Jaguars trade up in NFL Spin Zone's 2024 mock draft to bolster the pass rush

The Jacksonville Jaguars must restock their roster after failing to make the playoffs last season. One area they'll need to focus on is their pass rush rotation. While Josh Allen is coming off a breakout year and Travon Walker keeps trending up in the right direction, they need a No. 3 that can let them come off the field and stay fresh throughout the game. One prospect to keep an eye on is Dallas Turner, who's projected to go in the first round.

Turner is one of the top pass rushers of the 2024 class. He may be available when the Jags are on the clock at No. 17. That said, there's an equal chance he'll be off the board by then, so it would make sense for them to trade up a few spots to ensure they're in a position to land the Alabama product. That's precisely what they do in NFL Spin Zone's latest mock.

Lou Scataglia of NFL Spin Zone has Jacksonville moving up four spots to draft Turner. He argues that the offensive line should be their priority but they shouldn't pass up the chance to round out their pass-rush rotation.

"While the Jags could benefit from boosting their offensive line, I think their defense is a more urgent need, so they trade up with the Las Vegas Raiders and select the best pass rusher in the class, Dallas Turner from Alabama. This could also greatly soften the blow if they are somehow not able to retain stud pass rusher, Josh Allen."

The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the 13th overall selection. Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who held pick No. 17, moved three spots in exchange for a fourth-round selection. If the Jags wanted to pull off a similar move, they might need to give up a third, or maybe a fourth and a seventh. Given that they're in need of playmakers, that seems like a reasonable prize.

Turner, a five-star recruit out of high school, logged 53 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, and two forced fumbles last year. While he needs to do a better job of using his hands to shed blocks, he's already developed a handful of pass-rush moves, including the ghost rush. He'll probably have to gain bulk to thrive in the NFL but he's got the speed and power to develop into an impact contributor early in his career.

The Jacksonville Jaguars cannot go wrong with Dallas Turner in Round 1

As Scataglia noted, the Jaguars must fortify the interior offensive line. In particular, the center and left guard positions could use upgrades. That said, the team's brass could easily take care of both positions on Day 2 of the draft or free agency. Heck, there will be several intriguing options at offensive guard in the open market.

By acquiring a player of Turner's caliber, they could increase the productivity of the already dominant pass tandem of Josh Allen and Travon Walker. Last year, Walker and Allen accounted for 27.5 of the team's 40 sacks, so it's fair to say that they need other players to step up. Although the front office must also fortify their interior offensive line, they could use a No. 3 pass rusher, and Turner will be one of the best ones available in the draft.

Ultimately, the Jaguars need to come out of the first round with a player who can contribute right out of the game. Even though there will be several enticing options, they cannot go wrong with Turner, and if they need to trade up to get him, so be it.

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