Mock Draft Tracker 13.0: Anyone's Guess

Apr 27, 2023 at 03:00 PM

John Oehser

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – The selection is still anyone's guess.

That has been the storyline throughout recent months – and with the 2023 NFL Draft now hours away, that remains the case with the Jaguars' first-round draft selection.

The Jaguars hold the draft's No. 24 overall selection – and while a familiar name appears to be the pre-draft favorite among many analysts, the final 2023 jaguars.com mock-draft tracker continues to project a wide variety of players to the Jaguars late in Round 1.

The "favorite" among analysts:

University of Alabama safety Brian Branch, the selection by seven of 34 analysts in the final tracker and a player who projects as a nickel defensive back early in his NFL career.

"The Jaguars' defense needs a slot defender with the instincts and IQ to fill the hybrid linebacker/defensive back role in sub-packages. Branch is a natural fit as a versatile safety with extensive experience playing in the slot for the Crimson Tide," NFL and Jaguars Media Analayst Bucky Brooks wrote.

Another player who has been increasingly projected to the Jaguars in Round 1: Iowa edge defender Lukas Van Ness. Four analysts projected him to the Jaguars at No. 24 this week.

"Van Ness' best football is in front of him and he's already a really good player," Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports wrote.

Secondary and edge rusher have been two commonly mocked areas to the Jaguars throughout the pre-draft process. Another is offensive line, where Florida guard O'Cyrus Torrence was the Jaguars selection in Round 1 by three analysts in the final tracer.

Also projected to the Jaguars by multiple analysts in this week's tracker: Cornerback Emmanue Forbes of Mississippi State, defensive tackle Brian Bresee of Clemson, cornerback Deonta Banks of Maryland and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. of Penn State and cornerback Kelee Ringo of Georgia.

"He's a 6'5 ", 300-pound wrecking ball of power, strength, and length, who moves with uncommon ease for a man of his size," Oliver Hodgkinson of the Pro Football Network wrote of Bresee.

Here's the 13th and final jaguars.com 2023 mock draft tracker:

Peter Schrager, NFL.com (4/27): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Brantley Weissman, The Draft Network (4/27): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Network (4/27): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media (4/26): Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Cris Collinsworth, Pro Football Focus (4/26): Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Will Brinson, CBS Sports (4/26): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (4/26): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network (4/26): Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa
Charles Davis, NFL.com (4/26): O'Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports (4/25): O'Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
Armando Salguero, Outkick (4/25): Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Arif Hasan, Pro Football Network (4/25): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Mike Florio, NBC Sports (4/25): Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (4/25): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (4/25): O'Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (4/24): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Bryant McFadden, CBS Sports (4/24): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Eric Edholm, NFL.com (4/24): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Nate Davis, USA Today (4/24): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Peter King, NBC Sports (4/24): Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa
Jaime Eisner, The Draft Network (4/23): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (4/23): Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa
Ian Valentino, Pro Football Network (4/22): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports (4/21): Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Chad Reuter, NFL.com (4/21): Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State (No. 31, trade with Kansas City)
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (4/21): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (4/21): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland (No. 19, trade with Tampa Bay)
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (4/21): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Will Brinson, CBS Sports (4/20): Joey Porter, CB, Penn State
Maurice Jones-Drew, NFL.com (4/20): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Jonathan Jones, CBS Sports (4/19): Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa (No. 22, trade with Baltimore)
Adam Caplan, Pro Football Network (4/19): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (4/19): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Justin Melo, The Draft Network (4/19): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Oliver Hodgkinson, Pro Football Network (4/18): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Peter Schrager, NFL.com (4/18): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (4/17): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (4/17): Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
Jared Dubin, CBS Sports (4/17): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Jeff Kerr, CBS Sports (4/15): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Cam Mellor, Pro Football Network (4/15): Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (4/14): Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (4/13): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Ben Brown, Pro Football Focus (4/13): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Kyle Yates, Pro Football Network (4/13): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Charles Davis, NFL Media (4/12): Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
The 33rd Team (4/12): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Sam Monson, Pro Football Network (4/10): Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
Jack McKessy, The Draft Network (4/10): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (4/10): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Garett Podell, CBS Sports (4/8): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (4/8): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports (4/7): Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
Chad Reuter, NFL.com (4/7): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (4/6): Calijah Kancey, DL, Pittsburgh
Adam Rank, NFL.com (4/6): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (4/6): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Will Brinson, CBS Sports (4/6): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (4/5): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (4/5): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (4/5): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports (4/4): O'Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
Dalton Miller, Pro Football Network (4/4): Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Lance Zierlein, NFL Media (4/4): Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (4/4): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
The 33rd Team (4/3): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Damian Parson, The Draft Network (4/3): Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (4/3): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (4/3): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Ian Valentino, Pro Football Network (4/1): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (3/31): Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (3/31): Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (3/30): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Blake Brockermeyer, 24/7 (3/30): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Kent Platte, Pro Football Network (3/30): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Cynthia Frelund, NFL Network Analytics (3/30): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Will Brinson, CBS Sports (3/30): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (3/29): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Keith Sanchez, The Draft Network (3/29): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (3/28): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Mike Tannebaum, ESPN (3/28): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (3/28): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Eric Edholm, NFL.com (3/27): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Brad Spielberger, Pro Football Focus (3/27): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
James Fragoza, Pro Football Network (3/25): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports (3/25): Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
Chad Reuter, NFL.com (3/24): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports (3/24): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Tommy Garrett, Pro Football Network (3/24): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (3/24): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (3/23): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Charles Davis, NFL Media Analyst (3/23): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (3/22): Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
BJ Rudell, Pro Football Network (3/22): O'Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
Nate Davis, USA Today (3/22): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Cam Mellor, Pro Football Network (3/21): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Brentley Weissman, The Draft Network (3/22): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media Analyst (3/21): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Sam Monson/Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus (3/20): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
The 33rd team (3/20): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (3/20): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (3/18): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (3/18): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (3/16): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Oliver Hodgkinson, Pro Football Network (3/16): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus (3/16): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Fox Sports (3/14): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (3/16): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (3/14): Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (3/13): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Ryan Fowler, The Draft Network (3/13): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Gordon McGuinness, Pro Football Focus (3/13): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (3/13): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Cam Mellor, Pro Football Network (3/11): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (3/11): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
The 33rd team (3/11): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports (3/10): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (3/9): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (3/9): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Arif Hasan, Pro Football Network (3/9): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (3/8): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Fox Sports (3/8): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus (3/8): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (3/7): Joey Porter, CB, Penn State
Lance Zierlein, NFL Media Draft Analyst (3/7): Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (3/6): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Jamie Eisner, The Draft Network (3/6): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Nate Davis, USA Today (3/6): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (3/6): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Dalton Miller, Pro Football Network (3/4): Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (3/2): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (3/2): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (3/2): Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports (3/1): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (3/1): Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (2/28): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
James Fragoza, Pro Football Network (2/28): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (2/28): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (2/27): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Damian Parson, The Draft Network (2/27): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus (2/27): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (2/27): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (2/25): Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Arif Hasan, Pro Football Network (2/25): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M (No. 27, trade with BUF)
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (2/25): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports (2/24): O'Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (2/23): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (2/23): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (2/22): Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
Garrett Podell, CBS Sports (2/22): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network (2/21): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media Analyst (2/21): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
The 33rd team (2/20): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Nate Davis, USA Today (2/20): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Keith Sanchez, The Draft Network (2/20): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (2/19): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Kent Platte, Pro Football Network (2/18): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (2/17): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (2/16): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (2/16): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (2/16): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (2/16): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (2/16): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Benjamin Robinson, Football Outsiders (2/14): Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (2/14): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (2/13): Jordan Addison, WR, Southern California
Chad Reuter, NFL.com (2/13): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (2/13): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (2/13): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
The 33rd team (2/12): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (2/12): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Brentley Weissman, The Draft Network (2/12): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (2/11): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
James Fragoza, Pro Football Network (2/11): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (2/11): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports (2/10): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Cynthia Frelund, NFL.com (2/10): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (2/9): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Dalton Miller, Pro Football Network (2/9): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (2/8): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Ben Rolfe, Pro Football Network (2/7): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (2/7): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network (2/6): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The 33rd team (2/6): Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (2/5): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois (No. 16, trade w/Wash)
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (2/5): Broderick Jones, OL, Georgia
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (2/3): Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (2/3): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Eric Edholm, NFL.com (2/3): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (2/3): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (2/3): Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (2/2): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Arif Hasan, Pro Football Network (2/2): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (2/1): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (2/1): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
James Fragoza, Pro Football Network (1/31): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Bryan Fischer, Athlon Sports (1/31): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus (1/30): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (1/30): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Joe Marino, The Draft Network (1/30): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Mark Schofield, SB Nation (1/30): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic (1/30): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (1/29): Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor
Oliver Hodgkinson, Pro Football Network (1/28): Tuli Tuipulotu
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (1/26): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (1/26): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Marcus Mosher, Pro Football Focus (1/26): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (1/26): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (1/25): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (1/24): Rashee Rice, WR, Southern Methodist
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (1/23): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (1/23): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (1/23): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
The 33rd Team (1/23): Brian Branch, S/CB, Alabama
Damian Parson, The Draft Network (1/23): Rashee Rice, WR, Southern Methodist