JACKSONVILLE – More and more NFL eyes are turning to April.
With the Super Bowl in the rearview and attention on the future, more and more NFL thoughts turn to the NFL Draft – and as the draft draws nearer, analysts remain focused on a few prominent positions when it comes to the Jaguars.
Defensive tackle, offensive tackle, cornerback …
Many analysts project some combination of those positions for the Jaguars with their two first-round selections – the Nos. 9 and 20 selections overall – in the 2020 NFL Draft, with the heavy focus with the first of those two selections on interior defensive line.
Five of the draft analysts in the most recent jaguars.com 2020 mock draft tracker projected defensive tackles to the Jaguars at No. 9 overall, with three projecting South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw there.
"Defense must be addressed," NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. "While cornerback and linebacker make sense, Kinlaw's freakish size, strength and Chris Jones-like upside is appealing."
Chris Trapasso of CBSSports.com and Nate Davis of USA Today both projected Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown to the Jaguars at No. 9.
"Jacksonville's defense needs a boost, especially on the interior of its line, and Brown, to many, is the best defensive tackle prospect in this class," Trapasso wrote.
Clemson linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons also remained a popular selection for the Jaguars early, with two of 11 analysts projecting him at No. 9.
"The Jaguars do have needs at cornerback and offensive tackle that could be considered here, but Simmons is a top-five player in this draft and an easy pick," Bleacher Report's Matt Miller wrote.
Cornerback Jeff Okudah of Ohio State is widely considered a Top 5 selection, though two analysts this week had him sliding to the Jaguars at No. 9.
"If Okudah drops this far, the Jaguars would pass on offensive and defensive linemen for him," SB Nation's Dan Kadar wrote.
"The rise of quarterbacks and offensive tackles push an elite prospect like Okudah down; Jacksonville happily accepts their answer to the loss of Jalen Ramsey," Josh Edwards of CBSSports.com wrote.
Analysts opinions varied far more widely at No. 20, with Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson and Kinlaw the only player projected to the Jaguars there by more than one analyst this week.
"The biggest knock on Henderson will be his tackling, but he possesses the length, elite speed and confidence to develop into a premier cover corner at the next level," Hansen wrote.
Others projected this week to the Jaguars at No. 20: Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones, Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs, Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins, Louisiana State cornerback Kristian Fulton, Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet, Southern California offensive tackle Austin Jackson and Texas A&M defensive lineman Justin Madubuike.
"Diggs isn't the best athlete at his position in this class; he's probably the meanest at the line of scrimmage, and his physicality at the catch point leads to many big plays for the defense," Trapasso wrote while projecting Diggs to the Jaguars.
Here's the fourth jaguars.com 2020 mock draft tracker:
No. 9 overall …
Mocker, Affiliation (Date): Player, position, school
Kevin Hanson, Sports Illustrated (2/6): CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
R.J. White, CBSSports.com (2/6): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (2/5): Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (2/4): Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Nate Davis, USA Today (2/4): Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
Chad Reuter, NFL Media Draft Analyst (2/3): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Todd McShay, ESPN (2/3): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Matt Miller, Bleacher Report (2/3): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (2/3): Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/30): Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Lance Zierlein, NFL Media Draft Analyst (1/29): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/27): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (1/27): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (1/24): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Mel Kiper, ESPN (1/24): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media (1/21): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Kevin Hanson, MMQB (1/21): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (1/16): Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Luke Easterling, USA Today (1/14): Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/14): Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (1/14): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (1/14): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Vinny Iyer, Sporting News (1/14): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Luke Easterling, USA Today (1/13): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/9): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (1/9): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Bryan Fischer, Athlon Sports (1/7): CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (1/7): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/7): A.J. Epenesa, Edge, Iowa
Vinny Iyer, Sporting News (1/6): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/2): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Greg Bedard, Las Vegas Review-Journal (1/2): CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (1/1): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (12/31): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (12/31): Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Luke Easterling, USA Today (12/30): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (12/30): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (12/30): Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
No. 20 overall …
Mocker, Affiliation (Date): Player, position, school
Kevin Hanson, Sports Illustrated (2/6): C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
R.J. White, CBSSports.com (2/6): Josh Jones, OT, Houston
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (2/5): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (2/4): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Nate Davis, USA Today (2/4): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Chad Reuter, NFL Media Draft Analyst (2/3): Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
Todd McShay, ESPN (2/3): Austin Jackson, OT, Southern California
Matt Miller, Bleacher Report (2/3): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (2/3): Justin Madubuike, DL, Texas A&M
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/30): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Lance Zierlein, NFL Media Draft Analyst (1/29): C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/27): C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com analyst (1/27): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (1/24): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Mel Kiper, ESPN (1/24): Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media (1/21): C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Kevin Hanson, MMQB (1/21): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (1/16): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Luke Easterling, USA Today (1/14): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (1/14): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/14): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (1/14): Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
Vinny Iyer, Sporting News (1/14): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Luke Easterling, USA Today (1/13): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/9): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (1/9): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Bryan Fischer, Athlon Sports (1/7): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (1/7): Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/7): Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Vinny Iyer, Sporting News (1/6): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/2): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Greg Bedard, Las Vegas Review-Journal (1/2): Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (1/1): Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (12/31): Austin Jackson, LT, Southern California
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (12/31): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Luke Easterling, USA Today (12/30): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (12/30): Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (12/30): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
