You have probably heard that an NFL team is as good as its record, and you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who disagrees with the premise. After all, you can have all the talent in the world, but won't win many football games if you don't have chemistry or a good coaching staff. That said, you could make a strong case that the Jacksonville Jaguars were much better than their 2024 record of 4-13 indicates.
Sure, the Jags had several glaring holes, and then-head coach Doug Pederson no longer made an effort to put his players in a position to succeed. On the other hand, Trevor Lawrence has shown he can be a top-10 quarterback when his team helps him. The running back duo of Tank Bigsy and Travis Etienne have also proven that they can grind tough yards if their offensive line gives them a hand.
On defense, Maason Smith flashed as a rookie, and the bookend duo of Travon Walker and Josh-Hines Allen have shown the ability to disrupt the pocket. Add the presence of pillars such as cornerback Tyson Campbell, and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, and Jacksonville has a solid core ahead of the 2025 regular season.
It will be up to new general manager James Gladstone to add pieces to the roster to complement the ones in place to put the Jags in a position to compete right off the bat. That's precisely what he does in his post-NFL Scouting Combine 3-round mock draft.
Round 1, pick 5: Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham
There will be no shortage of options at No. 5, but the Jaguars go with Mason Graham despite the fact that this is a deep defensive tackle class. Sure, his arm length is less than ideal, but that makes his ability to wreak havoc at the line of scrimmage and manhandle opposing offensive linemen even more impressive.
Passing on Travis Hunter, Will Johnson, or Tetairoa McMillan stings, but Graham gives the Jags a partner for Maason Smith to stuff the run and bring the heat from the interior.
Round 2, pick 37: Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker
There's nothing wrong with wanting players who won't disrupt the locker room, but you also need a few with a feisty mindset. That's precisely what Tyler Booker is. Just recently, the Alabama product turned heads at the scouting combine because he confided that taking the joy of playing football from his opponents is what he loves the most about the game. That mauler attitude would come in handy to beef up the trenches.
Brandon Scherff is slated to hit the open market, and Booker would be the ideal replacement. Granted, he will need to switch sides — he started at left guard for the Crimson Tide — but that's where coaching comes in. Either way, he gives the offensive trenches an element of nastiness it's sorely been missing.
Round 3, pick 70: Georgia right guard Tate Rattledge
Competition brings the best out of players and the offensive line could most definitely use some of it. Having already picked Tyler Booker, James Gladstone double dip on bigs and picks Tate Rattledge at No. 70.
Unlike Booker, Rattledge mostly lined up at right guard for the Bulldogs, but he could add competition to the left guard spot. Incumbent Ezra Cleveland has been unremarkable. Another possibility would be to move the former Bulldog to center and have him learn behind Mitch Morse to become his heir apparent in 2026. Either way, the interior trenches need depth and they get it with Rattledge.
Round 3, pick 88: Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr.
The Jaguars will probably need to find a replacement for Andre Cisco if he leaves in free agency and cannot outbid the Carolina Panthers for Jevon Holland. But even if they keep Cisco or bring in Holland, their safety room could also use depth and competition. Nick Emmanwori at No. 5 would be great, but the truth is that Jacksonville could find a quality prospect with starting potential in Round 3.
At 5'10", Billy Bowman Jr. lacks the ideal height at the position but more than makes up for it with superb technique and football IQ. He could either serve as a backup or compete with third-year pro Antonio Johnson for a starting job.