2024 NFL Draft: Who Do Jaguars Land in Mel Kiper's First Mock?
The 2024 NFL Draft is set to be a big one for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville is equipped with 10 picks in April's draft, with extra picks in the fourth, sixth and seventh 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 the first mock draft of the year from ESPN's Mel Kiper, one of the true veterans of the draft industry.
"I'm not going to predict any trades below -- it's still really early to assess which teams could move up and what it would take to get there. As I've said before, this is merely an exercise to show you all what I'm thinking three months out from the draft, based on my Big Board rankings and what I'm hearing from execs, scouts and coaches in the league," Kiper said.
So, who does Kiper project to the Jaguars at No. 17? We break it down below.
Round 1, No. 17: Iowa CB Cooper DeJean
This is the second national mock in a row that has the Jaguars taking a cornerback, so people should probably come around to the fact that it is a very real need and a very real scenario. Some might think the Jaguars must pick a guard or a center in the first-round, but this is a woefully misguided perspective.
Instead, it is time to realize the Jaguars have a legitimate need at cornerback, both in the short- and the long-term. And as such, cornerback is exactly where Kiper goes for the Jaguars, projecting them to take Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean.
"The Jaguars' collapse to end the season -- they lost five of their final six games and missed the playoffs -- exposed some serious roster issues, and they could have more holes to plug this offseason. That's because top edge rusher Josh Allen and No. 2 wideout Calvin Ridley are free agents, and both could get enticing offers if they hit the open market in March," Kiper said. "Ridley is probably more likely to leave, but I just projected five receivers in the top 15 picks, which means Jacksonville might not like the pass-catchers left on the board. That's why I'm pivoting to a defense that struggled down the stretch.
"DeJean, who was having an All-America season before he broke his leg in November, allowed just 3.5 yards per attempt as the nearest defender in coverage this past season. He had seven interceptions from 2022-23, including three pick-sixes. He could play in the slot or outside, making him a nice complementary corner with Darious Williams and Tyson Campbell."
DeJean is a talented and versatile cornerback thanks to his ability to play safety and star on special teams. And it makes sense to think he could be a fit with the Jaguars considering both Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams are entering contract years and there is a big need in the slot.
With that said, DeJean likey isn't the type of cornerback who would fit in new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's system. So, right idea but wrong player.
Nielsen runs a press-man coverage scheme that asks cornerbacks to live on an island, while most scouting reports have DeJean pegged as a zone cornerback who could run into issues in man coverage in the NFL. So while the Jaguars do need to pour resources into the secondary to catch up with Nielsen's scheme, DeJean specifically would be a peculiar fit.
