Another year, another top five draft pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Owner Shad Khan reversed his initial decision to retain general manager Trent Baalke when he fired head coach Doug Pederson after a 4-13 season in 2024. But when head coach candidate Liam Coen pulled out of the running for the job, Khan ejected Baalke, hired 34-year-old James Gladstone and landed Coen, 39, to replace Pederson.
With quarterback Trevor Lawrence recovering from left shoulder surgery and some mystery about the overall direction of the team’s schemes, Gladstone rides into his first draft in the big chair with plentiful options and 10 total picks.
The show begins at No. 5. History indicates a top talent will be available, but which direction will Gladstone steer the Jaguars?
As the draft approaches, the rumor mill has consistently connected the team to a pass rusher or running back Ashton Jeanty.
Here’s a closer look at the hand Gladstone holds.
–Team needs
Cornerback: Travis Hunter would be the ideal steal and if Gladstone was paying attention during his nine years with the Rams (spoiler alert: he was), swinging for the fences won’t be a problem. With 10 selections there’s room to gamble and the Jaguars offer Hunter a CB1 role with a chance to be heavily incorporated on offense. If they aren’t willing to trade with Cleveland or the New York Giants to get Hunter, a move down for Will Johnson (Michigan) or targeting a mid-round developmental type could work, too.
Running back: It’s not that the position is a need so much as it’s likely Gladstone will be sitting on the clock with the option to select Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. Mentor Les Snead of the Rams had a similar decision in 2015, one year before Gladstone joined the franchise, when he opted to drafted Georgia running back Todd Gurley. More recently in Rams’ lore and as part of Gladstone’s tenure, the Rams found Pro Bowl RB Kyren Williams with the 164th overall pick in 2022.
Defensive line: Michigan’s Mason Graham appears to be an ideal fit for the Jaguars based on need and the team’s stated approach to the draft class.
Not to dwell on his nine-year run with the Rams, but has anyone benefited more from a strong interior defensive line than Los Angeles under Snead? They were questioned for the “risk” of drafting a smaller three-technique out of Pitt in 2014, and Aaron Donald, the No. 13 overall pick that year, is a few years shy of being fitted for a gold jacket. Last year, the Rams snagged Braden Fiske (second round) after already addressing their pass rush with Jared Verse in the first round.
–Best prospect fits
OLB Abdul Carter, Penn State
DT Mason Graham, Michigan
CB-WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
DE Mykel Williams, Georgia
TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
OT Will Campbell, LSU
OT-OG Armand Membou, Missouri
OLB Jalon Walker, Georgia
–2025 draft picks by round
Total picks: 10
By round (pick in round, overall pick)
1: 5, 5
2: 4, 36
3: 6, 70
3: 24, 88 (from Minnesota Vikings)
4: 5, 107
4: 24, 126 (from Minnesota Vikings)
5: 4, 142
6: 6, 182
6: 18, 194 (from Seattle Seahawks)
7: 5, 221
–History Lesson
–This is the 15th time since 2008 the Jaguars are drafting in the top 10.
–With the No. 5 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Jaguars drafted cornerback Jalen Ramsey. They previously selected Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon fifth overall in 2012.
