Throughout the offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been linked to several players with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Most of them will be available when they're on the clock, so the Jags should end up with one of them. However, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media thinks they will choose one path that not many analysts see them taking.
In his latest NFL Mock Draft, Jeremiah has the Jags taking Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker, pointing out that he would be a great rotational piece behind Travon Walker, and Josh Hines-Allen.
"Jalon Walker would form a dynamic trio with Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, with the latter kicking inside on passing downs to give all three players the chance to rush the passer at the same time. Jalon Walker could play off-ball linebacker on early downs and then rush off the edge when it's time to hunt the quarterback."
This begs the question, why would Jacksonville draft Walker with the fifth overall selection? For starters, he has the versatility to play off-linebacker and edge defender. On top of that, he's got the speed to cover running backs and tight ends, along with the burst and hand moves to beat offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage.
On the other hand, Walker was a situational pass rusher early in his collegiate career and it wasn't until 2024 that he started for the Bulldogs. The fact that he didn't settle at one position might have hindered his development.
For his part, Matt Holder of the Bleacher Report scouting department thinks Walker is a prospect with an extremely high ceiling who may not hit his stride if he doesn't find a true position. Then again Holder thinks he's talented enough to go either late in the first or early in the second.
And in case you were wondering, why Jacksonville would roll with Walker rather than Abdul Carter, that's because Jeremiah projects the former Penn State Nittany Lion to go the Cleveland Browns at No. 2. Meanwhile, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham falls to the Carolina Panthers at No. 8.
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Why would the Jaguars draft Jalon Walker and not Mason Graham?
Throughout the draft cycle, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been linked to Mason Graham, but Tetaiora McMillan, Travis Hunter, and even Will Johnson would also make sense. Having said that, it looks like the team will focus on reinforcing the defensive trenches. Signs point in that direction based on their free-agency moves and comments general manager James Gladstone made.
But that's the thing, Gladstone told the local media that Jacksonville would like to fortify the defensive line but didn't specify whether they would add reinforcements to the interior or the pass rush. Due to the presence of sophomore Maason Smith and the return of Arik Armstead to defensive tackle, the team's brass could opt to add a pass rusher. And if Abdul Carter is off the board at No. 5, Jalon Walker would make sense.
It's also worth noting that there's been chatter about the Jags potentially placing Travon Walker on the trade block. So far, no credible reports have surfaced, but on the off chance that they move on from the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, they could replace him with another former Bulldog.
On the other hand, the Jaguars could draft Walker even if they don't trade Walker (a highly unlikely scenario) if Mason Graham or Travis Hunter are off the board when they're on the clock.
In the end, you should always expect the unexpected when it comes to the draft, so maybe it's not that farfetched that Daniel Jeremiah predicts that the Jacksonville Jaguars will go in a route not many anticipate.