Looking For Answers
The Jaguars are searching for answers on improving one of the NFL’s worst secondaries of the 2024-25 season. They added veteran CB Jourdan Lewis from the Dallas Cowboys and 31 year-old Safety Eric Murray from the Houston Texans. Liam Coen, James Gladstone, and Tony Boselli understood they needed consistency on the backend and added one of the best nickelbacks in the league who can play outside, and a starting strong safety option who also has experience at free safety. While looking for solutions, they created a good problem to have, how are you going to get Jarrian Jones and Jourdan Lewis on the field at once? Simple, keep getting deeper and moving guys around. But, the Jaguars still need one more outside corner and a starting free safety heading into the draft. Let’s talk about three options outside of the first round prospects you should be aware of!
Xavier Watts, FS, Notre Dame
Alright folks, this may be my favorite player and fit for the Jaguars in the draft, and if you follow my coverage, you knew he would appear in this article. Watts is the best Free Safety prospect projected to go day 2 of the NFL draft, and in my opinion, we may look back and say he was the best of the entire class. Watts is a ballhawk, you may see that term a lot on social media, but Xavier is the definition of it. Over the past two seasons he has been in coverage for 830 snaps, in those snaps he has amassed 13 interceptions, 7 pass break ups, allowed 0 touchdowns and had a 33.9 passer rating creating problems for quarterbacks.
Watts has amazing instincts and IQ that translate on film, he’s able to diagnose the run and read the quarterback’s eyes at a level I haven’t seen in a few years from a safety prospect. The Notre Dame prospect ran a 4.56 40 yard dash, validating scouts around the league that he wasn’t a burner but could move, then they watched the tape again. This kid covers ground in a way that creates issues for offensive coordinators, and he can disrupt your run game in how he gets downhill. Watts is a fluid mover who just has to get NFL coaching on tackle angles and pursuit of the football. He is a top 40 prospect and has All-Pro potential in a 5-man safety class that could thin out quickly. Take him at 36th overall if you want a top prospect at the safety position.
Nohl Williams, CB, University of California
A common theme of this article will be takeaways, and it’s also all that’s on Cal Cornerback Nohl Williams’ mind. He’s another turnover machine with a career mark of 14 total interceptions. His eyes are a strength similar to Watts’, but he’s even better in the run defense department. The Jaguars lack a consistent shut down guy who can come away with key takeaways or frustrate an elite wide receiver on a regular basis. Williams is the kind of player that excels in situations where he has to shadow the best receiver on the other team. He performs with the assurance and physicality you would want in a pressman corner. Williams, who stands about 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 199 pounds, has the physique and style of play to line up outside and force receivers to move outside of their comfort zone.
Determining terms, getting his hands on receivers early, staying in their hip pocket, and making every route a battle are all key components of his game. He led collegiate football in interceptions in 2024 with seven, demonstrating a great knack for playing the ball in the air. His production was a direct result of his mindset. When the ball is in the air, he trusts his technique and doesn’t panic. He has fluid footwork right out of the gate and is more than happy to change things up physically as he goes. He has the mannerisms of a CB1 and is naturally adept at press coverage. Additionally, he plays with the kind of edge that defensive coaches adore and is an eager tackler. You can put this guy on an island and let him work. The opposing player is being stopped regardless of his 40 time speed of 4.5.
Williams could go anywhere from the 2nd to 4th round if NFL teams fall in love with the intangibles. The sweet spot for the Jaguars is the 3rd round.
Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA
Zah Frazier is another sleeper on this list fans are catching up to along with Nohl Williams. Frazier is a cornerback prospect out of UTSA, standing at 6 feet and 3 inches tall. The primary criticisms with Frazier would be his weight at 186 pounds and the level of competition he played. Whatever question you’re looking for, Frazier answers it. He is aggressive and an accurate tackler in the open field in the run game, eliminating his weight concerns. Then, you look at his production profile, ability to stay in phase downfield, route recognition, and the analytics of his career and you see a NFL corner. Oh, did I mention he ran a 4.37 40 yard dash? The production is off the charts even for JUCO.
In 2024, Frazier logged 6 interceptions, 10 pass deflections, and 1 forced fumble. Unfortunately he is an older prospect, but if he can play a role instantly what’s the problem with him turning 25 in October? He brings a big body that can cover larger and smaller receivers on the outside. Once again, this is a corner who excels in press and at the line of scrimmage getting his hands on receivers, but expect for him to be a day 3 selection given his overall college career and a late breakout age. If the Jaguars select him, I would expect it in the 5th round.
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