NFL Draft primer: Jaguars need to upgrade defense to contend again in AFC South

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2023 record: 9-8, missed playoffs

Draft picks per round

1st round: No. 17
2nd round: No. 48
3rd round: No. 96 (compensatory)
4th round: No. 114
4th round: No. 116 (from Saints)
5th round: No. 153
6th round: 212 (compensatory)
7th round: No. 236

With college basketball done, MLB Opening Day in the rearview mirror and The Masters still days away, attention is heating up on the NFL’s marquee offseason event. Let’s make our turn toward the NFL Draft. (Taylar Sievert/Yahoo Sports)

Top needs

Offensive line (interior)
Defensive line
Cornerback
Wide receiver

The Jaguars secured their pass rush in bringing back edge rusher Josh Allen on the franchise tag to pair with Travon Walker. They added Gabe Davis to their receiving corps in free agency, but need help at the position after the departure of Calvin Ridley to the division rival Tennessee Titans.

In addition to adding receiver help, the focus in the draft should be on bolstering the interior of both lines and improving a pass defense that ranked 26th in the NFL last season. Right guard Brandon Scherff is returning thanks to restructuring his deal to lower his salary-cap hit. But Jacksonville desperately needs to improve one of 2023’s worst run-blocking units.

There was no threat of a pass rush from Jaguars defenders outside of Allen and Walker, who combined for 27.5 of the team’s 40 sacks last season. Adding a defensive lineman who can apply pressure from the inside would be a big boost to Jacksonville. So would adding a No. 1 cornerback in a draft deep at the position.

Best first-round fits

Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

Best Day 2 fits

Zach Frazier, C, Oregon
T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State
Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Christian Haynes, G, UConn

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How they did last draft

The Jaguars received a C-minus from Yahoo Sports, though they…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-primer-jaguars-need-to-upgrade-defense-to-contend-again-in-afc-south-140051264.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-04-09 14:00:51

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