Mock Draft 11.0
Full, final, seven round mock draft for the Jaguars heading into draft week
Welcome to Mock Draft 11.0!
It is finally draft week and subsequently the end of this series for the year so we are going all in for the final week.
Instead of just focusing on the first four rounds, I will be doing my first seven round mock draft for the Jacksonville Jaguars to end this series off the right way.
As far as Jags draft news goes, there’s new twitter rumors circulating about who the Jags would take at five if they were to stay there and pick.
That rumored player is 2025 Heisman runner up and Boise State Bronco, Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty, a Duval native, rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns this season for the Broncos and helped to lead them to the college football playoff.
I want to reiterate that these are twitter rumors and nothing of true substance can be taken from them a lot of the time, but I think there’s two possibilities with these rumors.
One would be genuine interest from the Jags as Jeanty is seen as THE top running back in this class and one of the better prospects at the position in the last decade.
The second would be the Jags drumming up fake interest to entice someone to move up for Jeanty like the Raiders or Bears.
Either way, I am unsure of what to make of the rumors but I will give you my opinion on them.
I like Jeanty as a prospect the same as anyone else, however a top five pick on a position which you already have two solid, young players at seems like a reach to me.
When interior defensive line, secondary, offensive line and receiver all stick out as the primary needs for this team and there are good players at all of those positions which you can get at five-ten, picking a back seems irresponsible.
On top of that, this is one of the better running back classes I have seen and while Jeanty is the consensus top back, I don’t see a huge gap between getting him or waiting until days two or three to get a really solid back for better value.
With that being said, I can’t completely hate the idea of bringing in Jeanty because of how putrid the run game was with former head coach Doug Pederson in his later two years with the franchise.
I also think that if the pieces fall the right way, general manager James Gladstone can fill the other holes on the roster and still have this team ready to compete for the division this season.
That would be especially true if the Jags were able to secure someone like Michigan’s Kenneth Grant at 36 filling the need the Jags still have at interior defensive line.
Moving towards this week’s draft strategy, I am sticking with my gut and ignoring the Jeanty rumors.
Let’s draft!
Pick 5: Mason Graham, Defensive Tackle | Michigan
With the 5th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select defensive tackle Mason Graham from Michigan.
For the final week of this series, I had to stick with the most picked player in this series in Michigan’s Mason Graham.
In over ten weeks of doing this series, it became clear pretty early on that Graham would be the top choice if he were available.
I love his ability to get off blocks with ease given his background as a wrestler and be able to shut down the offense’s run game.
Pair that with some good pass rushing upside and you have a good defensive tackle prospect that doesn’t come around too often.
The role that Graham will be expected to fill is also one I think he can slip right into starting week one.
He isn’t expected to be the main focus on the defensive line or even the second most productive lineman since he would be playing next to Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.
That would allow Graham to focus more on being a good run fit defender and just add to the existing pass rush from the interior, essentially what he has been doing at Michigan the past couple seasons.
The main knocks on Graham are his weight (he weighed in below 300 pounds at the NFL Combine) and the notion that he disappeared this last season at Michigan.
However, I believe Graham is among the top five or so players in this draft and that he is a future pro bowler.
The Jags have the ability to fix their interior defensive line in this draft and Graham would do that and give the Jags one of the better defensive lines in the league all in one pick.
No need to overthink this one.
Pick 36: Jayden Higgins, Wide Receiver | Iowa State
With the 36th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select wide receiver Jayden Higgins from Iowa State.
This is the second time I have picked Jayden Higgins in this series and I didn’t start studying him as a prospect until recently, and I love him as a day two pick.
Higgins stands at 6’4 and went for over 1,000 yards this season in the Cyclones offense.
Playing in the slot and outside, on the line of scrimmage and off the line of scrimmage, Higgins showed that he is a versatile talent at receiver in 2024.
I like his size and athleticism at the receiver position and think he is a guy who could sneak into the first round based on how this receiver class is viewed and picked come Thursday.
He is a solid route runner and he shows an ability to go and high point the ball for his size, but I would like to see him do it more often.
I think Higgins and Brian Thomas Jr are similar prospects in that they are more deep threat receivers who can go up and get it, but usually use their athleticism to get open more often.
A receiving trio of Thomas, Dyami Brown and Higgins is versatile and could make Trevor Lawrence’s life very easy come fall.
Pick 70: Jared Wilson, Center | Georgia
With the 70th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select center Jared Wilson from Georgia.
Another prospect I really like in this class, Jared Wilson is head and shoulders above the next closest center prospect in this class and could be a star in this league.
His athleticism is his best ability and plays into my favorite thing about him, which is his ability to get to the second level and be a solid mover.
When I think of what I like from a center, it is his ability to first, create a push and help the guards move the line of scrimmage a yard or two downfield and then to advance to the second level and block linebackers with some power.
Wilson does both of those things very well and that’s why I love him as a prospect.
Not to mention that 2024 starting center Mitch Morse retired this offseason and Robert Hainsey was brought in to fill the role.
That would allow Wilson the ability to sit and learn behind Hainsey for a little and learn the technique I think he lacks that would take him to the next level as a player.
It would also allow him to be able to play guard if he needs to and still be able to get on the field and play earlier on in his career.
Pick 88: RJ Harvey, Running Back | UCF
With the 84th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select running back RJ Harvey from UCF.
After a couple week hiatus, RJ Harvey has returned to this series for good reason.
If you have read this series in the past, you know that I really like Harvey as a prospect in a loaded running back class.
A little bit undersized at 5’8 and older at 24 with injury concerns, Harvey still dominated during his last two seasons in Orlando grossing over 2,300 yards and 40 touchdowns.
It’s Harvey’s running ability that is my favorite thing about him.
He is a fast back and uses that ability to find the best running path on most plays to maximize most plays.
Additionally, he does a good job of forcing defenders to take poor angles and shows a solid ability as a receiver out of the back field.
Yes, Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby are still on the roster, but Harvey is too good to pass up here and trading Etienne could be a solid option while yielding future draft capital.
Pick 107: Jaylen Reed, Safety | Penn State
With the 107th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Jaylen Reed from Penn State.
This is the third time I have mocked Penn State’s Jaylen Reed to the Jaguars in this series and for good reason.
Reed is a rangey safety who is at his best when he is allowed to roam the field especially close to the line of scrimmage.
While not the best coverage safety in this draft, Reed does have solid zone tendency as he grabbed three interceptions and defended three passes in 2024, while needing to improve as a man coverage defender.
However, it is as a tackler and blitzer where Reed shines brightest.
His ability to fly downfield and make a tackle is my favorite thing about him and with the Jags presumably wanting to get more physical in this draft, Reed is a guy who can help set the tone in Duval this season.
As a senior, Reed recorded 98 tackles for the Nittany Lions which lead one of college football’s top defenses which almost made a national title game.
Reed is a player who can push for playing time right away and help turn the tide on the newly minted Anthony Campanile defense this season.
Pick 126: Antwaun Powell-Ryland, EDGE | Virginia Tech
With the 126th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland from Virginia Tech.
It has been a little while since I mocked Powell-Ryland to the Jags, but coming into this cycle he was one of my favorite prospects and seemed to fit the build of what the Jags were searching for in an edge rusher.
Powell-Ryland recorded 25.5 sacks in the last two seasons with the Hokies including 16 this previous season as a senior.
A former Florida transfer, Powell-Ryland is a solid pick who may not blossom into one of the NFL’s most feared edge rushers, but would be a really solid rotational piece on a defensive line that could use some depth.
Powell-Ryland has a nice blend of both power and finesse which makes him such a safe pick to me.
Now, the biggest question for me is would he be able to threaten NFL tackles with just ok power and finesse?
Additionally, Powell-Ryland’s sack numbers could be inflated by some really big games against poor competition.
With that being said, for the value, you can’t go wrong with a player with his production here for the Jags.
Pick 142: Quincy Riley, Cornerback | Louisville
With the 142nd pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select corner Quincy Riley from Louisville.
The only corner in this mock draft, Louisville’s Quincy Riley would add some nice depth and potential to a room which lacks both those traits.
Riley played three seasons at Louisville after transferring from Middle Tennessee State and showed great potential during his time there.
In his last two seasons with the Cardinals he recorded 19 passes defended and five interceptions, displaying very good ball skills.
I like Riley as a man coverage corner and think his man coverage skills are pretty good and will translate well to the next level.
I would like to see Riley improve his zone instincts but overall he is still a fine prospect with his zone ability right now.
My favorite thing about Riley is his physicality and ability to come up to the line of scrimmage and make a tackle more consistently than most corners.
I think Riley could step in and at the very least come onto the field when injuries attack the cornerback room and eventually blossom into a starting caliber player.
Pick 182: Mitchell Evans, Tight End | Notre Dame
With the 182nd pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select tight end Mitchell Evans from Notre Dame.
After moving on from Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram this offseason, the Jags should look to a solid tight end class for some depth.
Notre Dame’s Mitchell Evans would surely offer the tight end room something it is lacking past Brenton Strange right now and that is receiving prowess.
Standing at 6’5, Evans was a huge target over the middle for Sam Hartman and Riley Leonard during his time in South Bend.
Evans caught over 70 passes for over 800 yards and four touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons for the Irish.
While Evans isn’t going to be the best blocker, he is a mismatch over the middle of the field and could work his way into the offense in due time if he can become a reliable blocker.
Pick 194: Kyle McCord, Quarterback | Syracuse
With the 194th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select quarterback Kyle McCord from Syracuse.
Although quarterback isn’t a top need for the Big Cats in this draft, I think Kyle McCord will be a diamond in the rough at the quarterback position in this draft.
There’s a lot of intriguing mid to late round qbs in this class but none more than the former Ohio State Buckeye.
After an up and down year in 2023, McCord transferred to Syracuse and immediately elevated the Orange offense, setting the ACC single season passing yardage mark.
I like McCord’s quick release and his ability to process a defense quickly.
He always seems confident and calm in the pocket and his resilience from his season in Columbus where he was basically ran out of town to his stellar season with the Orange is a sign of his character and work ethic.
While not the strongest arm, I don’t think McCord’s arm strength would limit him much considering he will likely be a backup for his time in Duval should the Jags take him.
However, if a team needs to rely on him throwing into tight windows his arm talent would come into question for me.
Additionally, he is a pretty solid athlete for the modern quarterback position, often able to escape pressure and pick up some key yardage or a first down here and there.
My main concern with McCord is how he would perform under some pressure.
Sure he seems to be able to handle adversity, but when Ohio State needed him against Michigan he crumbled.
Pick 221: Howard Cross III, Defensive Tackle | Notre Dame
With the 221st pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select defensive tackle Howard Cross III from Notre Dame.
I have the Jags returning to the defensive tackle position with their final pick of the draft and selecting Notre Dame’s Howard Cross III.
Cross was arguably the most important piece on the Irish defensive line the past two seasons but with that comes some concerns.
To begin with what Cross does well, he is very good run defender and has some good pass rushing ability.
Additionally, he is a high motor player and his leadership is off the charts (he also happens to be one of the most blunt yet well spoken players I got to cover during my time).
The main concern with Cross is the fact that he is very small for a defensive tackle at 6’1 and 285 pounds.
He, like Willie Lampkin, is an excellent football player whose size is so poor it might cause him to fall entirely out of the draft.
However, even if Cross doesn’t become an all-pro, he is a good guy to help set the culture and compete his ass off every single day and would become a fan favorite I’m sure just through their Jags social media content.
The last thing I will share in this whole series is a personal testimony I have of Cross.
While I was an intern at Irish Illustrated, I had the profound pleasure of covering a Notre Dame Football game and it just so happened to be the Northern Illinois loss.
I was on the field for the final sequence and the aftermath which occurred.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Howard Cross laughing like a maniac after suffering one of the worst college football losses of the 21st century.
As you all know, Notre Dame ended up in the national championship game and I believe Cross knew it would happen based off his reaction to the loss.
This is why the draft is the best and I hope that Cross proves everyone wrong and exceeds his expectations.