JACKSONVILLE – We'll again move past No. 1 with little delay.
It's not that the Jaguars absolutely will select Clemson University quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, it's just that for the purposes of this second 2021 jaguars.com mock draft we see little reason to select anyone else.
Analysts consider Lawrence that much of a certainty to go No. 1 – at least until the Jaguars' new decision-makers officially indicate otherwise.
So, as was the case in the first jaguars.com mock draft – released in mid-January – we'll spend most of our time in Version 2.0 focused on the Jaguars' second selection. That's the No. 25 selection overall in Round 1, which they received from the Los Angeles Rams in the 2019 trade involving cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Most recent mock drafts project the Jaguars selecting defensive tackle, offensive tackle or cornerback here. You see wide receiver mentioned as a possibility here, too – with the idea to get the rookie quarterback weapons with which to work.
Defensive tackle remains perhaps the trickiest position to project for the Jaguars in the draft. The position appears to be a need, with the team struggling against the run in recent seasons. But most analysts will tell you this is a down year for defensive tackle in the draft.
Still, for the purposes of this second mock, we'll lean toward defensive tackle at No. 25 overall. After projecting Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon to the Jaguars there in mid-January, we'll change up and make a different selection this week. The selection:
Christian Barmore, defensive tackle, Alabama.
Barmore (6-feet-5, 311 pounds) had a strong performance for the Crimson Tide in the postseason, helping Alabama to the national title. He has pass rush skills and can disrupt at the line of scrimmage. He projects according to many analysts more as a three-technique than a pure nose tackle and is considered a better pass rusher than run stopper.
That's the projection for now, and that's all it is – a projection. But could you see a team that needs depth and front-line ability along the defensive interior invest in Barmore? Yeah, you could see it. And that's the selection at No. 25 in this mock.
Here's a look at the entire second jaguars.com 2021 mock draft:
1.Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15) | Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
2.New York Jets (2-14) | Zach Wilson, QB, Brigham Young
3.Miami Dolphins (via Houston) | Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Louisiana State
4.Atlanta Falcons (4-12) | Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
5.Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1) | Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
6.Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1) | Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
7.Detroit Lions (5-11) | Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
8.Carolina Panthers (5-11) | Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
9.Denver Broncos (5-11) | Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
10.Dallas Cowboys (6-10) | Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
11.New York Giants (6-10) | Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
12.San Francisco 49ers (6-10) | Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
13.Los Angeles Chargers (7-9) | Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT, Southern California
14.Minnesota Vikings (7-9) | Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami (Fla.)
15.New England Patriots (7-9) | Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
16.Arizona Cardinals (8-8) | Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan
17.Las Vegas Raiders (8-8) | Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
18.Miami Dolphins (10-6) | Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
19.Washington Football Team (7-9) | Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
20.Chicago Bears (8-8) | Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
21.Indianapolis Colts (11-5) | Azeez Ojulari, Edge, Georgia
22.Tennessee Titans (11-5) | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
23.New York Jets (via Seattle) | Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
24.Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) | Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
25.Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles Rams) | Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
26.Cleveland Browns (11-5) | Trevon Moehrig, S, Texas Christian
27.Baltimore Ravens (11-5) | Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, Louisiana State
28.New Orleans Saints (12-4) | Derion Kendrick, CB, Clemson
29.Green Bay Packers (13-3) | Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
30.Buffalo Bills (13-3) | Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
31.Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) | Jayson Oweh, Edge, Penn State
32.Kansas City Chiefs (14-2) | Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida