JACKSONVILLE – The choice isn't quite a consensus.
With most analysts focused on one player for the Jaguars with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft – University of Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal – not every analyst is convinced.
We'll focus on the dissenters in this sixth version of the jaguars.com 2022 mock draft tracker, with one analyst particularly adamant in another direction.
That analyst: Pro Football Focus' Austin Gayle, who in his latest mock draft this past week detailed his reasoning for projecting Michigan edge defender Aidan Hutchinson to the Jaguars No. 1 overall.
"Hutchinson is PFF's top player in the 2022 NFL Draft and the obvious choice for Jacksonville at No. 1 overall," Gayle wrote, adding: "The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder should only continue to turn heads at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis."
Rob Rang of Fox Sports agreed.
"Hutchinson is the best and safest prospect in this draft, and the immediate impact he could have on and off the field makes him the smartest move," Rang wrote.
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports projected North Carolina offensive tackle Ikem Ekonu to the Jaguars at No. 1 overall, with eight of 11 analysts projecting Neal there.
A look at what analysts wrote this week about the Jaguars and Neal:
- Danny Kelly, the Ringer: "The Jaguars could go with one of the top pass rushers in the draft at this spot, but new head coach Doug Pederson's top priority will be getting Trevor Lawrence more support,"
- Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports: "New head coach Doug Pederson said the Jaguars' job moving forward is to 'find more good pieces' to put around former No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence. How about protecting his blindside with a 6-foot-7, 350-pound wall who should test very well at the NFL Scouting Combine? That would be a very good start."
- Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: "I have a feeling Neal is going to test outstandingly at a massive size at the combine, which will be the catalyst for him going No. 1 overall."
- Eric Edholm, Yahoo Sports: "This feels fluid. But if the Jaguars want to protect Trevor Lawrence and give him every chance to succeed, this might be the way they lean."
Here's the sixth jaguars.com 2022 mock draft tracker:
Mocker, Affiliation (Date): Player, position, school
- Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (2/21): Ikem Ekonu, OT, North Carolina State
- Austin Gayle, Pro Football Focus (2/21): Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan
- Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (2/18): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (2/18): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Eric Edholm, Yahoo Sports (2/17): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Luke Easterling, USA Today Draft Wire (2/17): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Kevin Hanson, Monday Morning Quarterback (2/17): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (2/16): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Danny Kelly, The Ringer (2/15): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Rob Rang, Fox Sports (2/15): Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
- Nate Davis, USA Today (2/15): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Chad Reuter, NFL.com (2/14): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Matt Miller, The Draft Scout (2/14): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (2/14): Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
- Brentley Weisman, The Draft Network (2/13): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports (2/13): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Cam Mellor, Pro Football Network (2/12): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Cynthia Frelund, NFL Network (2/11): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (2/11): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
- Lance Zierlein, NFL Media (2/8): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Seth Galina, Pro Football Focus (2/7): Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
- Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (2/7): Ikem Ekonu, OT, North Carolina State
- Joe Marino, The Draft Network (2/6): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (2/5): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (2/4): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
- Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (2/2): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Keith Sanchez, The Draft Network (1/31): Ikem Ekonu, OT, North Carolina State
- Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus (1/31): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (1/31): Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
- Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (1/29): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
- Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (1/29): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Luke Easterling, USA Today Draft Wire (1/27): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (1/25): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (1/24): Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, 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, EDGE, 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, EDGE, Michigan
- Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (1/17): Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
- Austin Gayle, Pro Football Focus (1/17): Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
- Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (1/14): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
- Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (1/14): Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, 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, EDGE, Michigan
- Anthony Treash, Pro Football Focus (1/3): Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
- Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (1/1): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
