Jaguars beef up D-Line with highly-touted Ohio State prospect in 2025 NFL Mock Draft

General manager Trent Baalke will never pass up the chance to draft a defensive lineman. This is why the Jacksonville Jaguars took three in 2024: Jordan Jefferson, Maason Smith, and Myles Cole. Heading into the 2024 season, their defensive line is in great shape, but that didn't stop the Jags from taking yet another big in a recent mock.

Sayre Bedinger of NFL Spin Zone has Jacksonville taking Tyleik Williams at No. 16 in his 2025 NFL Draft, noting that the selection is based on talent rather than a need.

"When in doubt, take a potential playmaker on the interior defensive line. The Jacksonville Jaguars have a pretty good-looking roster right now and are set up well for the future. A team like this needs to consistently invest in and raise the floor in the trenches. When you can control the line of scrimmage, you are going to raise the floor of the entire season record-wise."

A four-star recruit coming out of college, Williams wanted to attend Alabama but ended up going to Ohio State. Things ultimately worked out for the Virginia native, as he's developed into a staple of the Buckeyes defense. In 2023, he amassed 53 total tackles and 10 tackles for a loss. Moreover, he was named Second-Team All-Big Ten and Second-Team Walker Camp All-American.

Expected to enter the 2024 draft, Williams instead returned to Ohio State. Matt Holder of Bleacher Reports gave him a third-round grade before he chose not to declare. The senior defensive tackle will now have the chance to boost his stock. And at the end of the day, it wouldn't be shocking to see him go as high as the first round as Bedinger projects.

Tyleik Williams would be a great pick but the Jaguars may have more pressing needs in 2025

There's no doubt that Tyleik Williams would be a great addition for the Jaguars. DaVon Hamilton and Roy Robertson-Harris have been staples of the defensive trenches and still have several years left on their respective contracts. That said, the team's brass could move on from them in 2025 without much trouble, which could then in turn allow them to get younger in the trenches.

The trouble of drafting Williams is twofold. First, the Jaguars are carrying 11 defensive linemen in 2024, so they aren't particularly hurting for depth or talent. Moreover, the offensive line will require more attention from the front office next year.

Mitch Morse and Brandon Scherff are both 32. The latter is playing the last year of the contract he signed in 2022, and it's uncertain if the Jags will bring him back next year. If they do, they may want to look for his heir apparent in the draft. On the other hand, Morse is not a long-term solution at center. He'll provide a short-term fix at the position but not much else.

Add the fact that left tackles Cam Robinson and Walker LIttle are scheduled to hit the open market in 2025, and the Jaguars may want to prioritize the offensive trenches.

It's also worth noting that Williams doesn't have ideal arm length. When you factor in that Trent Baalke puts a premium on that metric, the Jags may ultimately pass on him.

Make no mistake, Tyleik Williams could be a difference-maker for whatever teams takes a flyer on him. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars will probably have bigger needs to address, so as good as he may be, he doesn't currently look like a great fit.

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