Jaguars Mock Draft 1.0

Post Free-Agency Mock Draft After The Addition of TEN Free Agents

The Jaguars have added a total of 10 Free Agents this offseason, four of them being offensive linemen, and have laid the groundwork for improving the middle and bottom of the 53 man roster while adding a possible four to five starters. Now, it’s time to look to the draft to raise the ceiling in Duval. In this mock draft we will not project any trades, yet again the Jaguars will leave with 10 total transactions in this scenario. With 10 draft selections in tow and a lot to digest from a roster building standpoint, let’s get started!

Round 1, Pick 5: Travis Hunter CB/WR, Colorado

With looming rumors of the Cleveland Browns taking Abdul Carter (Penn State Edge) 2nd overall, and the New England Patriots selecting a Left Tackle at 4th overall we could see a scenario where two Quarterbacks (Ward and Sanders), a Edge, and Left Tackle go ahead of Hunter. Leaving the #1 player in the class available for the Jaguars with the fifth overall selection. Sound familiar? It seems almost Ramsey-esque, the only thing the Jaguars would have to hope for after this selection would be stability and a winning culture established by Coen, Gladstone, and Boselli. This is a possible home run selection and grows likelier by the day. In this scenario Hunter is your starting corner opposite of Campbell, and plays spot/manufactured minutes as your WR4.

Round 2, Pick 36: Xavier Watts, FS, Notre Dame

The Jaguars land another top 40 prospect here and it’s fitting that it’s a position of need. Watts is a ball hawk Free Safety that does well diagnosing run and passing downs. He is a phenomenal athlete and has some of the highest football IQ displayed on tape among any secondary player in this class. No defender in college football has more interceptions over the past two years (13). He has amassed 13 interceptions, 7 PBUs, and 0 TDs allowed across the last two seasons and has just one penalty in that span. He’s also a weapon as a blitzer and has excellent instincts coming downhill against the run. If he can improve eye discipline and gets excellent NFL coaching, he has All Pro potential written all over him. Watts also provides versatility having coverage snaps at 2 high, in the box, and in the slot. Transform this secondary in one offseason.

Round 3, Pick 70: Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami (FL)

Once again, the Jaguars land another top prospect in this mock draft. Restrepo slips as he’s seen as a pure slot WR, but provides what fans were expecting from a possible Cooper Kupp signing. He is a wideout that possesses veteran-level understanding of zone coverage, expertly finding soft spots and adjusting routes based on defensive leverage. The Miami receiver isn’t an elite athlete but he is another high-IQ player, who manipulates defensive backs with advanced route-running nuance, particularly excelling at tempo changes that leave defenders flat-footed in man coverage. Restrepo also demonstrates elite short-area quickness and decisive cuts that create consistent separation on intermediate routes, especially from the slot. He comes in and establishes himself as WR2 immediately as a safety blanket and chain mover for Trevor Lawrence.

Round 3, Pick 88: Jared Wilson, C, Georgia

Wilson is a top notch athlete and OC prospect in the 2025 draft class standing 6’3 and 310 pounds. He scored an unofficial 9.98 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 2nd out of 622 OC from 1987 to 2025. Wilson is an excellent pass protector and should be a priority development piece at the center position, he must improve in the run game but his ability to get to the second level and work in complex pass schemes makes him an attractive prospect. He is limited on experience which is why teams may not take him early, but Jacksonville is prepared to start Robert Hainesy who has experience in Coen’s offense. It’s a match made in heaven from a development standpoint. Landing the best pure center prospect at 88 feels impossible, but it’s been suggested he’s selected outside of the top 100. Jaguars add a big time OL athlete to their development program.

Round 4, Pick 107: David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas

Walker is selected here as your answer to Edge 3, he is now your designated pass rusher and an excellent one at that. From an analytics standpoint he is a pass rush darling, and a playmaker to the fullest. His hand usage, bend, and pursuit of the Quarterback, combined with his finishing mentality make him the perfect 3rd edge for this room. Three consecutive First-Team All-American nominations, three consecutive conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, and the coveted Buck Buchanan Award as the nation’s outstanding FCS defender in 2024 make Walker’s Central Arkansas career look like a trophy case inventory. 31 sacks and 63 tackles for loss across three seasons, along with 23 TFLs, 10.5 sacks, and 55 total pressures in his final season, demonstrate his defensive prowess. Walker excelled at Southern Arkansas, where he led the conference in both sacks and tackles for loss and was named to the First Team All-Great American Conference before joining the Bears as their wrecking ball. Jaguars finally add another pass rusher.

Round 4, Pick 126: Jamaree Caldwell, NT, Oregon

Caldwell has the density and natural leverage of a prototypical nose tackle, which gives him a constant pad level advantage over taller interior lineman. Unexpectedly swift for his size, he can burst out of his stance and find openings before blocks can re-position, causing instant havoc in the backfield. Caldwell plays with incredible upper body strength and powerful hands that shock blockers upon impact; centers find it extremely difficult to recover and re-anchor after he delivers a punch. He demonstrates a sophisticated stack-and-shed strategy against one-on-one blocks, locating ball carriers and displacing lineman with strong “forklift” maneuvers. The Oregon transfer immediately walks in the Jaguars DT room and challenges Davon Hamilton for a starting position.

Round 5, Pick 142: Luke Kandra, OG, Cincinnati

Here folks is your steal of the draft (if there weren’t plenty already). After appearing in 21 games over two seasons at Louisville, Kandra followed head coach Scott Satterfield to Cincinnati where he immediately established himself as a force. His homecoming proved fruitful as he anchored an offensive line that ranked fifth nationally in rushing (217.1 ypg) in 2023. The durable mauler logged 895 snaps that season—third-most among guards nationwide—while grading out as the team’s top lineman in 10 of 12 games. His coaches awarded him a 92% grade with 79 knockdowns, confirming what the film showed: a technician who dominated in the trenches. Kandra provides a succession plan for Cleveland as the front office continue to overhaul this line. Kandra is excellent in the run and pass game, has a total of 2 penalties in his career, and allowed 0 sacks and 8 pressures in 2024-25. This would be the Jaguars 6th offensive line addition this offseason.

Round 6, Pick 182: Tahj Brooks, HB, Texas Tech

Brooks rewrote the Texas Tech record books while building an academic resume equally as impressive as his on-field production. He became the program’s all-time leading rusher with 4,557 yards, surpassing Byron Hanspard late in his senior season against Colorado. The versatile back also established a school record with 23 career 100-yard games, including an astonishing 11 consecutive during his senior campaign – a feat matched only by Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty among all FBS players in 2024. His remarkable consistency and durability were showcased in his 879 career rushing attempts, the second-highest total in Big 12 history. He is an excellent pass protector and provides pass catching out of the backfield in a Jaguars room that lacks both elements.

Round 6, Pick 194: Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa

Glamorous tackle numbers are displayed by the sideline-to-sideline motor. cleans up plays on the field on a regular basis. A dependable last line of defense against the run, this textbook wrap-up tackler has few whiffs. Additionally, an off-ball backer’s coverage abilities demonstrate the ability to hang in nickel packages at the next level. Strong at the point of attack, he routinely prevails in the struggle for leverage and stuffs inside runs with conviction. As a team captain, he gained the confidence of the coaching staff by leading the defense as a natural field general. During his breakthrough season, this high-floor prospect recorded double-digit tackles in the majority of his games and brings it to every snap. Early in his career, he can excel on special teams and provides immediate four-phase impact while maturing into a complete defensive player. With Muma, Oluokun, and Lloyd all having pending contract situations next offseason the Jaguars could begin developing a depth piece with starter upside in coverage.

Round 7, Pick 221: Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana

Kurtis Rourke is the type of Quarterback you want on your team. He is tough, competitive, and professional in every manner. He led FBS with an 181.4 quarterback rating in 2024, completing 70.4% of his throws for 2,827 yards, 27 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Rourke is renowned for controlling pressure and attacking downfield, and his success is facilitated by schematic game plans. His vision, work ethic, and intelligence make him a good long-term back up quarterback, mainly because he lacks the arm strength and agility of most NFL starters. Playing through an ACL rupture shows that he is tough as nails in the pocket and is prepared to absorb hits in order to deliver strikes. Elite productivity in the 10–20 yard area demonstrates a sophisticated ability to anticipate and drive balls into small windows. Rourke displays advanced touch when working the middle of the field and it is demonstrated by a natural ability to stack passes over linebackers as well. Jaguars create depth at Quarterback with veteran Nick Mullens and rookie Kurtis Rourke.

Be sure to follow my coverage of the Jaguars on X @Torionokb and all other platforms including YouTube @Torionoknowsball. Here is my YouTube breakdown of this draft class and how it reconstructs this roster.