{"id":873434,"date":"2026-04-24T10:45:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T10:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/873434\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T10:45:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T10:45:17","slug":"3-players-the-nfl-will-regret-letting-fall-into-jaguars-range-on-day-2-of-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/873434\/","title":{"rendered":"3 players the NFL will regret letting fall into Jaguars’ range on Day 2 of draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Jacksonville Jaguars were spectators on Thursday night<\/a> — but pleased ones. As someone who studies the draft for months, I am “jaw on the floor” stunned by some of the choices we saw in Pittsburgh during Round 1.<\/p>\n

The L.A. Rams chose Ty Simpson at No. 13 overall. Jacksonville’s divisional rival, Tennessee, produced an all-time stunner in the top five<\/a>. Then, two teams tried to draft USC’s Makai Lemon<\/a>. Seattle — curiously — took a running back with the last pick of the round.<\/p>\n

As a result of some of those shenanigans, the Jaguars probably don’t feel too down about missing the festivities. Armed with four picks on Day 2<\/a>, James Gladstone can get as aggressive as he wants to move up from the team’s initial selection (No. 56) and secure a player that was supposed to be drafted Thursday.<\/p>\n

Here are three players that Gladstone has to be working the phones to try and secure.<\/p>\n

Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State<\/p>\n

As I wrote Kayden McDonald’s draft profile<\/a> at Black & Teal, I wrote this phrase that has all of a sudden become reality:<\/p>\n

“Defensive tackle depth is arguably the Jags’ most important need, so if any of them fall further than expected, could a completely unexpected move be on the horizon? Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald would absolutely be that.”<\/p>\n

Austin Swaim, Black & Teal<\/p>\n

For reasons unknown to me, defensive tackles Caleb Banks and Peter Woods both went ahead of McDonald in Thursday’s first round. Woods is a shiftier 3-technique that represents almost a different position, but Banks is a nose that has battled severe foot issues since the start of the 2025 season<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Minnesota’s loss is Jacksonville’s win. The Jags are within striking distance of my No. 19 overall player<\/a> entering Thursday’s festivities, and the cost wouldn’t be great at this stage.<\/p>\n

Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan<\/p>\n

As anticipated, the depth of this year’s EDGE class worked against some of the top prospects going in Round 1.<\/p>\n

Clemson’s T.J. Parker, Missouri’s Zion Young, and Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell<\/a> tumbled to Day 2 and sit atop most “best available” lists. Without a trade, Jacksonville might be a bit too far back for any of those three, but it does bring into focus a target in the next tier of pass rushers: Michigan’s Derrick Moore.<\/p>\n

As mentioned in Derrick Moore’s draft profile<\/a>, it might behoove the team to address the position in Round 2 rather than wait, as defensive tackles, cornerbacks, and wide receivers could be available in the third:<\/p>\n

“Beyond [Moore] in the second round, you get to the range of more athletic projects, like USC’s Anthony Lucas, or smaller EDGEs with size concerns, like Texas Tech’s Romello Height. I would not wait when this is a sneaky need. The Jags finished the final four games, including the postseason loss, with just five total sacks. This group wore down from a lack of depth.”<\/p>\n

Austin Swaim, Black & Teal<\/p>\n

Moore’s significant experience in a four-man front in Ann Arbor — with 10.0 sacks last year — makes him an ideal depth piece behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.<\/p>\n

Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech<\/p>\n

I mentioned Jacob Rodriguez as a name that Jacksonville hoped to slide to Round 2 on Wednesday<\/a>. The league granted that wish.<\/p>\n

The uncertainty of losing Devin Lloyd in free agency and thrusting Ventrell Miller into a large role could certainly be eased if the Jags — even with the aid of a trade up the board — could lock down one of the most popular prospects in the draft.<\/p>\n

Rodriguez is a household name after forcing 11 turnovers at Texas Tech last year, and he was a star at the Senior Bowl before a surprising combine effort where he posted top-nine performances in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, and shuttle. He’s a better athlete than expected in addition to the playmaker you see on tape:<\/p>\n

JACOB RODRIGUEZ WITH THE INTERCEPTION<\/p>\n

He is doing it all today for @TexasTechFB<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/yfLiTd2bZW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 15, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Linebacker is loaded to the gills after just one (Sonny Styles) went in the first round. Georgia’s CJ Allen, Cincinnati’s Jake Golday, Texas A&M’s Anthony Hill Jr., and Missouri’s Josiah Trotter are all names the Jaguars could target on Day 2 if they get cold feet about the Miller expansion plan.<\/p>\n

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