4 Players the Jaguars Could Target in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft

By Rhys Knott

Liam Coen has already ingratiated himself to every Jaguars fan by chasing Trent Baalke out of Duval County. If he’s as good at coaching as he is at office politics Jacksonville have got themselves a good one. 

Baalke’s inability to know a superstar from a hole in the road has been an issue for whoever has been coaching the Jags in the last five years. Coen takes charge of a team with talented receivers, Josh Hines-Allen, a promising quarterback and not a whole lot else. 

With so many weaknesses on the offensive line and defense, alongside a few positions that need upgrading, the Jaguars could draft anyone. Jacksonville picks fifth overall, and since they don’t need a first-round quarterback they have plenty of options.  

If things get a little wild before they pick, whoever the new GM is will be fielding trade offers. 

Josh Simmons – Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

Jaguars fans want nothing more in 2025 than to see Trevor Lawrence stay upright, Josh Simmons will help that happen. In an alternate universe where players are selected according to talent and how ready they are for the NFL, Simmons is a #1 pick. He started the 2024 season looking like an NFL tackle playing against Big Ten pass rushers, but a knee injury ended his senior year after just six games.   

Simmons’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, says he will be cleared to begin practice before the start of the 2025 NFL season, though. There’s no doubt the 22-year-old has the talent to be a first-round pick. GMs may be reticent to invest resources in someone who can’t perform at the combine or Ohio State’s pro day. 

The former San Diego State Aztec is as complete a lineman as anyone can be headed into the draft. His athleticism allows him to move well in the open field, comfortably blocking linebackers or defensive backs on screen passes.  

Prior to his 2024 season, Simmons had started 26 consecutive collegiate games. 13 at right tackle and 13 at left tackle. The California native is an explosive, violent blocker in the run game. He also has the strength to stop pass rushers in their tracks. But his primary asset is his aggression. The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder is always looking for an unfortunate defender to block downfield. 

Kelvin Banks Jr. - Offensive Tackle, Texas

Banks Jr. is just 20 years old, but his trophy cabinet is stuffed full of hardware. In 2024, the Longhorn won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, the Rotary Lombardi Trophy, and the Outland Trophy!  

The Texas native lacks Simmons’s precise footwork. Consequently, his enthusiasm to reach defenders can cause him to lose his balance. Once he gets his hands on defenders, he moves them with ease, allowing him to make dynamic run blocks. 

Banks may take time to adjust to the speed of NFL edge rushers in pass protection, and the Jaguars could decide to shift him inside to guard. The former freshman All-American is one of the shorter tackles in the 2025 class.  

At 6 feet 4 inches tall, his comparative lack of height allows him to anchor his hips in pass protection. That can lead to him attempting to wrestle pass rushers, though. Despite his mechanical advantage, the Physical Culture and Sports major needs to work on hand placement. He tends to miss pass blockers with his initial movements and wrap his arms around defenders like a bear. 

Banks Jr. projects as a mid-first-round pick, so the Jaguars could trade back from the five spot and still land the man who turns 21 in March. 

Josh Conerly Jr. - Offensive Tackle, Oregon 

Watching Conerly Jr. run block is a thing of beauty unless he’s about to block you. The 21-year-old Oregon product runs like a tight end, his mobility is more impressive than his blocking! He will turn plenty of heads at the combine. 

The 21-year-old isn’t a polished pass blocker, though. He doesn’t have a great first step, and that often results in him being knocked backwards into the backfield. But his speed means he is able to manoeuvre pass rushers out and around, extending their path to the quarterback. 

His ability to operate at the second level and manhandle linebackers will definitely interest Liam Coen and Travis Etienne.  

Conerly Jr. projects as a late first-round pick. If this draft gets funky, there is a chance he could still be available when Jacksonville pick in the second round at 41. 

Mykel Williams – EDGE, Georgia 

Jacksonville signed Josh Hines-Allen to a five-year, $150 million contract extension last year. Now they need to get him some help. Jaguars fans will tell you that Travon Walker has been a success during his first three seasons in Duval County. But 2022’s first overall pick hasn’t really put up first-overall pick numbers. 

The former Georgia Bulldog has recorded 24 sacks in 49 NFL games. But his numbers pale into insignificance compared to the guy taken with the second pick in 2022. Aidan Hutchinson has recorded 28.5 sacks in just 39 games. Hutchinson also has 21 more QB Hits and three more interceptions than Walker. 

In Walker’s defense, he had to work in a Ryan Neilsen defense last season. To fit Nielsen’s defense, Walker transitioned from linebacker to defensive end. That didn’t affect his productivity, but it didn’t stop Jacksonville’s defense from giving up the most passing yards in the league either! 

Luckily for the Jaguars, the solution to their pass rush problems (or one of them) is available in the 2025 draft class and it’s another Georgia Bulldog. 20-year-old Mykel Williams might not blow scouts away at the combine, but he brings new meaning to the phrase “high motor”. The 2022 National Champion never stops pursuing the ball carrier.  

Williams’ ability to grind down anyone blocking him will stop offensive lines concentrating on blocking Hines-Allen alone.  

New Jaguars defensive coordinator Antony Campanile historically operates a 3-4 defense, Nielsen’s scheme is more reliant on a 4-3 front (but his predecessor Mike Caldwell favoured a 3-4).  

During Williams’ college career, Georgia occasionally lined up with five down linemen with Williams at defensive end. But he also rushed the passer as a stand-up linebacker. He is big enough to take on blockers in the B-gap and athletic enough to get outside the tackles. Williams will be a threat however Jacksonville use him. 

Williams is projected to be the 11th player off the board, if the Jaguars front office recognizes their most pressing weakness, they should snap him up with the fifth pick. 

RHYS KNOTT

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

Rhys has been watching the NFL for 30 something years and still hasn’t managed to pick a team to support. When he’s not fixatED on pass rushers you can find him blithering on about most sports on Twitter @wrhys_writes

5/5