If last week’s trade-back scenario – in which the Panthers came up to 5 for Michigan’s Mason Graham – seemed a little far-fetched: maybe this one will suit your fancy*:
*and I would like to note: I wrote this Mock Draft prior to the news dump late Friday that Saints QB Derek Carr could miss the start of the 2025 season.
In Mia’s Mock Draft Monday 3.0, I have the New Orleans Saints coming up to 5 from 9 when they get wind that the Raiders are planning to select a quarterback with the No. 6 overall pick. Which quarterback? Well, initially (including when I produced the video version of this Mock Draft), the thought was Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. However, Saints head coach Kellen Moore was the only NFL head coach in attendance… at Ole Miss Pro Day to see QB Jaxson Dart. OC Doug Nussmeier and QB Coach Scott Tolzein were in attendance, too. None of the three were at Sanders’ Pro Day. Sanders is scheduled to visit with the Raiders this week in Las Vegas.
Either way: the Saints need a quarterback. They move up to get their guy.
And so, now with the 9th overall pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars select ….
As I was told at the NFL Combine in February – and it was reinforced by league sources this week – “if you could pick any player in this year’s class, regardless of position and build your franchise around him, it would be Jalon Walker.”
To be clear, I have been one of the biggest skeptics of “chess piece” players, scarred by the likes of Isaiah Simmons, Jabrill Peppers, and (gulp) Devin Lloyd. That’s what I view Walker as. At 6’1’’, 243 lbs and with 32’’ arms, he’s undersized at best on the edge. And he doesn’t have the 4.39 speed that another undersized Georgia linebacker in Nolan Smith has.
That’s not what the personnel around the league who I reached out to this week said. The consensus: Jalon Walker will play Edge at the next level.
“[He’s] more of a true edge rusher with QB spy versatility rather than true off ball backer,” a scout told me this week. “But the kid is physical, twitched up, with great high effort, and was the Alpha on the UGA team last year. Would be a home-run.”
“Walker is a problem on third-down,” adds an AFC staffer. “Hunts down ball carriers with a motor that never stops… I have not studied [DC Anthony] Campanile’s defense yet, but Walker is definitely more of a 3-4 OLB type with off-ball flex. Let’s give the Jaguars another box player with shock strength and explosiveness.”
Think of it this way: the Jaguars third-leading sack-getter the last two seasons had 3.5 sacks. And Maason Smith and Roy Robertson-Harris were true defensive lineman – not some roaming hybrid player. As that chess piece at Georgia, Walker had 5.0 sacks in 2023 and 6.5 sacks in 2024. If he reached those numbers in Jacksonville? You’d throw a parade.
A league executive added that the team who drafts Walker will have to make the decision – decisively – and that there’s more value in an Edge. If we’re to argue that the Jaguars “just want good football players who are maniacal in their approach,” no one defines that more than Jalon Walker.
Self-admitted, a favorite of mine for months. Savaniiea tallied starts at left tackle, right tackle and right guard; while he projects inside, there’s value in that you could kick him outside in a pinch. He’s an absolute load, clocking in at 6’4’,’ 324 lbs, 33 ⅞’’ arms, and over 10 inch hands. And yet, Savaniiea can still get out in space while bulldozing defenders, armed with 4.9 speed (again, at 324 lbs). Imagine Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby rolling behind some of these monster running lanes. Beyond checking the [Trent Baalke] measurable boxes, Savaniiea plays with the no-nonsense mean streak the new Jaguars administration desires. He’s also just 21 years old and was a team captain his junior season in Tucson.
Yes, the Jaguars did sign four offensive linemen in free agency. Most everyone I spoke with doesn’t think Savaniiea will be there at No. 51 overall. If he is? He would give the Jaguars the big-body offensive lineman that they have been craving to protect and keep a firm pocket for their quarterback since … well, a very, very long time.
And besides: historically, the Jaguars have had some great American-Samoan players come through Duval County. Bring me my Samoan.
Another player where if he is somehow there, the Jaguars should sprint to the podium. As it stands, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks both agreed this week on the “Move the Sticks” podcast that Higgins is probably an early-second round selection. Generally speaking, don’t be surprised if the Big Cats try to move up for a wide receiver because they know the worst-kept secret in this year’s NFL Draft: there’s a lot of “good” wide receivers, but not a ton of plug-and-play “great” wide-outs. Higgins being here and the Jaguars’ actual situation April 24 to April 26 hinges entirely on if there is a run on wide-receivers between Picks No. 18-32 on Day 1.
Born in Georgia and having matriculated in Miami-Dade County, Higgins began his collegiate career at Eastern Kentucky (shoutout ASUN). Across two seasons, he caught 87 passes for 1,151 yards and 13 touchdowns. Then, he transferred to Iowa State and came close to those numbers in one season. In Year 1 in Ames, Higgins caught 53 passes for 953 yards and six touchdowns; in Year 2, he had 87 catches for 1,183 yards and 9 touchdowns.
In a previous era, the 6’4’’ 214 lb Higgins (p.s. 33 ⅛’’ arms) with elite ball-skills would have profiled as an X-only wide-out and jump ball specialist. But he’s more athletic than he appears and has the ability to play both inside and outside. Higgins is competitive at the line-of-scrimmage and more than willing to get dirty blocking. He would be what the Jaguars hoped they were getting – and maybe could still get? – with Gabe Davis. Ironically, a comp that was thrown at me is fellow Cyclone (and once upon a time Jaguar) Allen Lazard. Higgins’ testing numbers are incrementally higher, and it’s that 4.47 40-yard dash that probably made him a guaranteed, Round 2 selection. Which is why so much hinges for the Jaguars’ draft plans on that potential run on wide receivers late in the first round.
Another player that I was told probably won’t be here at this point, but unlike Savaniiea and Higgins, Turner still has some lingering medical questions after having to pull out of the Senior Bowl with a stress fracture that never fully healed from last summer. He was re-checked in April in Indianapolis and given the all clear. In a defensive tackle class that is being heralded as one of the deepest ever, could Turner fall through the cracks?
I hadn’t done a ton of work on Turner before he presented himself in this week’s Mock Draft simulation. That’s why I was extremely encouraged when the aforementioned scout led his evaluation of Turner by saying: “another tone setter on defense. Very intense kid that loves ball.” Coupled with this viral, unsportsmanlike penalty from the fall, Turner is the type of personality the Jaguars want to add along their defensive front. Better yet, as multiple folks around the league noted, Turner can play inside-outside and may actually be best suited at defensive end on run downs. He’s a bit of a tweener but he gets off blocks quickly and immediately chases into the backfield any and everyone with the ball in their hands.
For those keeping score: if Jalon Walker is getting the Jaguars 5.5 sacks a season.. And Turner can add three to four.. That’s a minimum of 8.5 sacks coming from your Edge3 and Edge4. And again, the Jaguars’ third leading sack-getter the last two years had 3.5 sacks.
Because he’s been compared frequently to the Buccaneers’ Bucky Irving (and Jaguars HC Liam Coen played a huge role in Irving’s development), RJ Harvey is probably the most mocked mid-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars across all Draft simulators.
For me, the contact balance and his ability to always fall forward are his biggest assets and address one of the biggest needs in Duval County: the dreaded 3rd-and-short and 4th-and-short. Harvey offers open-field, 4.4 speed, too, ranking first in FBS last year with 23.3% of his runs more than 10 yards. Harvey clocked in 18.5 mph in the first 10 yards of his 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, top among running backs. Like Irving, Harvey is also effective not just in the pass game but in splitting out and running routes. At 5’8’’ 205 lbs, Harvey is undersized … which is what makes his highlight-reel runs of him bouncing off and through defenders all the more absurd.
Like many rookie running backs, his pass protection will have to improve. So long as Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby are on the roster, Harvey will have time to learn and grow before (and if) he ascends to a lead-back role.
Brown’s athleticism jumps off the page. Seriously, his RAS ranks 77th out of 1,508 offensive tackles since 1987. He aced the pre-Draft process between his Combine testing and Senior Bowl performance. But with just one season of starting experience despite five years on-campus, the former five-star will be labeled a developmental swing tackle until proven otherwise. If harnessed, as a scout told me, Brown has all the talent in the world to play either left or right tackle down the line.
Brown’s quick feet help him most in pass pro, where he still needs to work on not playing so upright. He’s got physical hands and holds victims – I mean defensive linemen – at the point of attack until they break.
Given the Jaguars now quickly crowded offensive line room (especially given the second-round pick in this Mock Draft), the Jaguars would have to trade or move on from one of their current swing tackle-guards. Brown would take on a role similar to 2024 fourth-round pick Javon Foster (who would certainly be jettisoned in this scenario) and maybe not get a jersey on gameday. That said, he could develop into more.
Caldwell is your heir apparent to DaVon Hamilton at nose tackle, in this scenario, although I am genuinely curious to see where he ends up being drafted. Some have him sneaking into Day 2, others later on Day 3. At 6’2’’ 332 lbs (played at over 340 lbs), Caldwell defines the Earth theory: there’s just not that many humans walking around with his size, fluidity and strength. His testing numbers were a hair disappointing (maybe that’s why consensus believes he’ll land in the fourth round) and yet, despite a 5.16 40-yard dash, he bursts out of his stance and literally through opposing centers. Caldwell can push the pocket and then some.
Caldwell was a JUCO transfer to Houston before playing his final collegiate season at Oregon. With the Cougars, he did not exclusively line up at nose (peep the spin move off the edge here, lol) and tallied 13 TFL and 8.5 sacks in two years. At Oregon, he had 5 TFL and 0 sacks. Depending how you use him, you’re not just drafting someone to eat up space. Caldwell could have another ceiling that has yet to be reached.
This week’s candidate for the Dave Campo “I love a longggg Corner” Award. Strong checks in at 6’1’’, 185 lbs and just missed 31’’ arm length. He projects outside as an outside press-man corner. While Strong doesn’t possess elite speed (4.5 40-yard dash) he makes up for the few mistakes he makes with strong angles to the football and adequate ball skills (28 passes defended and 7 interceptions in 53 career games). And when in zone coverage, because of his instincts, he’s able to move from one target to the other and still make a play on the ball.
He’d be an older rookie, but that’s never deterred the Los Angeles Rams/James Gladstone before. Special teams value (including this fumble recovery on field-goal unit) is the final selling point. The Jaguars reportedly met with him formally at the NFL Combine.
Draft-and-stash candidate after tearing his ACL in the College Football Playoff – and to be honest, even though Mills probably won’t play in 2025, plenty of league personnel who I spoke with this week said they don’t think he makes it to Round 5.
An emotional and physical leader on the national runner-up’s, Mills has the measurables and experience to play both inside and outside, depending what a team needs. He’s 6’5’’ 291 lbs with 32 ⅝’’ arms, and ran a 4.71 40-yard dash prior to the 2024 season, earning him a spot on Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks” list. He had 26 TFL and 17.0 sacks in 61 career games. Heavy handed and violent, Mills steadily improved each season in South Bend as his role continued to expand. While some may view him and Shemar Turner as similar players, I say: if the Rams Offensive Philosophy when it comes to wide receivers is “get guys who can line up inside and outside”… couldn’t the same be said for defensive linemen in Jacksonville? Especially since, by all accounts, 2025 will probably be Arik Armstead’s last season in Jacksonville.
When I say “emotional leader,” I mean when Rylie Mills wasn’t able to fly to Notre Dame’s playoff game because of his injury, he and his family rented an RV and drove to Miami. That’s the type of “intangibly rich” football player Duval County needs, right? Dudes who simply can’t live without the sport.
One of my personal favorites in this year’s cornerback class, the Panhandle native is sticky and plays like he was shot out of a cannon. Whether it’s holding up on the boundary or coming up in run support, McWilliams takes pride in his tackling, a point of emphasis for Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. While he only had two interceptions in five years of college ball between UAB and UCF, McWilliams had 25 passes defended and his ability to both punch the ball out and play through the whistle were on full display at the Senior Bowl. He’s twitchy and instinctive, two things it is hard to teach.
At 5’10’’, many believe McWilliams would be better suited in the slot – which we know about the Jaguars DB Room already overflowing with nickel corners. If Campanile is to run a Brian Flores-style defense (3 of the 5 candidates for the DC job, including Campanile, had Flores ties), then that won’t matter as much. Just find sticky coverage defenders who aren’t afraid to tackle anywhere on the field. That defines McWilliams.
Okay so self-admitted: I was sorely disappointed when I polled scouts, staffers and executives around the league this week re: Lachey and the DISRESPECT for a beloved Iowa Hawkeye was across the board (omg did you know I used to work in Iowa!?).
I’m only half-kidding because while I do anticipate Lachey to be a late-Day 3 pick at this point of the pre-Draft process: it is very hard for me to wrap my head around given that, in 2022, I was told by multiple people in Iowa City that Lachey had a higher ceiling than his teammate Sam LaPorta. All LaPorta did in his first year with the Detroit Lions was break nearly every rookie tight end record there is. Granted, in the two years since that assessment of Lachey was given to me, he’s only been available for 15 games. The best ability is, of course, availability.
The son of former first-round pick and three-time All-Pro selection Jim Lachey, Luke Lachey has all the measurables and intangibles (“he has a servant’s heart” “genuinely one of the kindest souls you will meet”). He’s 6’6’’, 251 lbs with 32’’+ arms. You know who was 6’4’’, 247 lbs coming out of Iowa and fell to the fifth-round? The 49ers’ George Kittle. Like Lachey, Kittle missed time (and his production took a dive) due to a lingering foot injury suffered in the sink-hole that is West Lafayette, Indiana. It wasn’t surprising in 2017 to see NFL teams view Kittle as a blocking-first tight end (completely disregarding his 10 career touchdowns – but I digress). It was shocking to me to hear from a league executive that Lachey “would compete with the two free agents [Jacksonville] just signed” in Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt. Both are regarded as blocking-first tight ends in the NFL. While Lachey profiles as an in-line tight end, I saw him flex out enough at Iowa enough and carry a mediocre offense to the Citrus Bowl as one of their primary pass catchers to know he can play the “Y” role, too. And having watched almost every game he played in college, I believe blocking might be the area where Lachey has the most room to grow!
As my rant comes to a close, let me summarize in saying: I want to see what a healthy Luke Lachey can do with a quarterback who can throw the ball more than 15 yards downfield. The pedigree and flashes are worthy of a sixth-round dart throw. My one reservation: it has been echoed to me that the identity the Jaguars are seeking is one of “nasty, no-nonsense competition.” Lachey is a competitor. I just hope his kind leadership style is not interpreted the wrong way by all 32 clubs.
We end with a bang – literally. The undersized Reid is a lightning rod on and off the field. And comparatively to Lachey, this pick received praise from all who were polled this week.
While undersized at 6’0’’, 235 lbs, Reid’s motor never stops running. He stuffs the stat sheet. In four seasons at Utah, Reid had 238 total tackles (average of 60/year), 20 TFL, 9.0 sacks, three interceptions, 10 passes defended, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He’s seemingly always in the right place at the right time, plays with great technique/leverage, can be used on designated blitzes, and rallies to the football. His father, Spencer, played three years in the League before suffering a career-ending back injury. Reid was a two-time captain and two-time All Pac 12 selection at Utah.
“Reid has all the intangibles to be in the league for a while,” one scout said. “Not the biggest dude, but Reid’s athleticism and football character will strengthen the LB room and he’ll play on all the special teams units.”
With Chad Muma (and Devin Lloyd, for that matter) entering a contract year, Reid screams Heath Farwell’s next core-four special teams ace.
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 […]
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