Breakdown: Jaguars’ Draft Needs

The NFL Draft is just around the corner and the Jacksonville Jaguars once again have a top 10 draft pick. The Jaguars’ draft needs aren’t so cut and dry with the team finishing 28th in Pts/G allowed on defense and 26th in Pts/G scored on offense. Poor offense and defense led to a 4-13 record and the firing of Head Coach Doug Pederson.

The firing of one coach leads to the bringing in of a new one as most Jags fans are aware. This time its Liam Coen who is the former offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coen wasn’t the only new hire though, as James Gladstone was brought in to replace former General Manager Trent Baalke. This will be Coen and Gladstones first time being the main decision force in a draft so the route they might go is still unseen.

Where the Jags Draft

The Jags have had seven top 10 picks in the last decade, and they have their eighth in this upcoming draft. This has allowed them to get premium talent, but they have to make sure they hit on their selection or it’s another wasted pick. That’s where new GM James Gladstone hopes to come in and fix.

Here’s a breakdown of the 10 picks the Jaguars have in the upcoming draft.

• Round 1: No. 5 overall
• Round 2: No. 36
• Round 3: Nos. 70, 88 (from Vikings)
• Round 4: Nos. 107, 126 (from Vikings)
• Round 5: No. 142
• Round 6: Nos. 182, 194 (from Seahawks)
• Round 7: No. 221

The Jags received two picks from the Vikings in last year’s draft after trading down from the 17th pick to the 23rd pick. Moving down didn’t hurt them though as they landed star Wide Receiver Brian Thomas Jr. with the pick.

Jaguars Draft Needs

The Jaguars have significant gaps at multiple positions which caused them to end the 2024 season with a record of 4-13. New General Manager James Gladstone has already started using free agency to try and address those holes. The upcoming draft though, will allow him to get premium young talent on a team that needs it.

With the Jags bringing in an offensive minded coach in Coen, they could lean more so drafting on that side of the ball. However, after losing key pieces on defense to free agency and being 31st in yards allowed per game, the Jags would be more suited picking someone on defense with the 5th pick.

The best pick for the Jags would be Colorado Cornerback/Wide Receiver Travis Hunter to try and secure a generational talent on the outside. The chances of him falling to five though depend on if the teams ahead go QB or not.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1901393036464251144

More likely than not, he will be gone by then and with no other corner likely worth a top five pick, the Jags should look to build up their defensive line. Michigan Defensive Tackle Mason Graham would be a perfect complement to edge rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.

Should the Jags go offense though to try and surround Trevor Lawrence with the most talent as possible, Penn State TE Tyler Warren or Louisiana State University LT Will Campbell would be great selections and fill positions of need.

Tyler Warren is an elite tight end prospect.

He’s cleaned up drops (15% in 2023 to 2.8% drop rate in 2024) and become an elite contested catcher (61.9%).

Warren is also a MONSTER after the catch, forcing 30 missed tackles in 2024.

TE1 for the 2025 Draft. pic.twitter.com/z5xmJ8df1O

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 17, 2025

The option to trade back and acquire more draft capitol is always on the table as well. With the Jags needing so many positions to be filled, Gladstone might take a quantity over quality approach in his first draft as GM.

How to watch

• Thursday, April 24: 8 p.m., round 1
• Friday, April 25: 7 p.m., rounds 2-3
• Saturday, April 26: Noon, rounds 4-7
• TV channel: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network
• Live streaming: ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

The 2025 NFL Draft will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin and will take place in the lots surrounding Lambeau field.