1010XL 2025 Draft Guide: Roundtable #2

Welcome to the second edition of our 2025 Draft Guide roundtable! All the football heads at 1010XL/92.5 FM have gathered to preview the upcoming draft in April.

Today’s question: What is an under-the-radar position of need for the Jaguars entering the 2025 NFL Draft?

Dave Campo: I don’t know if under the radar is the right terms, but a RB would help with Travis Etienne being near the end of his contract. Also, with D’Ernest Johnson a free agent, the Jaguars only have Keilan Robinson as RB3 and he’s more of a returner.

Hays Carlyon: Running back. James Gladstone said the position’s resurgence last season was a shift and not a fluke. With Travis Etienne likely entering his final season with the team and Tank Bigsby having two inconsistent seasons, expect the Jags to take a back probably with one of their two fourth-round selections. There will likely be great value as the draft crop is considered incredibly strong.

Mike Dempsey: RB is an under-the-radar position that the Jaguars need to address.  Travis Etienne has rushed for less than 4.0 yards per carry each of the last two years and Tank Bigsby has had ball security issues.  Jacksonville, at a minimum, needs a third RB and might need to find their starter of the future, as Etienne is in the last year of his contract.

Dylan Denmark: The under-the-radar position the Jaguars need to address is running back in the draft. Ashton Jeanty is the one everyone has their eye on, but there are really good running backs available in the 5th and 6th round.

Gus Logue: Run-stuffing defensive linemen. Everyone knows the Jaguars should add multiple pass rushers in April, but the defense must improve at stopping the run as well. Jacksonville ranked 25th in rushing yards per game allowed and 27th in ESPN’s run stop win rate metric last season. Plus, current nose tackle DaVon Hamilton has zero dollars of guaranteed money on his contract after this year. Expect the Jaguars to add a variety of bodies to its defensive line in the draft.

Mia O’Brien: Can WR or TE be considered “under-the-radar” at this point? While I don’t expect the Jaguars to select a pass-catcher with their second-round pick (unless they pick up an additional second-rounder), depending on how the board falls, I could see them drafting a WR or TE before Day 2 of the NFL Draft has concluded. The sweet spot for both, in my estimation, remains with their two fourth-round picks. But if Jack Bech or Mason Taylor is there at No. 70? Or — a bit more far-fetched — Matthew Golden or Tyler Warren there at 36? All bets are off.

Trent Osborne: Back-up quarterback. To be clear: Trevor Lawrence is (and should be) the guy under center for the Jaguars; adding another QB to the room has nothing to do with creating competition. The reality is Lawrence hasn’t been the healthiest over the past two years. I could see Liam Coen wanting a real contributor instead of your run-of-the-mill journeyman backup (no offense, Nick Mullens) in the event #16 is sidelined again. A better backup equals better reps all-around for the entire team as well as a better chance to win on Sunday. I wouldn’t spend serious capital on it, but the team has done a good enough job filling holes elsewhere that a Day 3 flier on a signal-caller may be wise.

Tony Smith: I state this more as something that has felt under-the-radar of the fans that I have had the opportunity to interact with about the team’s needs and about where it seems to be ranked on the list of team needs in those circles: wide receiver. I think it is not being given the priority that it deserves with what they have already done to address the offensive line in free agency the way that they have. I think wide receiver could be in play as early as the first round (though it would surprise me that early). On the other hand, I would be surprised if the position went unaddressed in the first three rounds of the draft.

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