Mock Draft Tracker 8.0: A Post-Combine Buzz for Defense

Mar 04, 2024 at 03:18 PM

John Oehser

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – The post-combine buzz has a defensive feel.

This is the eighth 2024 jaguars.com mock draft tracker – and after last week's '24 NFL Scouting Combine, analysts in this week's tracker emphasized defensive line and secondary for the Jaguars at No. 17 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The most prominent Round 1 projection for the Jaguars this week: Byron Murphy II, a defensive lineman from the University of Texas.

"The Texas standout enjoyed his best year in college football in 2023, racking up 45 total pressures on 273 pass-rushing snaps," Gordon McGuiness of Pro Football Focus wrote, with Kyle Stackpole of CBS Sports writing, "The Jaguars need to get more pressure from the interior defensive line, and Murphy can be that guy."

Garrett Podell of CBS Sports wrote of Murphy: "He had the highest quarterback pressure rate (17.0 percent) by an FBS defensive tackle last season (minimum 250 pass rushes) as well as the highest Pro Football Focus pass rush grade (91.5) by an FBS defensive tackle in 2023."

Also projected to the Jaguars by multiple analysts this week: Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.

"Quinyon Mitchell has been one of the biggest winners of the draft cycle, showing well at the Senior Bowl and then showcasing that he is a high-caliber athlete at the NFL Combine," Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network wrote, with Owain Jones of Pro Football Network writing, "With instant speed, lurking coverage ability, and robust physicality, Mitchell can be a lockdown corner at the next level and the ideal complement alongside Tyson Campbell in Jacksonville."

Also projected to the Jaguars at No. 17 in this week's tracker: Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold, Illinois defensive lineman Jer'Zhan Newton, Louisiana State wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham.

"Wiggins possesses the athleticism and skills to thrive in a system that extensively features bump-and-run coverage on the perimeter," Jaguars and NFL Media Analyst Bucky Brooks wrote.

"Brian Thomas Jr. has one of the most unique athletic profiles in this draft class; he has the potential to emerge as one of the best receivers in this draft class," Josh Edwards of CBS wrote.

Here's the seventh jaguars.com 2024 mock draft tracker:

Mocker, Affiliation: Player, position, school

MARCH 4:

Keith Sanchez, The Draft Network: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Gordon McGuiness, Pro Football Focus: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Luke Easterling, Sports Illustrated: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

MARCH 3:

Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas

MARCH 2:

Owain Jones, Pro Football Network: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Louisiana State
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois

FEBRUARY 29:

Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Garrett Podell, CBS Sports: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas

FEBRUARY 27:

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

FEBRUARY 26:

Connor Livesay, The 33rd Team: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Louisiana State

FEBRUARY 25:

Brentley Weismann, The Draft Network: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon

FEBRUARY 24:

A.J. Schulte, Pro Football Network: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

FEBRUARY 23:

Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Louisiana State

FEBRUARY 22:

Gennaro Filice, NFL.com: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Louisiana State
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

FEBRUARY 20:

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

FEBRUARY 19:

Marcus Mosher, The 33rd Team: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

FEBRUARY 18:

Blake Brockermeyer, 247: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Ryan Fowler, The Draft Network: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas

FEBRUARY 17:

Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

FEBRUARY 16:

Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports: Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
Dan Parr, NFL.com: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas

FEBRUARY 15:

Josh Edwards, CBS Sports: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: Brian Thomas, WR, Louisiana State
Garrett Podell, CBS Sports: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Louisiana State

FEBRUARY 14:

Benjamin Solak, The Ringer: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas

FEBRUARY 12:

Connor Livesay, The 33rd Team: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Chad Reuter, NFL Media Draft Analyst: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Louisiana State
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon

FEBRUARY 9:

Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Louisiana State
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
Cynthia Frelund, NFL Network Analytics Department: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

FEBRUARY 8:

Joe Broback, Pro Football Network: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Louisiana State

FEBRUARY 7:

Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
Owain Jones, Pro Football Network: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Lorenzo Reyna, Pro Football Network: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

FEBRUARY 6:

Oliver Hodgkinson, Pro Football Network: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Connor Livesay, The 33rd Team: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

FEBRUARY 5:

Will Helms, Pro Football Network: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Lance Zierlein, NFL Media Draft Analyst: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Matt Miller, ESPN: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Trevor Sikkema/Connor Rogers, Pro Football Focus: Brian Thomas, WR, Louisiana State
Tony Catalina, Pro Football Network: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

FEBRUARY 4: