The Jacksonville Jaguars were 8-3 heading into December and looking like one of the teams to beat in the AFC. It all came crashing down in early December during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, starting with a chain of injuries that would hurt Trevor Lawrence for the rest of his year plus the collapse of a shrinking offensive line and the team finished with a 9-8 record, going 1-6 in the final games of the season.
Add to that the collapse of the defense which led to defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell getting shown the door
However, the future is still very bright for the Jaguars with this young team full of stars starting with, of course, quarterback Trevor Lawrence plus an exciting defense to add on top.
The future of a team always starts at the Draft and while the Jaguars have been very hit-and-miss when it comes to the draft process in recent memories when they have hit, they have hit hard!
2024 Jaguars Mock Draft
Round 1 Pick 17: Nate Wiggins, Corner, Clemson
A fourth Clemson Jaguar surely won’t hurt, right? He’s the man they call “Nate the Great” after overcoming a behavior battle after a troubled beginning with the Clemson Tigers to become one of the most-liked players on the Clemson football team the past three seasons.
The Jaguars defensive back problems have been a key issue the past two seasons and it’s finally time to address it as the team releases Darious Williams and Rayshawn Jenkins and with Andre Cisco and Antonio Johnson showing promise.
Add 2023 First-Team All-ACC Wiggins who, despite injuring himself during the NFL Combine, picked himself back up and ran a 4.29 40-yard dash, and the Jaguars’ secondary issues should mostly at least be solved.
Wiggins may need to develop for it but when he does, expect him to shine.
Round 2 Pick 48: Keon Coleman, Wide Receiver, Florida State
Ridley and Jones left, the Jaguars still need an upgrade at the receiving core.
Florida State’s Keon Coleman would be the best choice at wide receiver at this point of the draft.
The former Michigan State wideout transferred to Florida State after a 2022 season with the Spartans where he was a Third-Team All-Big Ten and then a First-Team All-ACC with the Seminoles in 2023 not just at wide receiver but also as an all-purpose return specialist.
Coleman also led the ACC in receiving touchdowns in 2023 and punt returns yards.
There are some that believe he could be a permanent replacement for Jamal Agnew as the returner.
This pick could excite a lot of Jaguars fans as a Ridley or Jones replacement.
Round 3 Pick 96: Kiran Amegadjie, Tackle, Yale
Amegadjie is the highest-rated FCS player in this draft and, despite an injury, he had a breakout combine causing him to now have mid to late Day Two consideration.
A First-Team Ivy League in 2022 and a First-Team FCS All-American in 2023 despite only playing four games.
The Jaguars’ offensive line has been a mess for a while and, with Cam Robinson close to not coming back and Walker Little still not healthy enough to live up to his potential, it’s time to take a look at someone who will be side by side with Cleveland and Harrison next season.
Round 4 Pick 114: Cooper Beebe, Guard, Kansas State
Some depth at the offensive line as we don’t know if Ezra Cleveland has what it takes to be the main guard and there’s still a chance he fails to do so.
In that case, Cooper Beebee, an All-American in the Big 12 three years straight, two-time Big 12 offensive lineman of the year, and a 2023 Outland Trophy finalist is coming. Beebe has a good shot to excel in the NFL and possibly sneak his way into being the franchise’s future guard.
Round 4 Pick 146: Marshawn Kneeland, Edge, Western Michigan
Building some more depth on the defense line.
Kneeland suffered leg and arm injuries in 2022 and 2023 and maybe he would be a bit higher if it wasn’t for that.
However, he’s worth a mid-round pick here and he showed some promise in 2023 when healthy.
Round 5 Pick 153: Luke McCaffrey, Wide Receiver, Rice
Getting some wide receiver depth here as Luke McCaffery, a quarterback-turned-wide-receiver whose dad was former NFL wide receiver, Ed McCaffrey, and his older brother, Christian McCaftey, is the star running back for the 49ers.
He could be used as a go-to slot receiver this offseason as he put on a show at the Senior Bowl this February.
This is someone who could fit well in Doug Pederson’s offense and could shine in clutch situations.
Round 6 Pick 193: Frank Gore, Jr., Running Back, Southern Miss
Tank Bisgby is looking like a disappointment already and the Jaguars need to find a solid backup to Travis Etienne and a running back that can give him relief on third downs in the backfield.
Frank Gore, Jr., of course, is the son of probable future Hall of Famer running back, Frank Gore, Sr. and looks like someone that can give a team great value as a late-round pick.
Gore shined in the East-West Shrine Game in February as he took home Offensive MVP.
A backfield of Gore and Etienne would be splendid.
Round 6 Pick 212: Jordan Travis, Quarterback, Florida State
Even with Mac Jones, Jacksonville needs to back a future backup for Lawrence as there is a chance that in 2025, Jones will contend for another team’s starting quarterback once again.
Jordan Travis was one of the best quarterbacks in college football last season and was in the conversation for the Heisman Trophy until he broke his leg in a late November game against North Carolina. Which, in turn, was an unfortunately massive hit to his draft stock.
Still, Travis’s 2023 season saw him winning ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year along with First-team ACC honors.
If Travis heals, at the very least he will be a reliable practice squad arm.
Taking a flyer on Travis as a backup shouldn’t hurt anyone or anything.
Round 7 Pick 236: Will Reichard, Kicker, Alabama
Reichard is the best kicker in the draft and this is a position the Jaguars low-key need to address.
Brandon McManus was anything but clutch as a kicker last season and Joey Syle is not their long-time kicker.
It’s time for them to get a nice, new young leg at the kicking position.
Reichard is the all-time scoring points leader in both the SEC and the FBS and also the all-time leader in SEC extra points. Reichard is also second all-time in FBS history in extra points and second all-time in SEC history in field goal percentage.
Main Image: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
