3 cornerbacks the Jacksonville Jaguars could target in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a need at cornerback to address in the upcoming NFL Draft. Thankfully, this year's draft has a deep well of cornerback prospects because most mock drafts have the five top cornerbacks off the board before the Jags are on the clock with the 24th overall pick. 

This means that the Jaguars could overdraft a corner with a second-round grade at No. 24 or trade multiple picks to move up in the first round. Neither is an ideal or feasible option for the Jags. They likely will use their first-round pick on a tight end and use their second-round pick on a cornerback. They will need to do an in-depth evaluation of the second-round cornerback talent. Let's look at the top three cornerbacks the Jags should target with their second-round pick. 

The Jags have the 56th overall pick in the draft but have two 4th and 6th-round picks they could potentially use to trade up for the right cornerback. There are three standouts the Jags could get in the second round, the first is a guy I like to call THT.

3. cornerback the Jacksonville Jaguars can draft in Round 2: Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson

THT is dynamite

Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is a standout defensive back from TCU. The 2022 Jim Thorpe Award winner has tremendous ball skills. Check out one of his three pass breakups in the College Football Playoff Semifinal win over Michigan here.

Hodges-Tomlinson arrived in Fort Worth and instantly became a difference-maker for the Horned Frogs. He would do the same for Jacksonville. His Scouting reports all say he is physical in man coverage and has excellent speed. He ran a 4.41 40, putting him in step with Vikings WR Justin Jefferson. 

TCU, like the Jaguars, plays mostly man coverage, a style THT could play comfortably in Jacksonville. Scouts note he is a highly athletically-gifted player with outstanding man coverage skills, exactly what the Jaguars need. 

As for the downside of Tomlinson, his lack of size is the most prominent critique. He is only 5'8" and 173 pounds. Second is his history of missed tackles. These are the two main drawbacks that have him slipping late into the second round.

Despite his shortcoming, THT would be an ideal fit in Jacksonville. An impact player that will work well in the Jag's defensive scheme and will adjust quickly to NFL life. He is the nephew of legendary NFL Hall of Famer LaDanian Tomlinson, that alone is a good reason to make him a Jaguar. 

2. cornerback the Jacksonville Jaguars can draft in Round 2: DJ Turner II

The fastest man in Michigan

Not only is Michigan's DJ Turner II the top cornerback in the Wolverine's defense, but he also has the second-fastest cornerback 40-yard dash time in NFL combine history. Turner ran a 4.23 at the 2023 NFL Combine, putting him fourth all-time on the fastest 40-yard dashes, regardless of position. Watch him burst down the line at the combine, but blink and you could miss him.

NFL scouts love DJ Turner II. They say he is technically refined with great coverage versatility and superb athleticism. He scored a 97 in athleticism in his NFL draft profile. Still, others rave about his agility with his change-of-direction quickness.

He can fit in most defensive schemes. He has a unique diversity to line up inside or outside and still mirrors a wide receiver's movements in coverage. He will match up well in nickel packages against speedy and shift receivers like Tyreek Hill. 

It is not all great in his scouting reports though. At his size, he is easily knocked around and beaten by physical receivers. He also is noticed to have trouble bringing down bigger receivers after the catch, often getting in dragged tackles. 

The Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell could compliments his weakness on the opposite side of the field. Turner's collection of athleticism, coverage flexibility, competitiveness, instincts, and experience gives him a high ceiling with low risk. This makes him a wise and suitable pick for the Jaguars in the second round. 

1. cornerback the Jacksonville Jaguars can draft in Round 2: Tyrique Stevenson

Keep him close to home

The Jaguars need more playmakers at corner and Miami has one playmaker that could be just right for them. Tyrique Stevenson from Miami Southridge High School would be a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. But with the depth at cornerback in 2023, the Jags could keep him in Florida at No. 56.

Stevenson initially committed to Georgia out of high school and played two seasons for the Bulldogs. Only seeing four starts in his two years, he decided to transfer back home to Miami and play for the Hurricanes. Watch this perfectly timed jump pass deflection while he was at Georgia, it saved an easy touchdown for Cincinnati in 2021's Peach Bowl. 

His scouting reports say he has explosive athletic traits with a tremendous height-weight-speed ratio. In addition, he has adequate footwork to stay on receivers in route and is a springy leader. They complement his scheme-versatile and ability to keep balance and burst getting out of breaks. He is the kind of athlete we expect from the University of Miami.

His biggest drawback seems to be a theme among defensive backs in the draft. He needs to develop better open-field tackling fundamentals. The scouts say his success in the NFL will depend on how he is used in the team's defensive scheme. One report notes his lack of interceptions at the college level. Nothing comes up that would be a severe detractor for the Jaguars. 

Stevenson's draft profile closely aligns with fellow Georgia cornerback and Jaguars' defensive backfield anchor Tyson Campbell. Many mock Drafts have him landing right around the 56th pick, so the Jags should not have to move around to get him. Stevenson will be a spot-on pick with significant upside if the Jaguars pull the trigger.