The NFL Draft is sort of upon us. It’s now April which implies the draft is a little bit over two weeks away.
Until you may have been residing below a rock, Michigan defensive sort out Mason Graham has been the clubhouse chief in mocks for the Jacksonville Jaguars at decide quantity 5.
Graham checks quite a lot of containers and has been the identify earlier than, throughout and after the change of entrance workplace staffs and coaches. Current shakeups from groups choosing forward of Jacksonville have altered Duval’s quest to doubtlessly land Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter as an alternative of Graham, if you’re searching for an alternative choice at #5.
Penn State tight finish Tyler Warren’s identify has picked up steam as a possible secondary possibility for the Jags. Even nonetheless, choosing Graham at fifth total appears to be the most certainly situation.
To nobody’s shock, we’re staring with a Graham mock from ESPN. The reasoning is identical because it has been all offseason and it’s a fairly sensical thought total.
Jacksonville has huge wants up entrance on protection which can be too laborious to disregard with this decide, and Graham would instantly reshape the complexion of each the go rush and the run protection. He racked up 26 pressures and 14 run stops final season. The Jaguars, in the meantime, allowed the second-most yards (389.9 per recreation) and fifth-most factors (25.6 per recreation) within the NFL final season. Lined up between edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, Graham would assist this protection get again on observe.
Ol’ quantity 32 provides us a mock this week, but it surely’s a little bit of a wild one. Jones-Drew has Hunter going seventh total and Graham going all the way in which down at 11. At 5 nonetheless, the previous Jaguar legend has his previous staff taking Arizona huge receiver Tet McMillian.
Head coach Liam Coen goals to copy what he had in Tampa with a pair of gifted receivers on the middle of his offense. Becoming a member of second-year professional Brian Thomas Jr., McMillan is an enormous receiver (6-foot-4, 219 kilos) with the ball abilities and physicality to make contested catches.
As a lot as Graham is sensible, this decide additionally has its ft to face on. The concept for a lot of Trevor Lawrence’s profession has been that he hasn’t had assist. With McMillian, the Jags could possibly do with Lawrence what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been in a position to do with Baker Mayfield throwing to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Tetairoa McMillan confronted double protection 12.5% of the time — greater than any WR in 25. A given in third down conditions.
Tet’s tape reveals defenses protecting a real no1. pic.twitter.com/rLvwnhYQOH
— ZeeBee (@BellinoZee) April 6, 2025
Now that we’re finished with our wildcard decide, let’s get again to Graham.
Mason Graham is being mocked to the Jaguars all over the place, and for good purpose. The staff desperately wants a three-down defensive sort out who can cease the run and has sufficient juice as a go rusher to take a few of the strain off of Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Graham can do all of that and be a disruptive drive in the course of Jacksonville’s protection.
Professional Soccer Community’s Brentley Weissman
Hey, look it’s a Graham mock. At this level, what has been stated about Graham is all that must be stated.
Mason Graham feels just like the forgotten man on this 12 months’s draft class, however I’m not certain that can matter a lot on draft day. Graham is a stout and relentless drive at defensive sort out and was the chief of Michigan’s exceptional protection over the previous couple of seasons. The Jacksonville Jaguars want constructing blocks to proper the ship, and I can’t consider a greater participant to insert into this protection than Graham. His tenacity, play energy, and energy could be a welcomed addition.
CBS Sports activities’ Tom Fornelli
You most likely thought this subsequent mock was going to be for Graham however Tom Fornelli throws an enormous curveball on this one.
Fornelli predicts a trade-back situation from Jacksonville, the place the Jags drop down to choose No. 11, switching with San Francisco. The 49ers use the decide to take an offensive sort out, the place the Jags use the decide to take Penn State tight finish Tyler Warren.
I do know Jacksonville is excessive on Brenton Unusual, however Warren is such an intriguing weapon that he’d be laborious to go up right here. He’s a decent finish, however he doesn’t need to play at tight finish. Liam Coen may discover loads of methods to get him and Unusual on the sphere collectively together with Brian Thomas Jr.
Warren is a darkish horse candidate for the Jags that has obtained buzz in current weeks. He helps the case for aiding Lawrence and is TE1 on this class. The concept he might be an enormous huge receiver physique whereas Brenton Unusual performs strictly tight finish might be one thing the Jags can’t go up.
Sources: Penn State TE Tyler Warren has only one scheduled go to — uncommon for a possible top-10 decide — as groups view him as “one of many cleanest prospects.”
Whereas Warren’s already had a number of non-public exercises, one staff choosing within the prime 10 canceled theirs final minute, saying:… pic.twitter.com/8m8UvUP4VW
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 6, 2025
Right here’s a second Warren mock for you. Edholm mentions that Warren can fill the same position in Jacksonville that Tyler Higbee fills for the Rams. Whereas Higbee will not be a “huge identify” or “star” tight finish, Higbee is about as certain as they arrive. If the Jags can get 10 years out of a man like Warren as LA has finished with Higbee, that might be an enormous win no matter place.
With a first-year common supervisor/head coach combo — and the expertise not synching completely with want — it’s tough to forecast the Jaguars’ decide. They’ve made two huge offseason additions within the secondary, however I feel Liam Coen needs so as to add items to this offense. The versatile Warren may give him a extra harmful Tyler Higbee (whom Coen coached in L.A.).
Tyler Warren (#44) with the ball in his fingers. Choosing up yards after the catch and as a Wildcat QB.
Actual straightforward mover in a 250+ pound body who can continually hold his ft by way of contact. Actually like how rapidly he can transition to a runner after the catch. pic.twitter.com/eLb6Iim2tG
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) April 2, 2025
Professional Soccer Focus’ Followers
Again to our frequently scheduled Graham programming. PFF poled its followers on who must be picked and the place and unsurprisingly Graham received slated to Duval. Be warned nonetheless, the next first sentece just isn’t going to make anybody smile.
The Jaguars’ highest-graded inside defender, for now, is Jordan Jefferson at 62.7. Graham was the highest-graded defensive sort out in faculty soccer in 2024. This fan decide wants no extra clarification.
One phrase: Graham. Reuter does have Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart going No. 7 total to the New York Jets which is a enjoyable one. Nonetheless, Graham to Jacksonville is customary process for us followers of teal.
Jacksonville has not made any personnel strikes to enhance its entrance 4 this offseason after giving up 25.6 factors per recreation in 2024. Graham will present a spark on the road as each a difficult run defender and an energetic go rusher.
We finish this week the identical manner we began it: with Graham coming to Jacksonville. The Jags could have taken two defensive tackles final 12 months, and signed one other, however all indicators appear to be pointing to including one other physique to that room on April 24.
Graham doesn’t have the freakish dimension, size or athleticism that others may provide, however he’s robust, constant and productive — and that’s what Jacksonville wants inside.