Which prospect is most likely to be selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL Draft?
Which prospect is most likely to be selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL Draft?
The Jacksonville Jaguars are slotted fifth in the pecking order in this year's NFL Draft, and it's sort of an awkward spot for them. The two 'blue chip' prospects Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are likely gone, leaving the Jaguars with a Top 5 selection but without a player necessarily deserving of it.
Let's take a look at the betting favorites to be selected by the Jaguars via Draft Kings.
Top 5 Most Likely to be drafted by the Jaguars
1. Mason Graham DL, Michigan (Odds: -125)
Mason Graham has been connected with the Jaguars since the dawn of time, it feels like. As soon as Jacksonville locked in their position with the fifth overall selection, Graham has been their most mocked prospect.
Advertisement
Graham is as solid a prospect as it gets. He is dominant against the run, especially for a player of his size, and posted the fifth-best 'Pass-Rush Win %' among DTs in the country last season. He isn't the athlete Quinnen Williams, Aaron Donald, or Jalen Carter were, but he is as sure-fire as they come.
Read: What could Tetairoa McMillan offer the Jaguars offense?
2. Armand Membou OT, Missouri (Odds: +550)
Armand Membou is likely the top tackle available, assuming most teams view Will Campbell as an interior lineman due to his arm length. There hasn't been a lot of noise surrounding the Jaguars and Membou, however, Vegas seems to think it's one of the likeliest connections.
Advertisement
Membou was dominant at Missouri, posting a 99.0 'Pass-Block Efficiency,' an SEC-best among tackles. In 2024, Membou allowed just eight pressures and zero sacks on 411 pass-block snaps. Oh yeah, he was also the SEC's highest graded tackle in run-blocking too, according to Pro Football Focus.
Read: Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence must avoid turnover trouble in 2025 season
3. Jalon Walker LB, Georgia (Odds: +600)
Where there is smoke, there is fire, and the Jalon Walker to Jacksonville connection is full steam ahead. More and more mock drafts have come out as of late pairing the Georgia Bulldog linebacker with Jacksonville, and Vegas is in the same boat.
Advertisement
Walker might not be as well-known by Jags fans as some of the other names on this list, but he is no doubt worthy of discussion. Walker won the Butkus Award, leading all FBS linebackers with 34 pressures in addition to his 6.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.
Read: Can Jaguars' HC Liam Coen get Anton Harrison back on track?
4. Ashton Jeanty RB, Boise State (Odds: +600)
On the surface, Ashton Jeanty to Jacksonville might not make a lot of sense as the Jaguars have both Travis Etienne and Tank Bisgby on the roster. However, Etienne is entering a contract year and neither offers the Jaguars much on third down. Jeanty could come in and instantly become a three-down weapon much like Brian Thomas Jr. last season.
Advertisement
A man who needs no introduction, Jeanty put forth one of the greatest running back seasons ever in 2024, rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns, not to mention he's also a solid blocker and receiver. Jeanty's 1,970 yards after contact were more than any other running back had as a whole.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
5. Will Campbell OT, LSU (Odds: +1000)
Among offensive linemen, the Campbell to Jacksonville connection has been the strongest throughout the offseason. Campbell's football IQ and ability to play any position along the line make him an easy match for a Liam Coen-led offensive attack.
Advertisement
Campbell's arm length may concern some at offensive tackle, however, he is as pro-ready as it gets. Campbell was named a First-Team All-American and two-time First-Team All-SEC, starting 38 games at left tackle for LSU and allowing just four sacks.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Overview
As the 2025 NFL Draft is now less than two weeks away, the picture is starting to become clearer. ESPN Analytics' predictive draft model lists the same five players above as the most likely options for Jacksonville, though the order differs slightly.
It's unlikely that Travis Hunter will be available, as he has the ninth-best odds (+2500) to be selected fifth overall as it stands today. Vegas and analytics both agree, the Jaguars' next first-round selection will be one of the five names you see above.
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Georgia Tech Football Faces Crossroads Season With New AD Coming
Georgia Tech Football Faces Crossroads Season With New AD Coming originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The past decade on The Flats has been a slow fade from national relevance, but now Georgia Tech finds itself at a critical inflection point. Brent Key, once the sentimental interim, now sits in year three as the full-time head coach with a 14–12 record and back-to-back bowl appearances—the program's first such streak in a decade. Yet the momentum is fragile, and the stakes in Atlanta have never been higher. Advertisement Georgia Tech enters 2025 perched on the edge of two futures. One where it fully reclaims its spot among college football's power programs. The other? A slow slide into irrelevance, watching rivals surge ahead while Tech spins its wheels in neutral. Brent Key's Balancing Act Let's be honest: Brent Key didn't win this job in a traditional way—he was handed the keys during a turbulent transition. Now, with a new athletic director expected to step in following the exit of J Batt, the honeymoon might be over. Key's record—14-12 over two seasons (7-6 in both 2023 and 2024)—is steady, not spectacular. And while bowl games are better than basement finishes, steady won't keep you employed for long in today's arms race of college football. Especially not in Atlanta, a city with SEC-sized expectations and no patience for stagnation. Advertisement The upcoming schedule won't allow him to hide. Georgia Tech's 2025 slate reads like a national showcase: Georgia. Tennessee. Notre Dame. Colorado. Those are more than just games—they're high-stakes auditions. Win, or even compete credibly, and the program could earn an invitation back into college football's exclusive rooms. Lose big, and a coaching search might finally begin in earnest. Where Does Tech Fit in the New ACC? Tech's urgency is only heightened by the ACC's newly introduced revenue model, which prioritizes performance and TV ratings. No more guaranteed slices of the pie—schools that show up in primetime and win reap bigger rewards. So, where does Georgia Tech stand? Somewhere in the middle. This season is a golden opportunity to change that narrative. Advertisement The Yellow Jackets are one of the few programs in the ACC with the combination of brand potential and big-game matchups to cash in. But without tangible results—wins, rankings, and national buzz—Tech risks being just another mid-tier program fighting over the scraps Clemson, Florida State, and now SMU leave behind. J Batt's Blueprint and the Search for a Successor J Batt didn't stay long, but he left a trail of bold moves and financial fixes that gave the program a real shot at relevance. Before arriving in Atlanta, Batt was Alabama's financial engineer, a behind-the-scenes operator helping fund the Saban Empire. At Tech, he went to work immediately: a record-setting $78.2 million haul for the Alexander-Tharpe Fund. A $500 million "Full Steam Ahead" facilities overhaul. Hyundai naming rights for Grant Field. A neutral-site Georgia rivalry game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. These weren't Band-Aids—these were surgical moves to bring Tech football into the modern era. Advertisement Revenue jumped from $29 million to $59 million. Georgia Tech leapt from 66th to 38th in Division I football revenue rankings in under two years. Now, with Batt off to greener pastures, Jon Palumbo—who's been in the department since 2022—takes over. Whether he maintains the same aggressive vision remains to be seen. But make no mistake: the next AD will have full license to make a coaching move if things stall. A Sleeping Giant in a Fertile State There's no reason Georgia Tech should be a middling program. The state of Georgia is a top-5 recruiting haven, and Tech's last two classes—ranked 33rd and 18th nationally—suggest Key has found a pitch that resonates. But closing the gap with SEC programs that dominate the region will require more than just talent—it requires proof of concept. Advertisement The good news? The schedule gives Tech a platform. The bad news? It also gives them nowhere to hide. And then there's the big hypothetical looming: realignment. If the SEC ever comes calling again—remember, Tech was a founding member—it'll be games like these that determine if the Yellow Jackets are ready to come home. Six Years Removed From Paul Johnson and the Triple Option Six seasons ago, Paul Johnson's option-based offense was phased out. The rebuild hasn't exactly gone according to plan, though the transfer portal has helped accelerate the process in recent years. Teams like Colorado have shown how quickly a new identity can take root. Tech isn't that far off—but it needs a signature season to flip the narrative. Advertisement That brings us to 2025. A year where bowl eligibility won't be enough. A year that could cement Brent Key as the long-term answer—or end the chapter before it truly began. Related: Georgia Tech Lands Explosive WR in 2026 Recruiting Win The Bottom Line In the NIL and transfer portal era, programs either adapt fast or get left behind. Georgia Tech has the infrastructure. It has a pipeline to talent. It has the city. What it doesn't have—yet—is proof. 2025 is the year to change that. Or else the new AD, armed with J Batt's blueprint and no emotional ties to the current regime, might decide it's time for buzz off. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jets Duo Tipped To 'Flourish' In High-Profile Reunion
Jets Duo Tipped To 'Flourish' In High-Profile Reunion originally appeared on Athlon Sports. At this time of the offseason, we're all about projections and sharing ideas on what we think might happen. Looking at the New York Jets' tandem of Justin Fields and Garrett Wilson, what can we expect? Advertisement A reunion has occurred between Fields and Wilson, who played college ball at Ohio State, but since entering the NFL, their careers have taken vastly different paths. Wilson is regarded as one of the better receivers in football, while Fields has yet to consistently demonstrate his abilities, and for some, he is on his last chance as an NFL starter. But maybe having Wilson as his go-to guy can bring the best out of Fields, as it did at Ohio State, and the pair might have gotten some bulletin board material right off the bat. Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema, when ranking the top quarterback/receiver duos, has Fields and Wilson come in at No. 24. Advertisement 'Wilson slightly bounced back from a 73.5 PFF receiving grade in 2023 to a 79.3 mark in 2024, but it wasn't quite like the 85.9 PFF receiving grade he earned in his rookie season,' Sikkema wrote. 'Fields is coming off a decent year in Pittsburgh before getting usurped by Russell Wilson. The Jets will likely field a run-heavy offense in 2025, but this connection should still flourish. Fields also earned a 92.7 PFF passing grade when targeting Wilson when the two were at Ohio State in 2020.' New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) runs with the ball past Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5), Sunday January 5, 2025, in East Rutherford. © Kevin R. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images There is a lot of unknown about the Jets offense under Tanner Engstrand, and with Fields learning a new system, coupled with only having one genuine weapon in Garrett, how things play out will be an interesting watch. Many predict tough sledding for Aaron Glenn's team, but with Fields and Wilson hopefully leading the offense in a better way than Aaron Rodgers, who knows what might come of the 2025 season. Advertisement Wilson and Fields as a bottom-tier duo right now is justified, but if things click in the way Gang Green hopes, they might quickly shoot up this rankings list next season. Related: Jets' Josh Reynolds Offers Positive Justin Fields Scouting Report Related: Rodgers' Respect Key to Steelers Signing This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cornerback Jamel Dean Named Top 20 in Position Rankings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cornerback Jamel Dean Named Top 20 in Position Rankings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense was its Achilles heel in 2024. While the offense was excelling and posting top five numbers across major categories, the defense was falling apart due to injuries and poor play. Advertisement But there was at least one bright spot on the team, as cornerback Jamel Dean had another good season even after being slowed by a hamstring injury and played in just 10 contests. Pro Football Focus ranked Dean at No. 17 on their cornerbacks list, citing his consistency since turning pro. 17. Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay Buccaneers "Consistency is highly valued in the NFL, and there might not be any cornerback more consistent year-to-year than Dean. His worst season resulted in a 72.5 PFF overall grade, while his best produced a 78.9 figure. He ranks 11th in PFF advanced coverage grade over the past two seasons and did not allow a touchdown in coverage in 2024." Advertisement Dean has been every part of consistent - even with the injury bug. And that's the only thing that's held him back. Dean hasn't played more than 15 games in a season and he's done that twice. He's played 14 games once, 13 games twice and 12 games a season ago. But he's been able to post 313 tackles with 247 solo and six for loss, with eight interceptions with a pick-6, 52 passes defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Last season, across 12 games, he posted 59 tackles - the third-most in his pro career - with 45 solo. He added an interception, seven passes defended and one forced fumble. Advertisement Next season, Dean will enter Year 3 of a four-year, $52 million deal signed ahead of the 2023 season, and he's showing he's worth every penny. Related: Tez Johnson Called His Shot to Play with College Teammate with Buccaneers Related: Coach Reveals Reason for Buccaneers' Biggest Defensive Deficiency in 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
