JACKSONVILLE – The focus remains up front.
That's expected to continue being true when analyzing the Jaguars and the No. 1 selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, and that certainly is the case in the second '22 jaguars.com mock draft tracker.
Offensive tackle and pass rusher remains the focus for the Jaguars at No. 1 among analysts projecting the draft, with Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal and Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson remaining popular choices.
Neal, one of several players being discussed as the draft's best offensive linemen, was projected to the Jaguars at No. 1 by multiple analysts this past week. Among them:
Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network.
"Jacksonville needs to use this offseason to provide some help for Trevor Lawrence," Jeremiah wrote while projecting Neal No. 1.
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus wrote of Neal to the Jaguars, "There is plenty of variety (possible) with this pick, but I believe building the strongest offensive line in front of (quarterback) Trevor Lawrence is the best option."
With Jeremiah, Sikkema and Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports projecting Neal to the Jaguars at No. 1, Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports, Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network and Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN projected Hutchinson there.
"There could be some talk about the Jags taking a left tackle here, but I'm not buying that over the value of having a truly great edge rusher," Kiper wrote.
"The Jags have taken an edge rusher in the first round in two of the last three drafts, but we don't expect there to be teams clamoring to trade up to the top pick in this draft and Jacksonville may be stuck here," Wilson wrote.
Bryan Perez of The Draft Network projected Oregon edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux No. 1 overall.
"Thibodeaux's ceiling is similar to Von Miller's," Perez wrote. "You don't pass guys like that up."
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports projected Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross to the Jaguars No. 1, writing of the selection: "He is just a sophomore but has produced some of the best moments of any lineman this season."
Here's the second jaguars.com 2022 mock draft tracker:
No. 1 overall …
Mocker, Affiliation (Date): Player, position, school
- Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (1/24): Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
- Bryan Perez, The Draft Network (1/24): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
- Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus (1/24): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media Analyst (1/21): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network (1/20): Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
- Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (1/20): Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
- Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (1/20): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN (1/19): Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
- Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (1/17): Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
- Austin Gayle, Pro Football Focus (1/17): Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
- Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (1/14): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
- Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (1/14): Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
- Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (1/13): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Luke Easterling, USA Today Draft Wire (1/13): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
- Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (1/13): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Bryan Fischer, Athlon Sports (1/13): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
- Jason McIntyre, FOX Sports (1/12): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (1/12): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
- Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (1/10): Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
- Anthony Treash, Pro Football Focus (1/3): Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
- Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (1/1): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
