Two biggest news nuggets in “Mock Draft World” locally this week:
- You, the reader/listener, have requested trades. We’ve got plenty of those in Mia’s Mock Draft 2.0.
- Jaguars head coach Liam Coen referenced the “Wing-T” offense not once but twice this week: once via “The Hunt” clip from his time at the Big New England Football Clinic and again at the NFL Owners Meetings in West Palm Beach.
That got me thinking about those principles being run here in Jacksonville… and what personnel would be needed for that to happen:
Round 1, Pick 8
(acquire Picks 8, 74, 111, 163)
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Jaguars GM James Gladstone made it very clear in his interview with NFL Daily at the NFL Combine: Jacksonville is both open for business and wants more throws at the proverbial dart board.
While I don’t envision any teams wanting to come up to No. 5 unless Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter falls (or if there is a QB-needy team that is willing to do so for Shedeur Sanders), in this scenario: the Carolina Panthers have fallen in love with Michigan’s Mason Graham, last week’s pick in Mia’s Mock Draft 1.0. After Derrick Brown’s 2024 season-ending injury, the Panthers defensive line was among the weakest in the NFL in 2023. They signed veteran Tershawn Wharton in free agency, but otherwise it will be Shy Tuttle and A’Shawn Robinson slated to start alongside Brown on Opening Day. It’s as deep a defensive tackle class as we’ve ever seen, so while I don’t think this scenario is 100% realistic: let’s say a former Bucs OC gives another former Bucs OC a call to move up to No. 5.
Enter another player who very well may be in Gladstone’s first “bucket” in Tyler Warren. When you look up the cliche “Swiss Army Knife” in the dictionary (or Urban Dictionary), Tyler Warren’s name is listed. Penn State has churned out tight ends over the years (including Jacksonville’s Brenton Strange). But Warren isn’t a tight end. In 16 games in 2024, Warren tallied: 104 receptions for 1,223 yards and eight touchdowns; 26 carries for 218 yards and four touchdowns; went 3-of-6 for 35 yards and a touchdown; not to mention countless “pancakes” in the run game.
From Lance Zierlein of NFL.com: “the ultimate ‘whenever, wherever’ player in the 2025 Draft” who projects as a “Year 1 starter.”
From PFF’s Trevor Sikkema: “a consensus Top-10 pick… I think even for teams that don’t have a dire tight end need, he’s going to be pretty high up on their board.”
And from once-upon-a-time Jaguars OC turned Underdog Fantasy’s Jay Gruden: “Tyler Warren is a must have player on your team. If you can draft the guy you need to, he’s that good.”
That last one in particular really stuck with me. While Sikkema may have been alluding to Denver Broncos HC Sean Payton’s crusade for a “Joker” in his line-up, Liam Coen has consistently preached the need to bring Jacksonville’s run-game to the forefront. Couple that with the “tough, physical” mantra that EVP Tony Boselli has referenced since ascending to the front office, and many of Gruden’s bullet points match up perfectly with the identity it appears the Jaguars are trying to build.
Five tight ends have been drafted in the Top-10 of the NFL Draft since the merger. It’s a rich move, if you’re the Jaguars – especially in a loaded tight end class.
But Tyler Warren isn’t a tight end. He’s a Swiss Army Knife.
Round 1, Pick 29
(trade Picks 36, 111)
Grey Zabel, OL, NDSU
You said you wanted trades in this week’s Mock Draft!
Again, how realistic is this scenario? I personally don’t see Zabel making it past the Seattle Seahawks at 18. One AFC staffer did tell me that Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson could go higher than many Big Boards and Mock Drafts have him projected (Field Yates’ Mock Draft last week reflects as such – although he has Zabel going at 17). An NFC executive also told me teams have been impressed with Alabama’s Tyler Booker, even after a sub-optimal 5.38 40-yard dash. Coupled with other holes, needs, and how the Board falls: let’s say both those players do go, and Zabel, the Belle of the Senior Bowl, is still sitting there at No. 29 prior to the OL-starved Kansas City Chiefs and always-in-the-OL-market Philadelphia Eagles.
If the Jaguars truly want to build “from the inside-out,” Zabel’s a tremendous starting point. Yes, they signed Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari in free agency. But that shouldn’t preclude them from taking another player with elite position versatility and a frame he’s still growing into (6’6’’, 312 lbs, 32’’ arms). Tough and rugged, Zabel started at left tackle his final season at NDSU but also registered starts at LG and RT during his collegiate career. From the AFC staffer: “freak athlete for size with quick first step and explosive off the line of scrimmage. Good awareness to see and pick up stunts. Good fit for any run scheme – he’s addicted to finishing blocks and can climb to second level defenders with ease. A certified dog.”
Zabel had offers to transfer from the FCS powerhouse, but stayed out of loyalty to the Bison and wanting to play in the same program as his brother. Sounds “intangibly rich” to me.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah projects Zabel at guard, but he did take snaps at the Senior Bowl and looked comfortable. The beauty of having Hainsey and Mekari: as much as Zabel projects as a Day 1 starter, you wouldn’t be pressured to slot him into one, specific spot Opening Day. Let him compete with Hainsey and Luke Fortner at center. Let him compete with Mekari and Ezra Cleveland – who speaking of: we don’t know what this new regime thinks of Cleveland. In an organization that wants to breed competition each and every day, Zabel fits the mold and would relish that opportunity.
Round 3, Pick 70
Oluwafemi Oladejo, EDGE, UCLA
The definition of “intangibly rich,” Oladejo played off-ball linebacker his first three seasons of college ball between Cal and UCLA. The Bruins’ depth at EDGE was tested last offseason, and Oladejo raised his hand and made a position switch. The move paid off as Oladejo racked up 13.5 TFL and 4.5 sacks, in addition to 57 tackles and 2 PBUs. Despite being a relative newcomer to the position, Oladejo has a nice bag of pass rush moves and is stout against the run, too. And ask anyone who was at the Reese’s Senior Bowl – from now former Executive Director Jim Nagy to media members to his teammates that week who voted him the “Good Guy Award” winner – and they will tell you that Oladejo’s impact off-the-field is just as influential as his play.
There’s been a gaping hole behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker at EDGE the past two seasons. It needs to be addressed – and it needs to be addressed before Day 2 comes to a close.
Round 3, Pick 88
Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State
I have been on-the-record saying I believe the Jaguars will double-dip along the defensive line before Saturday of NFL Draft weekend. I have them breaking that projection in this week’s Mock Draft because of what I saw on ESPN’s Mock Draft Simulator this week. While yes, many analysts have noted this is not a great crop of cornerbacks, if Parrish – who some pundits believe is the last “starter in 1-2 years” before a slew of developmental defensive backs – wasn’t selected here (71% chance he’s there, per ESPN) there was a 45% chance he’d be there at Pick 107. If the Jaguars truly want to remodel their secondary as some have hinted to me, they may have to break James Gladstone’s Rams’ precedent and go cornerback earlier than expected.
Parrish’s size isn’t anything to cry home about (5’10’’, 191 lbs, 30 ⅝’’ arms), but his speed (4.35) and fluid hips combined with ball-hawking skills (16 PBUs the last two seasons) are good value in the late third-round. Parrish can play inside or outside. While his tackling technique is still a work in progress, he’s more than willing to get in the mix in the open-field and behind the LOS. Projections for Parrish have been all over the ballpark, with ESPN’s Field Yates slating him as a late-second round pick while other publications believe he’ll be an early-Day 3 selection. That’s why I have the Jaguars fortifying the CB Room earlier than expected. While the Jaguars added Jourdan Lewis in free agency, longtime back-up Buster Brown is entering the final year of his rookie deal and De’Antre Prince was a selection of the previous regime. I don’t believe the Jaguars are done remodeling that room – especially if new DC Anthony Campanile wants to have a treasure trove of versatile DBs like he had in Green Bay last year.
P.S. Parrish was a wrestler growing up.
Round 4, Pick 107
Isaac Teslaa, WR, Arkansas
A name I’ve linked the Jaguars to for months, initially because of his comps to Rams wide receivers of past-and-present but also for the competitive, high IQ reports for Teslaa coming out of Fayetteville. Couple that with an astounding pre-Draft process, and Teslaa is more than just a Day 3 “big slot.” After opening eyes at the Senior Bowl, Teslaa put on a show in Indianapolis, running a 4.43 40-yard dash and ranking 11th out of 3,441 wide receivers according to RAS. At 6’4’’, 214 lbs, he’s a mismatch for smaller cornerbacks.
I’ll run through some other stats below but the big one to know for Teslaa: he has 0 career drops at the collegiate level. Zero. While also recording a 54% contested catch rate.
Teslaa began his football career at the DII level, following in his father’s footsteps to Hillsdale College in Michigan. In two seasons on-the-field (his freshman year was limited to a spring season due to COVID-19), Teslaa registered 113 receptions, over 2,000 receiving yards, and 19 touchdowns – while also returning punts and kicks. At Arkansas, his production was limited to just 62 catches and 5 receiving touchdowns; “chicken-or-the-egg” theory could come into play here as the Hogs struggled with inconsistent quarterback play the last two years. Teslaa did average nearly 20 yards per reception his final year at Hillsdale and Arkansas.
Enjoy this catch from his Combine performance.
Round 4, Pick 126
Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma
As my friend and contemporary Will Parkinson – who is connected as any in the scouting world – puts it: “one of the better trash talkers if not the best trash talker in the Class.”
I’ve been fascinated by Bowman and his competitive spirit for months. He was a first-team All Big 12 and All-American by select publications his junior year, in which he tallied 6 interceptions (3 pick-six’s), 4 PBUs, 3 TFLs and 63 tackles. Bowman came back for his senior year and saw his production drop (2 INTs, 3 PBUs, 2.5 TFL, 54 tackles) as more holes were poked in his game by pundits, specifically his tackling technique. To me, Bowman is a willing tackler with a nose for both the football and contact. He’s a split safety who can roam freely (do the Jaguars need a true centerfielder?) and also crowd the box. At 5’10’’ 192 lbs, can he cover tight ends in the slot? Will he win contested jump balls downfield? I’m not sure. But I’ll tell you this: Bowman will damn sure give effort to defeat those bigger bodied pass catchers. You can’t teach effort and instincts, and Bowman has both.
Given that it’s James Gladstone doing the selecting and not Trent Baalke, I believe Bowman could be a fit for Jacksonville, especially if he slides in the NFL Draft because of his smaller stature.
Round 5, Pick 142
Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
As the AFC staffer told me when we spoke last week: “LOVE Devin Neal. Period.”
And how can you not? A Lawrence, Kansas, native, Neal turned down other Power-Four schools both right out of high school and via the Transfer Portal to stay home and put the school he grew up rooting for on the map. Neal was the lead workhorse for the Jayhawks from the moment he stepped on campus (760 carries), averaging 1,430 rushing yards each of the past three seasons. He also caught 77 passes in his collegiate career. The knock is his lack of top-end speed, although Neal ran a 4.58 at the Combine. My bigger concern: is this a case of James Robinson, who was literally Illinois State’s entire offense for four years and entered the NFL with a ton of tread on his tires? Or is it Kyren Williams – who the Rams and James Gladstone drafted – who was coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons at Notre Dame and is now set to potentially receive a second contract from LA — especially given that Neal is still just 21 years old?
Neal does everything well. Soft hands. Rarely misses the open hole. Above-average in pass protection. Excels in short yardage. He fumbled four times in four years. If you’re a GM and you believe he’s still got miles left on the wheels – and don’t place priority on top-end speed – he’s another damn good football player. As I write this, I can’t help but feel like he’s the next RB in Kyle Shanahan’s stable to break out when his number is called. Please don’t let him fall to Shanahan.
Round 5, Pick 174
(trade Pick 182, 221, 2026 7th)
Antwuan Powell-Ryland, EDGE, Virginia Tech
I had reservations about not having selected a plug-and-play defensive tackle up to this point in Mia’s Mock Draft Monday 2.0. But ultimately, as my colleague and USA Today’s Matt Hayes pointed out on 1010XL this week: wouldn’t drafting a 3-tech high essentially be a vote of no-confidence in Maason Smith, who was a Top-50 pick a year ago and flashed at different points of 2024? Not that the current regime is tied to the former LSU Tiger… but as a second-round pick, he’s not going anywhere. That’s a roster spot already accounted for.
The same cannot be said for the Jaguars’ EDGE Room, which, even after the addition of Oladejo earlier in this Mock Draft, remains barren behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. Add the 6’3’’, 258 lbs Powell-Ryland and his 16 sacks in 2024 (!!!), and suddenly that room has depth like we haven’t seen since 2017 Sacksonville.
In sticking with the 2017 Jaguars references: with those measurables and a 9.17 out of 10.0 RAS, Powell-Ryland is more athletic than Yannick Ngakoue. However, like the former third-round pick, Powell-Ryland comes into the League with a nuanced palette of pass rush moves. He’s going to win 1-on-1 with high IQ and violent hands, not with top-end speed or elite length. It’s part of why he’s going to fall to Day 3 of the NFL Draft: with sub-32’’ arms and under 260 lbs, analysts have concerns about Powell-Ryland’s ability to defend the run and control the edge (I told you the Ngakoue comp was fair). But if all you’re asking him to do is line up wide-nine and get after the quarterback on third-down? Sign me up. Unlike 2024 7th Rounder Myles Cole, who entered the league with no pass rush moves having solely won at the collegiate level with freak athleticism, Powell-Ryland will have a plan from Day One.
And if you don’t like the Ngakoue comp: there’s some Arden Key here on this stunt move by Powell-Ryland. How quickly we forget: Key’s 4.5 sacks in 2022 would’ve ranked third on the Jaguars in both 2023 and 2024. Powell-Ryland had 9.5 sacks in 2023 before double-digits in 2024. You’re already adding Oladejo, too. And you only need this guy to get you 4.5 sacks? Easy. He’s also 15 lbs heavier than Key, too.
Round 6, Pick 194
Nash Hutmacher, DT, Nebraska
Given the Jaguars traded their seventh-round pick away in this scenario (and have yet to select a girthy, interior linemen), enter a name I first floated on “Duval Rundown” and first witnessed in the Heroes Game between Iowa and Nebraska. While Ty Robinson will be the Husker defensive lineman who gets the headlines this NFL Draft season, Hutmacher was at the heart of the Nebraska defensive line that ranked in the Top 5 in the Big Ten each of the last two years in run defense. It’s not every day you see a nose tackle toss defenders and generate pass-rush like Hutmacher, who can also play 3-tech. Run-stuffing in his game, and quite simply, Hutmacher is a load to move.
Nebraska listed him at 6’5’’, 330 lbs, but he weighed in at 312 lbs at his Pro Day, clocking a 5.20 40-yard dash. An East-West Shrine Game participant, Hutmacher has a chip on his shoulder after not receiving an invitation to the NFL Combine.
What makes him most intangibly rich? Not only was Hutmacher a 4-time South Dakota High School wrestling State Champion, the first in South Dakota history (including an absurd 73 consecutive wins by pin). Not only was he the No. 1 heavyweight recruit nationally in his class. He balanced football and wrestling at the Varsity level at Nebraska, too. That takes a disciplined, competitive and diligent individual. Worthy of a dart throw late in Day 3, in my opinion.
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