The Jacksonville Jaguars signed grizzled veteran Mitch Morse last offseason to provide stability at center. They're surely pleased with how things played out, as he came through. However, the Jags could soon be back to square one, as Morse's contract runs through in 2025. While it's hard to see him leave next season, the team's brass must start planning for the future. Fortunately, this year's draft will have no shortage of talented prospects, and it looks like they've already set their sights on one.
Former Arkansas State center Jacob Bayer had a sitdown with Justin Melo of the Draft Network. During the exchange, he talked about the draft process and confided that he's met with several teams. One of them was the Jags.
"The New York Giants, they had my tape pulled up for the meeting, which was unique. Some interviews are better than others. Some teams are more engaged than others. The Giants were a good interview.
I’d probably say the same with the Steelers. Everybody knows their head coach. It was cool to meet Mike Tomlin and shake his hand. Those two interviews definitely stood out. There were a few other good ones, like the Jaguars. I did like 16 interviews in one day. It’s like rapid fire."
For the sake of transparency, it's too early in the process to know if the Jaguars have real interest in Bayer. Moreover, meeting with prospects at the Senior Bowl and other games is common practice among NFL teams. In fact, the former Red Wolf noted that he had talked to 16 teams, basically half of the league. Then again, it's easy to see why clubs are intrigued.
A two-star recruit out of high school, Bayer originally committed to Lamar University but would end up transferring to Arkansas State. There, he made 46 starts at center. Even though the Texas native isn't the quickest prospect and must clean his footwork, he's got enough tools to potentially develop into a solid NFL contributor.
Brandon Thorn of the Bleacher Report Scouting department has a fifth-round grade on Bayer. Meanwhile, TDN projects him to be a Day 3 pick.
Why Jacob Bayer would be a fit with the Jacksonville Jaguars
Like most late-round prospects, there's a reason Jacob Bayer isn't projected to be drafted on Days 1 or 2 of the NFL draft. In his case, he most definitely has the physical traits to succeed in the pros. However, Arkansas State isn't precisely a powerhouse, and Lamar is a Division IAA program. This is to say that the level of competition he went against wasn't the best.
Of course, Bayer didn't have control of that. That's why his performance in the Senior Bowl was important, as scouts could see how he fared against top competition. Things went well.
Clinic tape rep here from Arkansas State OC Jacob Bayer.
— Mason Johnstone (@msnjhnstn) January 28, 2025
Great snap off the ball, perfect hat-landmark, and awesome vertical drive. Really doesn’t get better than this.
One of many strong reps from him. @TheDraftNetwork #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/NYjWmzswsg
There's no doubt that Bayer helped himself, and the Jaguars should keep an eye on him. In Jacksonville, he could sit behind veteran Mitch Morse. And because they have depth at the position in Luke Fortner, he wouldn't need to step in right away. Instead, he could watch and learn while he hones his craft.
Then, if Bayer is ready, he could compete for the starting job in 2026. In the worst-case scenario, he could develop into a solid backup. Either way, investing a Day 3 pick on him seems like a low-risk, high-reward for the Jags.
The bottom line is that the Jacksonville Jaguars must beef up their offensive line this offseason, and they'll need to pour lots of resources into the unit. A Day 3 pick on Jacob Bayer would most definitely make sense.