The Jacksonville Jaguars will have several intriguing options with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They would most definitely be thrilled if Travis Hunter is available, but there's no guarantee he will be. For the time being, the consensus thinks Mason Graham will be the pick. This makes sense because he could give the defensive trenches a boost. However, the Jags are being urged to pass on him.
Former Jaguars offensive lineman Dave Widell made an apperanace on 1010 XL and said that Jacksonville should steer clear of defensive tackle Mason Graham, pointing out that he's got several flaws. On top of that, he thinks there will be better players available at No. 5.
"Do not take Mason Graham," Widell told host Tom McManus. "I'd love to see I'd love to see Travis Hunter there, not for the reasons of the Jaguars. Need a player like Travis Hunter with the swagger. No, no. We need guys that can play football. And I'll say this: I watched the highlight film of Will Campbell today. The LSU lineman that seems to be able to play almost any position doesn't have the length that they talked about, long arms like I probably had, or Ben Coleman or Bocelli did, but he can play football.
Widell continued, "Mason Graham had two outstanding games this year, had issues throughout his most important collegiate football season, and I would never, never risk a fifth pick overall on a player like Mason Graham. Even though we could use the help at Interior defensive line."
It's worth noting that Widell is far from the only NFL voice that isn't high on Graham. Analyst Brett Kollmann put together his defensive line rankings and has the former Michigan Wolverine at No. 4.
Wrapping up my IDL rankings tonight.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) April 5, 2025
Won't spoil the whole thing, but Graham ended up as DT4 for me.
So why is Graham under so much scrutiny ahead of the draft? He doesn't have the ideal arm length to play at the NFL level. Similarly, the Mission Viejo, California native was relatively quiet in several games, as Widell noted. On the other hand, he routinely beat offensive linemen with a blend of strength and athleticism. Below are Widell's remarks on 1010 XL.
"I would NEVER risk the 5th overall pick on a player like Mason Graham." 😳
— 1010 XL / 92.5 FM (@1010XL) April 4, 2025
Former Jaguar Dave Widell is NOT a fan of the team potentially taking the star Michigan DT. #Jaguars | #DUUUVAL @Ballou1010xl pic.twitter.com/AE8q8iiEmY
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What are the best Mason Graham alternatives for the Jaguars in the 2025 Draft?
It's hard to tell from an outside perspective just how high the Jacksonville Jaguars are on Mason Graham, but they'll have alternatives in case they're not interested in drafting him fifth overall, and Travis Hunter is off the board. Having played offensive lineman in the NFL, Dave Widell may be a bit biased when he suggests the Jags pick Will Campbell. However, he might have a valid point.
Like Graham, Campbell has been under scrutiny for his dearth of NFL arm length. However, the former LSU Tiger has made it clear that it has never been an issue, nor should it be in the pros. Jacksonville could have him compete at either offensive line spot, and if it is indeed an issue, the coaching staff could move him inside. Either way, the Jaguars could most definitely give the offensive trenches a boost in the draft.
Another option would be Georgia edge rusher Jalon Carter, whose seen his stock rise in recent weeks and is as high as No. 5 in draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah's big board.
If the Jacksonville Jaguars ultimately choose Mason Graham, it's because they believe he can help them win games. However, some observers may not agree with the pick.