The 2024 season did not go as planned Jacksonville Jaguars had hoped.
The defense is among the worst in the league, and even before the Jaguar After losing quarterback Trevor Lawrence to a shoulder injury, the offense was among the league’s worst performing.
The only positive: If the Jaguars stay on this trajectory, they will get the first pick in the draft.
OK, that’s little consolation considering they had the top pick in 2021 and 2022.
But given the Jaguars’ range of needs, the draft is the most cost-effective way to get good quickly.
How many draft picks do the Jaguars have in 2025?
Right now, they have 10. Here’s how it breaks down:
-
Round 1
-
Round 2
-
Round 3
-
Round 3 (via Minnesota Vikings)
-
Round 4
-
Round 4 (via Minnesota Vikings)
-
Round 5
-
Round 6
-
Round 6 (via Seattle Seahawks after trading Trevis Gipson)
-
Round 7
What are the Jags’ immediate needs?
There are many, but here are the places where they would benefit the most:
Offensive line: Left tackle and right guard are their biggest needs here. Cam Robinson was shipped to the Vikings and Brandon Scherff is a free agent after the season.
Defensive back: Turning and safety are priorities. The Jaguars have given up the third-most points in the league. They need a lot of help in pass coverage.
Wide Receiver: Sure, they selected Brian Thomas Jr. in the 2024 draft, but Christian Kirk has been injured the past two seasons and his contract expires after 2025. Plus, Gabe Davis has been a disappointment and Parker Washington may never become a number one. 2 receivers.
Who the Jags could go after
If the Jags finish the season claiming the No. 1 pick and they choose not to trade him, they would likely take Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter. He would likely be used primarily in the secondary, but he could also be another good option at receiver.
In the second round, they would attempt to draft offensive linemen. High second-round options include LSU’s Emery Jones Jr. and West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum. They could also potentially take an edge, like Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer, Alabama’s LT Overton or Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau, all second-round projections.
With two picks in the third round, the Jaguars could land a corner, such as Ohio State’s Denzel Burke or Texas’ Jahdae Barron. They could also select a receiver like Mississippi’s Tre Harris or Oregon’s Evan Stewart.
Of course, there are a lot of unknowns, and it can be difficult to predict anything after the first round. But based on several early draft boards, many of the players mentioned above could be available by the time the Jags pick in each of the first three rounds.
With cornerstones Trevor Lawrence at quarterback and Josh Hines-Allen at defensive end, the Jags have plenty to build on. But they also have a long way to go if they hope to compete in the highly competitive AFC.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars 2025 NFL Draft: Jacksonville must address biggest opening
