The Jacksonville Jaguars raised eyebrows when they traded the No. 70 pick to the Detroit Lions because they had only made one selection at that point in the draft. But then, the front office used some of the picks it had hoarded to move back into the third round to select offensive lineman Wyatt Milum. The Jags got glowing reviews for the move.
The Jags took Milum just one pick after choosing cornerback Caleb Ransaw. They got high grades for both selections. Charles McDonald of Yahoo Sports! gave Jacksonville an A for the former and a B for the latter.
Regarding Ransaw, McDonald says that he's a good nickel with potential who is good against the run. The catch is that the Jags will move him to safety because of his tackling skills.
On the other hand, McDonald sees Milum as a Day 1 starter due to his experience at West Virginia. General manager James Gladstone refused to get into specifics, but said that the former Mountaineer adds depth and flexibility to the offensive line. But wait! There's more!
Chad Reuter of NFL Media gave Jacksonville an A for both its picks, pointing out that he liked the Travis Hunter trade one day prior. Regarding Ransaw and Milum, he argues that the Jaguars got a versatile defensive back who can play corner or safety and a future starting guard, respectively.
Why the Jaguars got a steal in Wyatt Milum
What makes the Wyatt Milum pick so intriguing is that the Jaguars gave up one of their two third-round picks but still managed to get back into Round 3 and now have two third-round picks next year. Add the fact that Jacksonville got a potential starter, and general manager James Gladstone got a steal.
Can you really call a third-round pick a steal? Yes, if you can get a potential starter, which is what Milum projects to be, and a future third-round pick.
Of course, Milum will need to compete for a starting job. Heck, he'll first need to make the switch to offensive guard. He doesn't have ideal arm length, so a switch inside may be the best course of action for his long-term viability in the NFL. But even if the West Virginia product doesn't start right off the bat, he would add valuable depth and versatility to the offensive trenches.
At first sight, the Jaguars' two third-round picks in 2025 may not be flashy, but it won't matter if they end up getting two starters (and an extra selection next year).