2023 NFL Draft: 5 Players the Jaguars Could Target in a Trade Down

Things are much different in Jacksonville this time of year.

After back-to-back years of selecting No. 1 overall, the Jaguars are now in the position of sitting back and waiting.

No longer do the Jaguars have their pick of the entire draft. Now, the Jaguars sit at No. 24, meaning there is a seemingly never-ending string of scenarios that could impact their first-round fate.

Plus, the Jaguars are now in a position to draft and develop for long-term needs for the first time in years. After spending big in free agency and then taking bold risks in the draft in last year's offseason, the Jaguars' priorities have changed in 2023.

"Looking back to last year, there were some things we had to clean up, we had to fix, we had to add some guys, you know, some impact players; which we did. This year was about trying to get our guys back, the UFAs on our roster, to try to get them back," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said at this year's annual owners meetings in Phoenix.

"And it's, you know, it's the hardest thing every year with free agency because, you know, you're gonna lose some guys. You're gonna lose some, some great guys, which we, which we have. But at the same time, we had enough guys still on our roster, you know, UFAs that we got back that still give us that depth we need and still give us that the youth that we need and the competition that we need.

"And, you know, our philosophy with -- when I say our, with myself and Trent -- you don't want to ... if you don't have to spend a lot of resources and free agency, don't do it. You want to be able to build through the draft and keep your team coming from the draft up. So, you know, that was kind of the difference, I think, this offseason than last."

In short, the Jaguars are a team that is set to use the draft to fuel their success in 2023 and beyond. And the best way to succeed with that model is to stockpile as many picks as possible, giving a franchise more swings at the plate and a chance to gain value.

This year's first round seems like an ideal year to trade down. The value of the draft seems to be past the first round, with there arguably not even being 24 legitimate first-round talents in the class.

But even in the scenario the Jaguars do find a partner to move down from No. 24, the important thing is still nailing the picks. The most important of which would be the Jaguars' first selection.

So if the Jaguars trade down, which players could make sense for them to target? We offer five names below.

Michigan DL Mazi Smith

Mazi Smith is a legit wildcard in this draft. He could go somewhere in the late teens, he could go on Day 2, and he could go anywhere in between. There is an argument to make for him as the second-best defensive lineman in the draft thanks to his upside as a pass-rusher. Nose tackles who can push the pocket are valuable assets, and he is a younger prospect than Jalen Carter, showing there is still room to grow. If the Jaguars want a long-term powerhouse run-defender in the middle of the defensive line, Smith would make sense.

Iowa State EDGE Will McDonald IV

Will McDonald is an extremely intriguing case. He is an older and lighter edge rusher prospect who played out of position in college, but he is also a top-tier athlete with incredible length, toughness, and production. If the Jaguars want to land a pass-rusher and don't have a chance to draft Nolan Smith, Lukas Van Ness, or Myles Murphy, then Will McDonald is likely their next best option.

South Carolina CB Cam Smith

Where Cam Smith goes in the draft is another wildcard. He is an athletic and productive SEC cornerback who has been mocked both in the 20s and even as late as the end of the second round. In this scenario, Smith projects as the best cornerback available after the top-four cornerbacks fly off the board. Smith will likely have to battle Kelee Ringo and Emmanuel Forbes for this slot, but he is the most balanced prospect of the three.

Alabama DB Brian Branch

Brian Branch is one of the 15 best prospects in this draft class, but that doesn't mean he will be drafted like it. Branch's mediocre size and poor 40-time, mixed with his likely nickel-only designation, means that some teams could covet other players over him, specifically outside cornerbacks. In the scenario in which Branch's niche fit forces a slide, he would be the best-case scenario

Clemson DL Bryan Bresee

Another wildcard in this year's draft cycle, Bryan Bresee has a hard draft stock to nail down. He is a former star recruit who had a solid showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, but injuries and off-field tragedies marred his time at Clemson and led to a lack of production and development. In the event Bresee slips, the Jaguars could see him as a project defensive lineman who is worth taking a swing on as they earn more picks.

Add us as a preferred source on Google