Way-Too-Early 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Bralen Trice Upgrades Jaguars' Pass-Rush
We know. We know.
It is way, way, way too early to talk about the 2024 NFL Draft.
With that said, it is late May, and other than OTAs in helmets and shorts there simply is little-to-nothing going on in the football world. And as a result, we are going to partake in the always-maligned exercise of looking 12 months ahead at the next NFL Draft.
Using Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator -- which has the Jaguars set to pick No. 23 -- we let the simulator select each pick before the Jaguars before pulling the trigger at No. 23.
And with the No. 23 pick we went with ... Washington pass-rusher Bralen Trice.
Trice, a fifth-year senior in 2023, played in all 13 games last season, starting all but one and leading the Huskies with nine sacks, third-most in the Pac-12.
While taking a fifth-year senior in the first-round is typically far from ideal, this pick came to fruition because of a mix of need along with supply and demand. Edge rushers are always a premium position in the NFL Draft, and in this case the clear top-two pass-rushers in the 2024 class were off the board.
There were other options, of course. Wide receiver could be a potential need if the Jaguars do not re-sign Calvin Ridley, while cornerback is set to be a glaring need with Darious Williams entering the final year of his deal in 2024. Guard was also considered since the Jaguars have Ben Bartch as a pending free agent and the need for a long-term replacement for Brandon Scherff exists.
With that said, the Jaguars couldn't pass on an EDGE here. If the season began today, the top candidates for the Jaguars' No. 3 and No. 4 pass-rusher roles would be Yasir Abdullah, a fifth-round rookie, Jordan Smith, a 2021 fourth-round pick with zero career sacks, and K'Lavon Chaisson, a 2020 first-round pick with three career sacks.
Compare this to 2022 when the Jaguars had Arden Key and Dawuane Smoot in the mix and it is clear the Jaguars' EDGE depth has taken a hit before the 2023 season even begins. Then you have to factor in Josh Allen, who is set to be a free agent in 2024 and will be right up there with Ridley in terms of meaningful contract-year players.
Allen, who recorded seven sacks, 22 quarterback hits and 11 tackles for loss last season, is the team's best pass-rusher as things stand today. It remains to be seen what his long-term future with the team is as he enters his contract year, especially since the Jaguars have had a philosophy of not entering contract neogations during the regular-season in recent years. The Allen question may not have clarity until next March, similar to Jawaan Taylor.
So while it is far too early to look ahead at the 2024 NFL Draft, it isn't too early to assume the Jaguars very well could have a gaping hole at pass-rusher entering the 2024 offseason.
