2024 NFL Draft: Lance Zierlein Projects Rising CB Prospect to Jaguars
The 2024 NFL Draft is set to be a big one for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville is equipped with nine picks in April's draft, with extra picks in the fourth and sixth rounds. And after a disappointing 9-8 campaign in 2023, the Jaguars will need to make the best use of those picks.
As such, we will keep up with major mock drafts from draft experts throughout the offseason.
This time, we take a look at a mock from NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, who slotted a popular name to the Jaguars.
"In my first 2024 NFL mock draft, I am using team needs and relying a bit more heavily than usual on my prospect grades/evaluations to determine who lands where in Round 1. As we get closer to April, though, my mock drafts will have less to do with how I see these players and more to do with what I think teams want to do with each pick," Zierlein said.
So, who does Zierlein mock to the Jaguars?
Round 1, No. 17: Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell
Jaguars fans would rightfully be thrilled about this pick considering the stellar week Quinyon Mitchell just had at the Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile. While not all are on board with a cornerback in the first round, there is no doubt that Mitchell is a likely first-round pick in this range after a strong week of practices against top competition.
"Matching up against C.J. Stroud will be key moving forward for the Jaguars. Mitchell has great size and plus man-cover talent, which I saw him display at the Reese’s Senior Bowl last week," Zierlein said.
Mitchell, a senior and Florida native, started 13 games as a sophomore in 2021 before a breakout season in 2022 that saw him break the school record for pass breakups in a season. As a result, Mitchell was named first-team All-MAC and third-team All-American.
In 2023, Mitchell was named first-team All-MAC for the second year in a row after 18 pass breakups and an interception. He was named a semifinals for the Chuck Bednarik Award and was named a second-team All-American.
If drafted in the first-round, Mitchell would be Toledo's first player to be selected in the first-round since Dan Williams was the No. 11 pick in 1993.
The Jaguars have made recent investments at cornerback in Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams, though the Jaguars could have a clear long-term need at cornerback in the event they revamp their scheme or look at Williams' contract entering the offseason.
