After months of grinding tape, meeting with prospects, and talking to scouts, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have the chance to put all that knowledge to work in the 2023 NFL Draft. Coming off a highly successful season, the Jags must fortify a handful of position groups if they want to keep up with the AFC heavyweights.
The Jags enter the draft with nine selections, which should be plenty enough to restock their roster. So how will they use all their picks? Here's a mock draft with a trade in the second round.
Final Jaguars 7-round mock draft: Round 1, pick 24: O'Cyrus Torrence
Cornerback has been seen as the team's need throughout the offseason but it feels like they can address it in Round 2 and bolster another position group with the 24th overall pick. While the Jags could take an offensive tackle (Dawand Jones, Anton Harrison, or Darnell Wright to compete with Walker Little for the right tackle job, going with Florida offensive guard O'Cyrus Torrence makes more sense when you take into account that: a) Ben Bartch, the incumbent at left guard, is coming off a season-ending injury and might not be ready for training camp. And b) He's set to become a free agent next year.
By taking Torrence in the first round, the Jaguars ensure they have stability at left guard for years to come and Trevor Lawrence remains protected. Going with the Louisiana native might not be an overly popular decision but planning ahead and not having to worry about one guard slot is a reasonable move.
Final Jaguars 7-round mock draft: Round 2, get pick 43 from NY Jets: Deonte Banks
The New Jets checked off a box before the draft when they finalized a trade for Aaron Rodgers. Now that they've stabilized the quarterback position for at least another year, it's time they focus on other needs.
The issue is the Jets currently have five picks but they take care of that by trading back 13 spots and acquiring two fourth-round picks (121, 127) and another one in Round 6 (185, the one they originally got from New York in the James Robinson trade) from the Jags in this mock.
With the 43rd overall pick, the Jaguars take Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks, who's been previously projected to go in the first round but could be available in the second. By selecting Banks, the team's brass finds someone who can line up in the slot to round out their cornerback group.
Final Jaguars 7-round mock draft: Round 3, pick 88: Sam LaPorta
Giving up three selections to move up 13 spots in Round 2 feels a bit excessive but it beats the alternative, which was to part ways with the 88th pick, which Jacksonville could use on Iowa tight end Sam Laporta.
Although it would be great to take Michael Mayer or Dalton Kincaid in the first round, the Jaguars go with Sam LaPorta, who's gotten the spotlight over the last few weeks and brings lots of upside in the third round. At no point has LaPorta been seen as a potential first-round pick but if a team really likes him, he could go in the second.
Working in the Jags' favor is that he could still be on the board when they pick at No. 88 given how deep the tight end class is, which is why they keep it in this mock.
Final Jaguars 7-round mock draft: Round 6, pick 202: Deneric Prince
Running back is far from a need for the Jaguars after inking D'Ernest Johnson in free agency and bringing back JaMycal Hasty. Not to mention that Travis Etienne showed last year that he can be a three-down back. However, it would be a good idea to replenish their running back room. The team's brass doesn't seem to be sold on sophomore Snoop Conner and Deneric Prince could quickly come in and seize a roster spot.
Prince lacks top lateral speed and isn't the kind of running back that will make defenders miss. On top of that, he needs to become a better pass-catcher out of the backfield. However, he's a downhill runner that can churn out tough yards. That's the kind of skill set teams covet in the red zones and short-yardage situations, which is why the Jags invest a sixth-round pick in him.
Final Jaguars 7-round mock draft: Round 6, pick 208: Robert Beal Jr.
The Jaguars could be targeting Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith in the first round but if they don't manage to land him, they could then target teammate Robert Beal Jr. in the sixth round with the pick they got from the Philadelphia Eagles when they traded cornerback Josiah Scott in 2021.
A five-star recruit out of high school, Beal was only a rotational pass rusher on the Bulldogs' defense. He needs to work on his hand usage and improve his overall technique to make it in the NFL. However, he has the size and athleticism to eventually develop into a solid reserve or even a low-end starter.
Final Jaguars 7-round mock draft: Round 7, pick 226: Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Quarterback isn't one of the few positions the Jaguars don't need to worry about in the draft but they shouldn't pass up the chance to take a developmental prospect late in the round anyways. Without an immediate need, the coaching staff could bring along a young passer slowly and if he don't seen enough progress in one year, they can easily invest another late-round pick in the position.
At No. 185, Dorian Thompson-Robinson brings value to the table. He completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 3,169 yards with 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for the Bruins last season. The Las Vegas native must learn to remain in the pocket when pressured.
Similarly, Thompson-Robinson needs to do a better job of reading the field. On the other hand, his quick release and above-average arm strength are enticing traits that make him an appealing project worth taking on late in the draft.