Jaguars take puzzling path and ignore a pressing need in recent 2025 NFL Mock Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars have made several upgrades to the roster since the end of the 2023 season. However, they could still use some help at a handful of positions. On top of that, they need to start planning for next year. While the Jags have done a good job of locking up most of their core contributors, a few of them are still slated to hit the open market.

One area where Jacksonville doesn't need immediate help, though, is cornerback. They just signed Tyson Campell to a long-term deal. Moreover, they signed veteran Ronald Darby in free agency. If that wasn't enough, they also used a pair of draft picks earlier this year on Jarrian Jones and Deantre Prince. The former has consistently turned heads in the offseason and is poised to have a featured role at some point in 2024.

But as promising as the Jags' starting cornerback trio looks, Field Yates of ESPN still thinks they should bolster the position in the 2025 draft. In fact, he has them picking Denzel Burke with the 15th overall pick in his latest mock.

Regarding the selection, Yates says that Jacksonville needs to get help opposite Tyson Campbell and argues that Burke has the attributes to become a top-notch cornerback in the league.

"The Jaguars were commonly linked to cornerbacks in this year's first round, and they eventually took one in the third round with Jarrian Jones. But they still need help opposite Tyson Campbell. Burke has excellent suddenness and the ability to drive back toward the football as a playmaking corner (24 pass breakups in three seasons). With his great speed, he can hold up on the perimeter on downfield throws."

In his defense, Yates acknowledges that the Jags selected Jarrian Jones. Then again, it's fair to wonder how high is cornerback on their list of needs next offseason after investing so many resources at the position in 2024. After all, Darby's contract runs through 2025 and Jones has shown enough to make you think that he can develop into a fine starter.

Maybe Jacksonville could use depth at the position next year but they will also have in-house options, whether it's Prince, Montaric Brown or Chrisitan Braswell. All three are still on their rookie deals, so the Jags could afford to prioritize other positions in 2025.

Make no mistake, this isn't a jab at Burke. He's projected, along with four other Ohio State Buckeyes, in the first round next year. The 33rd Team has him going to the Miami Dolphins at No. 22, so Yates isn't alone in his praise for the senior cornerback.

Denzel Burke would be a fine pick but O-Line will be a bigger need for the Jaguars

For the sake of argument, let's that the Jags do take Denzel Burke or any other cornerback in the first round of the draft. They would then need to take care of the interior offensive line on Day 2 of the draft.

While there are always quality interior offensive linemen in Rounds 2 and 3, Jacksonville must make the group one of their top priorities. After all, they gave center Mitch Morse in free agency, but at 32, he's not the long-term answer at the position. Something similar will happen at right guard. Brandon Scherff is the same age as Morse and is entering the last year of the contract he signed in 2022. It's hard to see the team's brass re-signing him without also bringing in his heir apparent.

It's important to point out that the Jags gave long-term deals to Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen, and Tyson Campbell this year. Having allocated so much cap space to the trio will limit the front office's ability to make splash signings in free agency. That's why they'll need to beef up the interior trenches in the draft.

As Field Yates noted, needs change from one year to another and it's possible that some of the Jaguars' yonger offensive linemen will step up during the season. That said, he released his mock right now, and at this moment, cornerback isn't a need for the Jaguars, so as good as Denzel Burke may be, Jacksonville is better off taking a different route in the draft.

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