JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Round 1 (No. 1 overall)
Travon Walker, DE Georgia: What a year it’s been already for the 6-5, 272-pounder. After winning a national title with the Bulldogs, he took the NFL scouting combine by storm, laying down a 4.51second 40 time and posting a 351⁄2-inch vertical leap. Those physical traits and a sublime ability to move in space for such a big man have vaulted Walker from little-known lineman all the way to the top of this draft.
Round 1 (27, from Buccaneers) – Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: The Jags climb back into Round 1 for the Pac-12’s reigning defensive player of the year. Lloyd had seven sacks ands 22 TFLs for last year’s Pac-12 champions but is also stellar in coverage and the kind of leader this team needs on the defensive side of the ball. He’ll immediately fill the void created after LB Myles Jack was released in March.
Round 3 (65) – Luke Fortner, C, Kentucky: Jacksonville starts getting blocking help for QB Trevor Lawrence, and Fortner should take over for retired Brandon Linder.
Round 3 (70, from Panthers) – Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming: Jacksonville overhauls its linebacking corps after picking Devin Lloyd in Round 1. Muma had 115 tackles last year and is especially good against the run.
Round 5 (154, from Commanders through Eagles) – Snoop Conner, RB, Ole Miss
Round 6 (197, from Eagles) – Gregory Junior, CB, Ouachita Baptist
Round 7 (222) – Montaric Brown, CB, Arkansas
Grade: B
Roll of the dice with the No. 1 pick, and the Jaguars opted for Walker’s potential ahead of Aidan Hutchinson’s production. Time will tell. But you had to like general manager Trent Baalke coming back into the bottom of Round 1 to snag Lloyd 27th overall. He and QB Trevor Lawrence could/should lead this franchise for the next decade-plus. Thirdrounders Fortner and Muma are immediate starters.