Dan RorabaughUSA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
Show Caption
We're a week out from the 2024 NFL Draft, and the latest NFL mock drafts are narrowing down the Jacksonville Jaguars' targeted prospects.
The Jags have the No. 17 pick and are looking for help at cornerback. They added corner Ronald Darby and safety Darnell Savage to replace the departed Darious Williams and Rayshawn Jenkins, and bolstering the league's 26th ranked pass defense with young talent appears to be a priority. Jacksonville could also use a true No. 1 receiver for Trevor Lawrence or a pass rusher to pair with Josh Allen.
Here's what NFL experts predict the Jaguars will do with their first pick in their most recent mock drafts:
Our latest Jaguars mock draft: Who will the Jaguars take in the 2024 NFL Draft? Latest 7-round mock draft for Jacksonville
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Brian Thomas Jr., LSU wide receiver
"The Jags were shocked to miss out on bringing Calvin Ridley back in free agency so they supplement the position here in the draft."
Peter Schrager, NFL.com: Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo cornerback
"At No. 17, the Jaguars are thrilled to nab a cornerback with everything you want at the position: size, speed, playmaking ability ... and irrational confidence. I loved Mitchellsayinghe's the greatest football player ever to come out of the MAC. Jack Lambert, Randy Moss, Ben Roethlisberger -- watch out!"
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY: Terrion Arnold, Alabama cornerback
"With the passing attacks throughout the AFC South only growing more formidable, Jacksonville has to find more solutions for a pass defense that ranked 26th in yards allowed. Able to handle a wide variety of receivers in man coverage, Arnold would open up a lot of possibilities for new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen."
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: Quinyon Mitchell
"Mitchell has the size, speed and collegiate production to be the first cornerback off the board."
Dan Parr, NFL.com: Cooper DeJean, Iowa cornerback
"After trading down in a deal with the Commanders that netted them picks 36 and 40, the Jaguars use one of the picks acquired in that deal (No. 40) and their original second-rounder (No. 48) to get the corner they need in DeJean. So, despite moving back, Jacksonville still has a chance to land a playmaking DB and another potential starter before the first 40 picks are made. As for the Packers, they can control the board on Day 2 with four second-round picks (Nos. 40, 41, 48 and 58) and two third-rounders (Nos. 88 and 91)."
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: Brian Thomas Jr.
In a tandem mock draft with Field Yates, Kiper had the Jags taking Thomas: "There's a wide range on where Thomas could go off the board -- he might even fall to the end of Round 1 -- but he would be a great fit as aCalvin Ridleyreplacement in Jacksonville.Trevor Lawrence's completion rate on go balls would rise."
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports: Brian Thomas Jr.
"Jacksonville can find a few cornerbacks to throw into the equation later in the draft but Brian Thomas Jr. gives the Jaguars that X potential that they will now be missing with the departure of Calvin Ridley."
Gennaro Filice, NFL.com: Quinyon Mitchell
"The Jaguars fly up the board -- notably leapfrogging the cornerback-needy Raiders -- to get their pick of the CB litter. Yes, it’s the senior cover man out of Toledo. And no, it isn’t surprising. Mitchell absolutely crushed the pre-draft process."
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Terrion Arnold
"They need to get a young corner with free-agent signee Ronald Darby being up in the years and Tyson Campbell in the final year of his contract. Terrion Arnold would give them the chance to play more man coverage."
Connor Rogers, NBC Sports: Quinyon Mitchell
"The size, speed and length of a cornerback duo of Mitchell and Tyson Campbell is what defensive coordinators pray for. He’s passed every test of this draft process with flying colors."
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama cornerback
"In this scenario, the Jaguars are able to move down in the first round and still address the cornerback position with a strong option. McKinstry might not have elite speed, but he’s confident, controlled and smart, which will get him on the field as a rookie."
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports: Terrion Arnold
"The Jaguars signed veteran Ronald Darby after releasing Darious Williams, but they need more firepower at the position. Terrion Arnold has the production, physicality and mindset to challenge receivers in the AFC South and across the league."
Kyle Dvorchak, NBC Sports: Cooper DeJean
"The Jags have undergone a lot of turnover in their secondary this offseason, replacing starters Rayshawn Jenkins and Darious Williams with free agent additions. Though they aren’t in desperate need of more help, they could use extra firepower at corner and safety. Why not kill two birds with one stone by drafting the most versatile defensive back in the draft?"
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Byron Murphy II, Texas defensive lineman
"Byron Murphy II is the best defensive linemen in this class, and he could end up going higher than this. The Jags addressed other positional needs early in free agency, and even with the addition of Arik Armstead, Murphy makes a lot of sense here."
Jaguars NFL draft picks 2024
Here are the picks held by theJacksonville Jaguarsin the 2024 NFL Draft:
- Round 1, pick 17
- Round 2, pick 16 (48 overall)
- Round 3, pick 33 (96 overall)
- Round 4, pick 14 (114 overall)
- Round 4, pick 16 (116 overall)
- Round 5, pick 18 (153 overall)
- Round 6, pick 36 (212 overall)
- Round 7, pick 16 (236 overall)
When is the NFL Draft? Location and dates, how to watch
- Where:Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan
- Round 1:8 p.m. Thursday, April 25
- Rounds 2-3:7 p.m. Friday, April 26
- Rounds 4-7:Noon Saturday, April 27
- TV:ABC, ESPN (Channel 206 on DirecTV, Channel 140 on Dish), NFL Network (Channel 212 on DirecTV, Channel 154 on Dish)
- Streaming:NFL+,ESPN+($10.99 per month),fuboTV(7-dayfree trial),YouTube TV(2-week free trial),Hulu + Live TV(7-day free trial)
The 2024 NFL Draft will begin Thursday, April 25 and run through Saturday, April 27 in Detroit, Michigan. The draft will air on ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network. Streaming options includefuboTV, which offers a free trial for potential subscribers.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
