Surprise draft pick would allow the Jaguars to turn a weak link into a strength

The NFL Draft is less than one 10 days away, and you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who knows what the Jacksonville Jaguars will do at No. 5. Sure, defensive tackle Mason Graham is the favorite to get the nod, but nobody would bat an eye if they choose a whole different situation. Heck, Pro Football Focus' surprise pick would actually help the Jags solidify a key position group.

Dalton Wasserman of PFF drew up a list of surprise draft picks for each NFL team and picked Will Campbell for Jacksonville, pointing out that the former LSU Tiger would give an immediate boost to an offensive line that's mostly been a liability the past two years.

"Jacksonville’s offensive line has been a weak link over the past two seasons, and with Trevor Lawrence battling injuries, reinforcing the trenches remains a priority. If Will Campbell is available and viewed as an upgrade over Walker Little, Ezra Cleveland or Anton Harrison, the Jaguars could justify making a move. Their line ranked just 23rd in PFF grade last season — far from ideal for a franchise quarterback."

Campbell is the top offensive tackle prospect in the draft, earning a Second-Team All-Pro nod in 2023 and a Consensus All-American designation last year. But because of his limited arm length, it's been suggested that he's a better fit at guard in the NFL. The Louisiana native has made it clear that it has never been an issue and won't hold him back in the pros. But regardless of where he lines up, though, he could immediately help the Jags.

Left tackle Walker Little has been dependable but far from dominant. If the team's brass isn't convinced he's the long-term answer at the position, Campbell could challenge him for the starting job. Similarly, the Louisiana native could compete with Ezra Cleveland at left guard. Either way, he would be raising the offensive line, which is precisely what this regime wants.

The fact that the dropoff from Campbell to the next offensive tackle prospect is significant could incentivize Jacksonville to draft him fifth overall.

The Jaguars will face a massive obstacle to draft Will Campbell

The downside of drafting Will Campbell is that the Jacksonville Jaguars would be passing up the chance to land pass rusher Jalon Carter, running back Ashton Jeanty, or defensive tackle Mason Graham. Then again, this is a deep defensive tackle and running back class, so they might not mind addressing either position in the later rounds.

With that said, it's not a given that Campbell will be available when the Jags are on the clock. The New England Patriots hold the fourth overall pick and could also be zeroing in on him, especially if Travis Hunter is off the board at that point in the draft.

The silver lining would be that Jacksonville would still have a clear path to Jeanty, who would also make sense at No. 5 despite the fact that running back isn't a glaring need. Another possibility, albeit less likely, would be to trade down.

This is a long shot because teams appear to think that they'll get more or less the same value from picks No. 5 to No. 20, so they may not find much value in trading up in exchange for a higher selection.

The bottom line is that Will Campbell would give the Jacksonville offensive line a much-needed boost, but the Jaguars probably won't mind if he's gone when they're on the clock.

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