A Jaguars mock draft is a little less fun than other fanbases hunting a star with their first-round selection. Jacksonville has had its first-rounder solidified since last April, giving up this year’s initial selection for Travis Hunter in a blockbuster deal.
Still, Jacksonville has three Day 2 picks and seven picks on Day 3 to continue building out a roster that finished ahead of schedule in James Gladstone and Liam Coen’s first season.
Using the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator, here’s how I navigated the board for the Jags in Gladstone’s shoes.
Round 2: Jaguars Select Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore
Pick No. 56 Overall
Approaching this draft, there has to be a roadmap for the Jaguars’ positions of need. They could mostly use a defensive tackle, but also need help at EDGE, linebacker, and one of wide receiver or corner, depending on the finalized plan for Hunter. I like the defensive tackle prospects in Round 3, so the EDGE comes here.
Derrick Moore had 10 sacks for the Wolverines last year and was among the best in show at February’s Senior Bowl, too. His 33 3/8-inch arms are tremendously long, and that shows up on tape, too.
“Crafty” is a good word to describe his ability to slip past blockers after he disrupts their balance, and this is a good value spot to get another complementary rusher next to Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.
Round 3: Jaguars Add Florida State DL Darrell Jackson Jr.
Pick No. 81 Overall
DaVon Hamilton is a productive run-stuffer up front for Jacksonville, and Darrell Jackson Jr. would be a perfect complement to him in their four-man front.
Jackson Jr. had quite the pre-draft process, starring in the East-West Shrine Bowl to earn a late ticket to the Senior Bowl. On tape, Jackson Jr. is a relentless competitor who uses his length to penetrate the backfield from either the 1-technique or 3-technique spot.
There are certain reps where it’s as if Jackson Jr. teleports into the backfield. I think he bull rushes with easy, consistent, and fundamental core strength, and his pad level is solid for such a tall guy. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t a productive NFL defensive tackle for a long time.
Round 3: Jaguars Draft Arkansas CB Julian Neal
Pick No. 88 Overall
The nice part about a player like Hunter is that it gives the Jaguars flexibility to let both the wide receiver and cornerback boards come to them, and they can fit him in somewhere.
In this case, Arkansas’ Julian Neal could be an immediate starter and absolute steal in Round 3. At 6-foot-2 with nearly 33-inch arms, Neal ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash at February’s combine. Corner is a position where being fast and long can make up for a lot of problems.
However, the tape is really solid, too. Neal is a sticky corner in man-to-man coverage, and his length is a real problem in zone. He deflected 10 passes in 2025.
I can’t see Neal lasting on the board this long, but it’d be a no-doubt move for Jacksonville if he does when they’ve already plugged their one major need.
Round 4: Jaguars Trade With Cardinals for LSU LB Harold Perkins Jr.
Pick No. 104 Overall
Arizona got ants in their pants to move up into Day 2’s final selection, dialing the Jaguars up to trade No. 104 for No. 100 in a swap that also cost them No. 183 for Jacksonville’s 245th overall selection from the seventh round.
We’ll take it and finally address the need for an off-ball linebacker here. James Gladstone seems confident in Ventrell Miller, so don’t be so sure the Jags plug middle linebacker with an early selection. Instead, I’m taking a chance on talent with LSU’s Harold Perkins Jr., who is likely a weakside linebacker in the pros.
Perkins Jr.’s 2023 trajectory seemed like a first-rounder, but injuries mounted before an inconsistent 2025 season, where he had 3 interceptions and 4.0 sacks, but also plenty of missed tackles. He ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at his pro day with ideal size for this position.
Round 5: Jaguars Snag Clemson RB Adam Randall
Pick No. 146 Overall
The Browns offered the Jaguars No. 146 and No. 149 for No. 124 and No. 240, leaping up the board to select…Carson Beck. No comment on that one from the simulator.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten are both early-down backs, leading me to believe that, if the Jaguars select a running back, it’ll be one with pass-catching upside.
Adam Randall might be that guy more than anyone in this entire draft class. The 6-foot-2 converted receiver definitely looks like a project at times in terms of selection of running lanes, pad level, and hip tightness, but he’s got huge, soft hands as a receiver out of the backfield with the willingness and size to contribute in pass protection.
I think he’s a bigger version of LeQuint Allen Jr., whom Jacksonville selected in the seventh round a year ago.
Round 5: Jaguars Bolster O-Line With Illinois OT JC Davis
Pick No. 149 Overall
Given the names they had on the roster, you’d have never expected the Jaguars’ 2025 offensive line impact scores to be so solid, but it’s left them with few needs up front on the offensive side. I think they’d like to add depth, though.
JC Davis is an interesting Day 3 dart. From a frame perspective, Davis’ 6-foot-4 height and 34 1/4-inch arms are just fine for a left tackle. In his only season with the Illini after transferring in from New Mexico, Davis was 19th in PFSN’s College Offensive Line Impact (pOLi) score.
If you ask yourself why the experienced tackle dropped to Day 3, it’s below-average foot speed and lazy technique at times. He just doesn’t always maximize his gifts, but there’s no downside at this stage of the draft.
Round 5: Jaguars Pick Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher
Pick No. 164 Overall
Bryce Boettcher might very well be one of those productive college linebackers who slip in the draft, carve out a solid pro career, and make you wonder why the drop happened.
The reason for the drop is his athleticism. On the smaller side for a linebacker, he also just isn’t flying toward the football at the same speed as linebackers who will be selected on Day 2.
Boettcher had 56 solo tackles in 2025 as a leader for an Oregon defense that made its way to the College Football Playoff Semifinals. He’s a culture-setter, a willful competitor, and he frequently puts his body on the line. If you’re a team like the Jaguars rolling the dice on Miller in an expanded role, Boettcher is an extremely high-floor backup who will have no problems on special teams.
Round 5: Jaguars Add QB Depth With Penn State’s Drew Allar
Pick No. 166 Overall
I floated Jacksonville as a potential landing spot for Drew Allar last week on PFSN. I might as well bring it home here.
Allar is arguably the most intriguing Day 3 project for the right mad scientist in this draft. At 6-foot-5 with a rocket arm and decent mobility, he just never put the pieces together for a disjointed Penn State offense that was consistently light on elite pass protection and receiving talent.
After injuring his ankle in October, Allar definitely showed off the arm at the combine and the Nittany Lions’ pro day. Liam Coen has resurrected Baker Mayfield and Trevor Lawrence in recent seasons, so this is a small price to pay for an outstanding lump of clay that could arm the team with a solid backup quarterback, or much more.
Round 6: Jaguars Draft Ole Miss DL Zxavian Harris
Pick No. 183 Overall
Zxavian Harris is a top-120 player on my board, so No. 183 would be tremendous value as the Jaguars will likely select at least two defensive linemen from a deep class. Even with Hamilton and Arik Armstead back for another campaign, there’s not much behind them.
As an inside force standing 6-foot-8 and 330 pounds, Harris dominated the Sugar Bowl with 10 tackles to flash the upside that you know can be bottled. Of note, he also blocked 6 kicks in college as a weapon in that element of the game.
However, off-field issues, injuries, and inconsistencies marred his tape through three years in Oxford. Harris might not even be on some teams’ draft boards, but the team-first culture established in Coen’s first year might be ready for a roll of the dice at a position of need.
Round 6: Jaguars Select Arkansas OG Fernando Carmona Jr.
Pick No. 203 Overall
I mentioned JC Davis’ outstanding national impact score at PFSN, and Fernando Carmona Jr.’s was even better. The Arkansas guard was 12th in pOLi.
As a former converted tight end and offensive tackle, the best part of Carmona Jr.’s tape is his quick feet in pulling situations. You see him explode behind the line of scrimmage with an appreciation for violence once he reaches his final destination. Those feet show up in pass protection, too.
The phone booth is where Carmona Jr. has a lot of room to grow, though. He’s often off balance in those close exchanges, and he certainly doesn’t play very long, even if 32 1/8-inch arms seemingly should be okay at guard.
Depth on the offensive line is never a bad idea, and the value here was too great to ignore.
Round 7: Jaguars Close Draft With Texas Tech DL Skyler Gill-Howard
Pick No. 233 Overall
For as well as Texas Tech’s defensive line played in the Orange Bowl, it’s crazy they were missing a leader and likely NFL draftee.
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That was Skyler Gill-Howard, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in October. He had 9 solo tackles, 0.5 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss in five games, but the highlight of the Red Raiders’ season might have been his “Thick Six” against Kent State.
Gill-Howard is undersized but uses nasty swim moves and his lateral quickness to remain disruptive, totaling 12 tackles for loss during his last two seasons at Northern Illinois before limited action in Lubbock. I think he’s yet another experienced college player who drops into the Jags’ front seven and could make an impact as part of their rotation.
