1010XL Draft Guide: Weekly roundtable #3

Welcome to the latest edition of our 2024 NFL Draft weekly roundtable! All the football heads at 1010XL/92.5 FM have gathered to preview the upcoming draft in April.

Today’s question: Who’s a first-round prospect that caught your eye early as a good fit for the Jaguars?

Dave Campo: 1st Round – Jackson Powers-Johnson – UOre.

Hays Carlyon: Florida State DE Jared Verse: He would be sensational to pair with Josh Allen, especially when Travon Walker plays inside more as expected in new defensive coordinator Ryan Neilsen’s scheme.

Mike Dempsey: Jackson Powers-Johnson appears to be the clear-cut best center prospect and should be on the Jaguars’ radar with the 17th pick.

Ryan “Hacker” Green: Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon makes all the sense in the world because he is the highest rated center in this draft class and that is certainly a position of need for the Jaguars… I think the question now is, will he be there at number 17?

Matt Hayes: Troy Fautanu, Washington. The reason is simple: he’s a big body (6-4, 320) who plays with an attitude. Something this franchise (and QB Trevor Lawrence) desperately needs — even if it means overdrafting a player.

Gus Logue: Assuming the Jaguars don’t address Ryan Nielsen’s defense with its first-round pick, LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. makes sense at 17. He’d bring the size that Jacksonville is looking to add to its receiver room, and more importantly, he has the long speed and acceleration to stretch defenses vertically.

Mia O’Brien: I have 3 answers to this question, but they all offer the same, two underlying traits that the Jaguars sorely need: a mean streak and versatility along the offensive line. Washington’s Troy Fautanu can play tackle or guard (most likely left guard — Jaguars’ biggest need). Graham Barton played center and tackle at Duke, and projects as (you guessed it) a guard at the next level. Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson (a pipe dream to be there at No. 17) proved at the Senior Bowl he can play center or guard. For me, it’s one of these three, or an elite wide receiver who falls at No. 17. There is no other way.

Tony Smith: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon: Arguably the best interior offensive lineman in this year’s draft and one that has been rising in mock drafts throughout the process. When we started discussing the possibility of JPJ, he was being talked about as a potential second-round option. Now it is thought that if the Jaguars are going to get him it will have to be at 17. Getting the best interior offensive line prospect in this class has always been intriguing given the Jaguars’ position in the draft. When you add their perceived need to address all three interior o-line positions, JPJ feels like he could be a fantastic meeting of need and value.

Follow along as we rank each position group leading up to the draft!

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Offensive Tackles

Interior Offensive Linemen

Tight Ends

Cornerbacks

Safeties

Edge Defenders

Defensive Tackles

Inside Linebackers