2020 NFL Draft: Bleacher Report mocks linebacker to Jaguars in first round

With the kickoff to the 2019 season just days away, the 2020 NFL draft is the last thing on most fans minds. But while many look ahead to what their team may do over the next 16 games, the next generation of players is working hard to make the NFL notice them.

As college football's regular season gets into full gear, Bleacher Report's lead NFL Draft writer Matt Miller released his first mock for the 2020 NFL Draft, and he decided to mock the Jaguars a defender from the reigning national champions in Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a rare team without many identifiable needs on paper. This is a young roster with many emerging or developing players at key positions who are expected to be the nucleus moving forward. Barring trades, injuries or surprising regression, this is a team built to make noise.

When it isn't easy to spot a need during a preseason mock draft, a team is always pushed to go with the best player available. For Jacksonville, that's one of the nation's most athletic linebackers in former safety Isaiah Simmons.

Watch Clemson play and you'll be blown away by the speed, aggression and playmaking of Simmons. If he were paired with Josh Allen, Myles Jack, Jalen Ramsey and Yannick Ngakoue, the Jaguars could have a truly dominant defense for years to come.

Simmons is a former safety who was moved to SAM linebacker in 2018 for the Tigers. He started at SLB and in Clemson's nickel defense and was instrumental to their defensive success last season, leading the team in tackles with 97.

After 29 career games and 14 career starts, Simmons entered 2019 with 46 career tackles (12.5 for loss), 2.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception, which he returned 27 yards for a touchdown.

A linebacker group of Simmons, Quincy Williams and Myles Jack would be the most athletic linebacker unit in the NFL. Frankly, there isn't another one that would come close. But linebacker is not a clear cut spot the Jaguars should look at investing in early the draft, at least not at this point.

A lot can change between now and the 2020 NFL Draft. Williams, who has impressed in training camp, could disappoint as a starter and make the need for a linebacker much greater. But the team could also still need a No. 1 wideout, as well as a potential replacement for cornerback A.J. Bouye, each of which could be more pressing needs than linebacker in eight months,