Draft season is already in full swing and free agency hasn't even started! That means that you'll be hearing about risers and fallers following the NFL Scouting Combine and in the weeks after. For the time being, you'll be hearing about Grey Zabel, who has seen his stock rise after an impressive Senior Bowl out. That isn't necessarily great news for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They'll need to act fast if they want to miss out on the intriguing North Dakota State product.
Mia O'Brien of 1010 XL said on a recent podcast that she expects Zabel to go in the first round, noting that his stock has risen since his dominant Senior-Bowl performance.
"I mentioned the mantra in my household over the last few weeks that we are gay for Grey, that being of course, Gray Zabel, the offensive lineman, Do-it-all extraordinaire out of North Dakota State, who did have the most extraordinary Senior Bowl of any player regardless of position in my estimation, and many others," O'Brien told co-host Gus Logue. "This week in Mobile is going to go down as the stuff of legends, because, quite frankly, I think it took him from being maybe a second round to..."
O'Brien continued, "I am buying Grey Zabel will not only not be there for the Jaguars at the top of the second round, I am buying that he will be a top-20 pick when all is said and done in a weak NFL draft class this upcoming April. Jaguar fans, if indeed the Jaguars, go Mason Graham in the first round, whether it's [Armand] Memboe, Jonah, Arizona, as I affectionately refer to him as Jonah Savaiinaea out of the University of Arizona."
"Whether it's Emory Jones out of LSU, maybe you wait till the third round. I know there's plenty of Georgia fans out there, maybe even in the comments that have been something for Tate Ratledge in the third round. Miles Frazier, the guard at LSU. Get ready to learn some of those names, because I do not think Grey Zabel is going to be there at the top for a second."
As O'Brien pointed out, most draft analysts saw Zabel as a third-round selection after the 2024 season. However, his stock got a boost after an impressive performance in the Senior Bowl.
Add the fact that the former Bison can line up anywhere across the offensive line, and it's easy to see why he could go earlier in the draft than originally anticipated. Below is O'Brien's exchange with Logue. Her remarks about Zebel start at the 14:30 mark.
The Grey Zabel hype won't cause the Jaguars to overreact
The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't been specifically linked to Grey Zabel. Heck, they haven't even hired a general manager as of this writing, so they haven't probably begun to put together their draft board. That said, they should most definitely keep track of the North Dakota native.
Zabel plays offensive tackle and guard but would line up inside if were to land in Duval because the Jaguars are already set on the edges with Walker Little and Anton Harrison. In fact, the coaching staff could immediately plug him in at right guard. Veteran Brandon Scherff is slated to become a free agent, and it looks like he won't return in 2025.
Circling back to Zabel's projection, though, some scouts may legitimately have him in the first round and his Senior Bowl outing shouldn't be downplayed. That said, it's hard to see a player making such a massive leap ahead of the draft. Sure, teams will move him up on their respective big boards, but going from the third round to the top 20 may be a reach.
You should never say never, though, and if Zabel does go in the top 20, this writer will gladly eat his hat. Heck, Mia O'Brien isn't alone in her assessment. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media has the O-Line prospect going to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 18. That said, he should still be available on Day 2, and probably at the start of Round 3.
This is to say that if the Jaguars don't want to lose out on Gabel, they should pick him in the second round, but any team that drafts him in the first will probably be overreacting.