited in a rotational role.
Especially with Devin Lloyd's departure in free agency, this will be a Jaguars team that will need to improve its front seven in the draft to avoid becoming a below-average run defense. Jacksonville was just 14th in rushing EPA allowed per carry, according to nfelo.
Kayden McDonald is a one-stop shop for stopping the run. He was a downright dominant force for two seasons with the Buckeyes, and I don't know if he's tapped into his excellent technique and surprising athleticism as a pass rusher quite yet.
Ideally, I think the Jaguars want to hang onto Brian Thomas Jr. But, there are wheels turning if the team -- armed with Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, Travis Hunter, and three Day 2 picks -- wouldn't be better off with McDonald in ostensibly a one-for-one swap. He'd erase a ton of issues in the heart of the defense immediately.