4 Bold Predictions for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2024 NFL Draft

The Jaguars are going to be aggressive to get an instant playmaker on Thursday — and will address the trenches soon after.

With the 2024 NFL Draft almost here, I believe we’ll see the Jacksonville Jaguars be aggressive to fill important needs and take advantage of one of the better draft classes in recent years.

At this time last year, we saw general manager Trent Baalke do next to nothing in free agency and then trade back to select a zillion different players. This year, as we saw in free agency, the front office will take much bigger swings.

Here are four bold predictions on what we’ll see happen for the Jags in the coming days.

1) The Jaguars will make a splash to get Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, or Brandon Aiyuk

You don’t bring back a guy named Tom Gamble if you’re not ready to make some moves. As has been bantered about on local radio, Baalke knows his seat might be getting warm, and it’s time to get bold and give Trevor Lawrence the weapons he needs to succeed.

While the depth at wide receiver is good, and a guy like Brian Thomas Jr. may very well be sitting there at pick 17, Baalke isn’t going to pull any punches to get a potential star at the position. A move to the bottom of the top-10 for Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze shouldn’t be ruled out.

Another option is the Jags making a trade with Baalke and Gamble’s old team, the San Francisco 49ers, to acquire Brandon Aiyuk. The Josh Allen deal getting done with time to spare before the draft — not to mention 1010XL’s Mia O’Brien reporting discussions between the two teams on trade terms for Aiyuk — indicate the Jags could very well make a draft day move to get the 26-year-old All-Pro receiver.

2) Jacksonville will select a defensive tackle on Day 2

There were multiple reasons for the Jaguars’ late-season collapse, but a big one was their inability to stop the run. Although Allen has been re-signed and the team acquired veteran star Arik Armstead in free agency, they also cut Foley Fatukasi, leaving a rotational hole that needs to be filled in the middle.

Solidifying the defensive line is going to be a priority which means Baalke will use a second- or third-round selection to draft a player like Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr., Oregon’s Brandon Dorlus, or Duke’s DeWayne Carter.

3) The mid-rounds will be all about offensive line depth

With two picks in the fourth round (no. 114 and 116), the Jaguars will use one – and maybe even both – on the offensive line. The Florida Time-Union’s Demetrius Harvey laid this offensive line scenario, and it’s one I predict will happen.

The Jags made a significant free agency signing with veteran center Mitch Morse, and they’ll return a unit of starters around Morse who played very little together in 2023 due to injuries. With that said, the front office is going to use substantial draft capital to provide quality depth that can step in if one of the starters gets hurt.

4) The Jaguars will nab a kicker in the sixth round

Here’s the bold prediction nobody asked for, but the Jags need to solidify the kicker position. After an attempt to acquire Denver’s Will Lutz flamed out, the front office may be relatively aggressive — even after signing Carolina’s Joey Slye — in drafting a player like Stanford’s Joshua Karty, Missouri’s Harrison Mevis, or Alabama’s Will Reichard (the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader).

And yes, for your viewing pleasure, I’ve dropped four minutes of Reichard’s highlights. #YouAreWelcome