The 2025 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away, and without a clear need, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been the subject of lots of speculation the past few months. After addressing several needs in free agency, they have the flexibility to take different routes at No. 5, but what if the New England Patriots swoop in and take their ideal prospect? That's a question Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus explores in his latest mock draft.
The New England Patriots hold the fourth overall selection. Wasserman has them rolling with Travis Hunter, pointing out that he's the receiver the Pats offense solely needs. The New York Giants land Shedeur Sanders on pick earlier, and the Cleveland Browns choose Abdul Carter at No. 2 after the Tennessee Titans make Cam Ward the first overall selection in 2025.
Fortunately for the Jags, they don't need a quarterback, so they won't have issues with Ward and Sanders being off the board at No. 5. They would surely like to get their hands on Carter, but he's a long shot to be available, so front office probably knows it doesn't have a chance. This begs the question, what direction should Jacksonville take when they're on the clock? Dasserman has them going with defensive tackle Mason Graham, calling it "a slam dunk pick."
"Assuming Travis Hunter isn’t on the board, this should be a slam-dunk pick for Jacksonville. Graham was the highest-graded defensive tackle in the FBS in 2024. Jacksonville's defensive tackles ranked 28th overall and 31st in PFF pass-rush grade this past season. New general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen saw firsthand how a dominant interior player, Aaron Donald, could energize a defense. They take Graham here hoping he can have a similar impact."
At this point in the draft process, Travis Hunter making it to pick No. 5 feels like a coin flip. Heck, he could go as early as No. 2 with New York, so if the Jags want to draft pick, they'd better cross their fingers and hope other clubs pass up on him or trade up.
But that's the thing, trading up to draft Hunter (or any other prospect for that matter) may not make sense when you take into account that the price to move up just one or two spots in the top 5 may be too steep, so they're probably better off keeping their picks, and going with whoever is at the top of their draft board. There's a good chance Graham is that player.
Mason Graham wouldn't be a consolation prize for the Jaguars
Travis Hunter would either give them a starting cornerback or round out Trevor Lawrence's arsenal of weapons. Either way, he would be a great addition. Having said that, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have options if he's off the board at No. 5. If they rolled with Mason Graham, as Dalton Wasserman suggests, they would put the final touches on an interior defensive line that is in dire need of a game-changer.
Sure, the Jags have the promising Maason Smith and Arik Armstead in the fold, but they need to round out their rotation. You could make the case that Graham would be a luxury pick, but the truth is that they don't have a pressing need entering the draft after filling most roster holes in free agency.
Using the same logic, drafting Travis Hunter would be unnecessary because the Jags have star receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and just signed Dyami Brown. In reality, they need all the difference-makers they can get.
Ultimately, there's a chance both Travis Hunter and Mason Graham will be available at No. 5, and that's a good problem the Jaguars would love to have.
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