The past few months, the Jacksonville Jaguars appeared to be the best landing spot for defensive tackle Mason Graham at No. 5 in the NFL Draft. However, things changed, and running back Ashton Jeanty is quickly becoming the favorite to get the nod. In fact, one of Graham's biggest advocates now suggests the Jags steer clear of him.
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports had high praise for the former Michigan Wolverine, but he no longer thinks Jacksonville should draft him with the fifth overall pick, arguing that his ceiling is significantly lower than he had previously projected.
The discussion originally began because Prisco posted his latest top 5 ahead of the draft, and Graham didn't make the cut.
In case you can't see the tweet, Travis Hunter is at the top while Abdul Carter is second. Jeanty popped up at No. 3 while Josh Simmons surprisingly got fourth place. Then, there's Jalon Walker at No. 5.
Given that Carter and Hunter will probably be gone at No. 5, Prisco believes Jeanty makes the most sense, but adds that the New England Patriots would also be an ideal landing spot.
Earlier this year, Prisco said that he didn't think Graham's less-than-ideal arm length would be an issue in the pros, pointing out that his strength and athleticism would allow him to dominate. However, he's changed his stance after watching more tape of him.
It's worth noting that Prisco is far from the only NFL analyst who thinks Jeanty should be the pick at No. 5. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN thinks he's currently a sleeper selection, while Mike Florio of Pro Football Focus argues that the former Boise State Bronco would give the Jacksonville offense a massive boost.
Ashton Jeanty is quickly becoming the favorite to go the Jaguars
It looks like the Jacksonville Jaguars are leaning towards drafting Ashton Jeanty, much to the chagrin of the Las Vegas Raiders. Having said that, nobody should bat an eye if they end up taking a whole different route.
The Jags would probably jump at the chance of drafting Travis Hunter if he's still on the board. Similarly, they could roll with Will Campbell if they want to continue to beef up the offensive line. Conversely, the team's brass may opt for Jalon Walker's massive upside.
Granted, Jeanty would probably have the biggest immediate impact, but it's uncertain, at least from an outside perspective, just how interested Jacksonville is in him. After all, Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne are still in the mix, and their presence may incentivize the front office to prioritize another position. Add the fact that this is a deep running back, and the Jags could end up passing on Jeanty.
The bottom line is that things are always fluid ahead of the draft. Just like Pete Prisco adjusted his evaluations, there's a chance the Jacksonville Jaguars also made changes to their big board, and Ashton Jeanty is now the favorite to get his name called when they're on the clock at No. 5.