2023 NFL Draft: Who Do Jaguars Take at No. 24 in Final Mock?
We made it.
In just one day, the 2023 NFL Draft will, finally, kick-off. The wait will be over and the next generation of NFL stars will be in their new landing spots.
Each year, I try to put out my final guess on who the Jacksonville Jaguars will select with their first-round pick a day before the draft. This is where I put a final stamp on everything I have heard about the Jaguars and their plans, though it has been significantly easier the last two years with the Jaguars picking at No. 1.
Now, though, they pick at No. 24. As such, here is my final prediction on who they draft, with some considerable margin of error in mind.
Buckle up.
No. 1: Carolina Panthers (via Chicago Bears): QB Bryce Young, Alabama
This one is set in stone, despite Reddit throwing it into wack in Vegas.
No. 2: Houston Texans: EDGE Will Anderson, Alabama
Again, I have no idea what the Texans do here. A day out, I am not sure they have any idea what they are doing here. My gut guess is they take Will Anderson, despite the Tyree Wilson smoke.
No. 3 Arizona Cardinals: OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
I find it hard to believe teams will be tripping over themselves to trade up here. The Cardinals roster is so bad that they could take any position, and here they replace a tackle who openly called out Kyler Murray's leadership.
No. 4: Indianapolis Colts: QB Will Levis, Kentucky
Some pre-draft smoke is just that, but Will Levis has always made sense as the quarterback the Colts covet.
No. 5: Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
I bet this pick comes down to Jalen Carter vs. Tyree Wilson, but the Seahawks go with the safer option.
No. 6: Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
The Lions seem like a team that has been impressed by Carter this draft cycle. He is the best player in the draft but no other player needs a better fit in terms of locker room.
No. 7: Las Vegas Raiders: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
A quarterback here would be semi-surprising after their offseason, even if they have shown a ton of interest pre-draft in the group. Here, they get a franchise cornerstone defender instead.
No. 8: Atlanta Falcons: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
I am completely buying that Arthur Smith wants Bijan Robinson at No. 8. Why wouldn't he, based on his background?
No. 9: Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): OL Broderick Jones, Georgia
I debated Lukas Van Ness or Nolan Smith here but with Broderick Jones instead. He is one of the youngest and least experienced linemen in the draft but he has as high of a ceiling as anyone.
No. 10: Philadelphia Eagles (New Orleans Saints): CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
The Eagles get a relative steal here with Christian Gonzalez sliding to No. 10. He can be a versatile chess piece to replace Chauncey Gardner-Johnson as a rookie before being moved outside full-time in the future.
No. 11: Tennessee Titans: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
I am just going to assume the Titans will take the highest-rated Buckeye on the board.
No. 12: Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
The Texans don't have a quarterback to take here after their general manager more or less went public for his dislike of Anthony Richardson. Instead, they take the top receiver.
No. 13: Green Bay Packers: OL Darnell Wright, Tennessee
A Day 1 starter at either tackle spot, Darnell Wright has the experience and upside for the Packers to buy into before the offensive line run kicks off.
No. 14: New England Patriots: EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
The Patriots wouldn't pass on Lukas Van Ness here. I bet the NFL is higher on Van Ness than this selection has him falling to, but I just couldn't find a spot for him.
No. 15: New York Jets: OL Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
It seems like the Jets have offensive line injuries every season, so landing someone who can play virtually every spot along the line like Skoronski makes sense.
No. 16: Washington Commanders: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
Washington lands a local prospect who has one of the highest ceilings in the entire draft class.
No. 17: Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
This is probably a cliche pick but hey, it's my mock.
No. 18: Detroit Lions: QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
I have no idea where to slot Anthony Richardson, but I would assume the Lions wouldn't pass on him twice.
No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OT Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
Tampa Bay's offensive tackle depth is frighteningly poor, leading to them making an early selection of Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison over some more established players.
No. 20: Seattle Seahawks: DL Bryan Bresee, Clemson
I believe the Seahawks want to double-dip on defensive linemen after last year. Bryan Bresee is a big projection but he has a lot of upside and seems like a Pete Carroll guy.
No. 21: Los Angeles Chargers: TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
The Chargers need more pass-catchers and to upgrade the tight end spot. Dalton Kincaid seems more their speed than Micahel Mayer.
No. 22: Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
There is no player in this draft who plays more like a Baltimore Raven than Nolan Smith.
No. 23: Minnesota Vikings: EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
With drama seemingly always brewing among their edge defenders, the Vikings get a safe pass-rusher to end his slide.
No. 24: Jacksonville Jaguars: OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
This pick comes down to Brian Branch vs. O'Cyrus Torrence, in my mind. I just can't shake the idea that the Jaguars might want to look at offensive line first and foremost after the questions that were raised about it at last week's press conference. They can find a nickel later, but here they get a top-notch guard to fortify their depth.
I do think the Jaguars would take one of the top-five pass-rushers if they were here. Ditto with Deonte Banks, who there has been a lot of smoke on lately. I would guess the Jaguars stay at No. 24, but if they move up, my guess is it would be for Lukas Van Ness.
No. 25: New York Giants: DB Brian Branch, Alabama
This would be the perfect fit in terms of player and scheme. One of the best blitzers in the class goes to a madman defensive coordinator.
No. 26: Dallas Cowboys: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
It seems like it would surprise most if Michael Mayer fell past the Cowboys. They have the need at tight end and he could remind Jerry Jones a good bit of Jason Witten with his ability to win at the catch point.
No. 27: Buffalo Bills: LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas
With Sean McDermott now running the entire show on defense, it makes sense for him to go for a high-upside linebacker like Drew Sanders.
No. 28: Cincinnati Bengals: TE Darnell Washington, Georgia
The Bengals don't have many obvious holes, but tight end is one of them. Washington could be an extension of the offensive line and help transform the offense.
No. 29: New Orleans Saints: DL Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
The Saints will take the best defensive lineman on the board or trade up. It is what they do.
No. 30: Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Will McDonald, Iowa State
Adding a pass-rusher like McDonald at the end of the first-round makes a lot of sense, especially for a team that has seen a similar style of pass-rusher thrive.
No. 31: Kansas City Chiefs: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
The Chiefs clearly have interest after having him work out with Patrick Mahomes. He could even be a trade-up option.
