Ranking the top 3 prospects the Jacksonville Jaguars can draft at No. 24

Prospect 2 the Jacksonville Jaguars can draft at No. 24: Nolan Smith

Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy has been linked to the Jags throughout the draft process but he's not the only pass rusher general manager Trent Baalke might have set his sight on in the first round. Georgia's Nolan Smith met with the team's brass in early March and nobody would raise an eyebrow if he ends up being the pick at No. 24.

A five-star recruit out of high school, Smith excels against the run and has the burst and speed to get after the quarterback. Although he will probably need to bulk up and work on his hand usage to be a productive edge defender in the NFL, he could give the Jaguars' pass-rush rotation a boost.

Whereas Murphy is better suited to play with his hand on the ground, Nolan could play outside linebacker for the Jaguars and round out a group that includes Josh Allen and Travon Walker.

Smith suffered a pec tear last November that forced him to miss the rest of the 2022 season. His recovery timeline must've been brought up when he met with the Jaguars' brass but it doesn't seem like the injury is going to affect his draft stock.

Like Murphy, Smith has a first-round grade, and if they're both available at No. 24, the choice could come down to who's the better fit on the Jaguars' defensive scheme.