4 top-notch prospects the Jaguars can trade down for in the 2024 NFL Draft
• Here are 4 prospects the Jaguars could land even after trading down in the first round of the draft.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will enter the 2024 NFL Draft with clear needs. In particular, they need to bolster their wide receiver corps and the cornerback room. Fortunately for them, both position groups are deep, so they could wait until Day 2 to take care of either one. Similarly, they could trade back a few spots in the first round, and still come out with a quality player.
The Jags currently hold the 17th overall selection. They showed last year that they're not opposed to moving back and getting a few extra picks along the way. That's why it wouldn't be shocking to see them once again trade back and target any of the next four prospects late in the first round or early in the second.
4. Cooper DeJean , CB - Iowa
Cornerback sits at the top of the Jaguars' list of needs heading into the draft. Even though they signed Ronald Darby after releasing Darious Williams in a cap-saving move, they should still prioritize the position in the draft. After all, Tyson Campell is coming off an injured-marred season, but even if he stays healthy, he may not be a great fit in Ryan Nielsen's heavy-press scheme.
Compounding the issue is that Campbell is set to become a free agent in 2025, so the Jags should plan ahead and take a cornerback in Rounds 1 or 2. While Terrion Arnold, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and Quinyon Mitchell would make sense, they could also move back and still have a shot at landing Cooper DeJean.
Following the end of the 2023 season, Cooper DeJean seemed like a surefire first-round pick. However, he now looks like a borderline top-32 prospect. One reason may be that he opted to skip the scouting combine because he was dealing with a foot injury. Meanwhile, other cornerback prospects wasted no time taking advantage of the opportunity to boost their stock.
While some teams (and scouts) think DeJean should move at safety, he's got the athleticism, size, and awareness to remain at cornerback and either play either zone or man coverage. The former Iowa Hawkeye could also contribute in the return game, but the Jags signed specialist Devin Duvernay in free agency, so they would have him focus on honing his skills at cornerback.