Mock Draft Tracker 8.0: Another Name Rising

Mar 21, 2023 at 04:54 PM

John Oehser

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – Another name has emerged.

This name is at a position many see as a Jaguars position of need.

Cam Smith previously this offseason had been projected to the Jaguars at times in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft. This week, the South Carolina cornerback was projected to the team by four analysts in the eighth 2023 jaguars.com mock draft tracker.

Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus wrote that the Jaguars "will love Smith's fearless mentality."

Oliver Hodgkinson of Pro Football Network wrote that "Smith flashed his athleticism at the NFL Combine, quantifying the explosiveness, ability and speed that is apparent on his tape."

"Smith also plays the games with relentless physicality," Hodgkinson wrote, with Josh Edwards of CBS Sports writing that Smith "is capable of handling the transition to the NFL with ease."

With former Jaguars right tackle Jawaan Taylor signing as an unrestricted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs, offensive tackle remained a popular projection for the Jaguars in Round 1.

Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright and Ohio State offensive tackle Dawand Jones were mentioned as possibilities in Round 1 for the Jaguars, with two analysts projecting Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison there.

"Harrison is coming off a big year as a pass blocker, allowing just nine total pressures from 447 pass-blocking snaps; he has produced 80.0-plus PFF pass-blocking grades in each of the past two seasons," Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus wrote.

Tight end also remained a popular projection for the Jaguars in the first round, with Fox Sports projecting Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayers there.

"This is a sneaky-good tight end class," Fox wrote. "Jacksonville did a lot better last year than people thought and might not be all that far away from contention. Mayer is a very good tight end and could provide yet another option for quarterback Trevor Lawrence to wheel and deal."

Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network projected Alabama safety Brian Branch to the Jaguars in Round 1.

"Branch is still a spry short-area athlete with fluidity in the slot, relentless energy coming downhill, strong tackling ability, and the instincts to generate game-changing plays when the ball comes his way," Cummings wrote.

Joe Broback of Pro Football Network projected Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes there.

"Forbes is a ballhawk with a knack for getting the ball back to his offense; he just needs to add some weight to his frame to help him endure a tough NFL schedule," Broback wrote.

NOTE: The Jaguars are projected to hold the No. 25 selection in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins have forfeited the No. 21 selection, so the Jaguars hold the 24th selection.

Here's the eighth jaguars.com 2023 mock draft tracker:

Mocker, Affiliation (Date): Player, position, school

Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (3/20): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (3/18): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (3/18): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (3/16): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Oliver Hodgkinson, Pro Football Network (3/16): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus (3/16): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Fox Sports (3/14): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (3/16): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (3/14): Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (3/13): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Ryan Fowler, The Draft Network (3/13): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Gordon McGuinness, Pro Football Focus (3/13): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (3/13): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Cam Mellor, Pro Football Network (3/11): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (3/11): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
The 33rd team (3/11): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports (3/10): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (3/9): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (3/9): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Arif Hasan, Pro Football Network (3/9): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (3/8): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Fox Sports (3/8): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus (3/8): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (3/7): Joey Porter, CB, Penn State
Lance Zierlein, NFL Media Draft Analyst (3/7): Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (3/6): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Jamie Eisner, The Draft Network (3/6): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Nate Davis, USA Today (3/6): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (3/6): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Dalton Miller, Pro Football Network (3/4): Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (3/2): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (3/2): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (3/2): Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports (3/1): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (3/1): Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (2/28): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
James Fragoza, Pro Football Network (2/28): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (2/28): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (2/27): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Damian Parson, The Draft Network (2/27): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus (2/27): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (2/27): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (2/25): Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Arif Hasan, Pro Football Network (2/25): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M (No. 27, trade with BUF)
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (2/25): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports (2/24): O'Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (2/23): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (2/23): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (2/22): Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
Garrett Podell, CBS Sports (2/22): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network (2/21): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media Analyst (2/21): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
The 33rd team (2/20): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Nate Davis, USA Today (2/20): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Keith Sanchez, The Draft Network (2/20): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (2/19): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Kent Platte, Pro Football Network (2/18): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (2/17): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (2/16): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (2/16): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (2/16): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (2/16): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (2/16): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Benjamin Robinson, Football Outsiders (2/14): Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (2/14): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (2/13): Jordan Addison, WR, Southern California
Chad Reuter, NFL.com (2/13): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (2/13): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (2/13): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
The 33rd team (2/12): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (2/12): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Brentley Weissman, The Draft Network (2/12): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (2/11): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
James Fragoza, Pro Football Network (2/11): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (2/11): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports (2/10): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Cynthia Frelund, NFL.com (2/10): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (2/9): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Dalton Miller, Pro Football Network (2/9): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (2/8): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Ben Rolfe, Pro Football Network (2/7): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (2/7): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network (2/6): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The 33rd team (2/6): Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (2/5): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois (No. 16, trade w/Wash)
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (2/5): Broderick Jones, OL, Georgia
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (2/3): Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (2/3): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Eric Edholm, NFL.com (2/3): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (2/3): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (2/3): Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (2/2): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Arif Hasan, Pro Football Network (2/2): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (2/1): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (2/1): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
James Fragoza, Pro Football Network (1/31): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Bryan Fischer, Athlon Sports (1/31): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus (1/30): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (1/30): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Joe Marino, The Draft Network (1/30): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Mark Schofield, SB Nation (1/30): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic (1/30): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Luke Easterling, USA Today Draftwire (1/29): Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor
Oliver Hodgkinson, Pro Football Network (1/28): Tuli Tuipulotu
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (1/26): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Joe Broback, Pro Football Network (1/26): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Marcus Mosher, Pro Football Focus (1/26): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire (1/26): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (1/25): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (1/24): Rashee Rice, WR, Southern Methodist
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (1/23): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (1/23): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (1/23): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
The 33rd Team (1/23): Brian Branch, S/CB, Alabama
Damian Parson, The Draft Network (1/23): Rashee Rice, WR, Southern Methodist