JACKSONVILLE – The defensive trend continues.
If there has been a constant when it comes to analysts and the Jaguars in the 2020 NFL Draft, it has been that most project a defensive player at No. 9 overall.
That trend continued this past week, with all seven analysts featured in the latest jaguars.com 2020 mock draft tracker – version 5.0 – projecting a defender with the first of the Jaguars' two '20 first-round selections.
The most popular projection at No. 9 this past week?
South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, who in January often was projected to the Jaguars at No. 20. His reputation has grown since that month's Senior Bowl, with three analysts this past week projecting him to the Jaguars at No. 9 overall.
"The Jaguars are in need of a versatile, high-upside piece along the interior and Javon Kinlaw fits the billing," Jordan Reid of the Draft Network wrote.
Two other analysts – Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus and Dan Kadar of SB Nation – projected Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown to the Jaguars. Renner projected Brown at No. 9 and Kadar projected the Jaguars trading up with the Carolina Panthers and selecting Brown No. 7.
"If Brown doesn't get selected in the first six picks, the Jaguars would be smart to jump up and not risk losing out on him," Kadar wrote.
Former Jaguars running back and current NFL.com analyst Maurice Jones-Drew projected the team selecting Clemson safety/linebacker Isaiah Simmons at No. 9 and Rotoworld's Thor Nystrom projected Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah – widely projected as a Top 5 selection – being available to the Jaguars there.
"What a steal! The Jags need a lockdown corner, and Okudah is the best this class has to offer," Nystrom wrote.
Wide receiver was a popular selection among analysts for the Jaguars' second first-round selection, with Jones-Drew and Renner projecting Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins to the Jaguars at No. 20 overall.
"Higgins reminds me of Houston Texans wide receiver] DeAndre Hopkins, as he routinely high-points the ball and wins against defenders by being physical,” Jones-Drew [wrote, with Renner writing: "The Jaguars don't have a wideout with true possession traits in their rotation at the moment, and no one is better in that area in this draft class than Higgins."
Other analysts projected the following players at No. 20: Alabama safety Xavier McKinney, Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson, Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs, Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs and Louisiana State cornerback Kristian Fulton.
"Ruggs in a nutshell: Explosion, explosion, explosion," Nystrom wrote.
Here's the fifth jaguars.com 2020 mock draft tracker:
No. 9 overall …
Mocker, Affiliation (Date): Player, position, school
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (2/12): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Jordan Reid, The Draft Network (2/12): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Thor Nystrom, Rotoworld (2/12): Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Maurice Jones-Drew, NFL.com analyst (2/11): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (2/11): Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (2/10): Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn (trade with Carolina to No. 7)
Eric Edholm, Yahoo Sports (2/10): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Kevin Hanson, Sports Illustrated (2/6): CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
R.J. White, CBSSports.com (2/6): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (2/5): Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (2/4): Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Nate Davis, USA Today (2/4): Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
Chad Reuter, NFL Media Draft Analyst (2/3): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Todd McShay, ESPN (2/3): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Matt Miller, Bleacher Report (2/3): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (2/3): Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/30): Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Lance Zierlein, NFL Media Draft Analyst (1/29): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/27): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (1/27): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (1/24): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Mel Kiper, ESPN (1/24): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media (1/21): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Kevin Hanson, MMQB (1/21): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (1/16): Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Luke Easterling, USA Today (1/14): Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/14): Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (1/14): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (1/14): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Vinny Iyer, Sporting News (1/14): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Luke Easterling, USA Today (1/13): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/9): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (1/9): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Bryan Fischer, Athlon Sports (1/7): CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (1/7): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/7): A.J. Epenesa, Edge, Iowa
Vinny Iyer, Sporting News (1/6): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/2): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Greg Bedard, Las Vegas Review-Journal (1/2): CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (1/1): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (12/31): Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (12/31): Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Luke Easterling, USA Today (12/30): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (12/30): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (12/30): Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
No. 20 overall …
Mocker, Affiliation (Date): Player, position, school
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (2/12): Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
Jordan Reid, The Draft Network (2/12): C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Thor Nystrom, Rotoworld (2/12): Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama
Maurice Jones-Drew, NFL.com analyst (2/11): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (2/11): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Eric Edholm, Yahoo Sports (2/10): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (2/10): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Kevin Hanson, Sports Illustrated (2/6): C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
R.J. White, CBSSports.com (2/6): Josh Jones, OT, Houston
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (2/5): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (2/4): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Nate Davis, USA Today (2/4): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Chad Reuter, NFL Media Draft Analyst (2/3): Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
Todd McShay, ESPN (2/3): Austin Jackson, OT, Southern California
Matt Miller, Bleacher Report (2/3): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (2/3): Justin Madubuike, DL, Texas A&M
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/30): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Lance Zierlein, NFL Media Draft Analyst (1/29): C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/27): C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com analyst (1/27): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (1/24): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Mel Kiper, ESPN (1/24): Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media (1/21): C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Kevin Hanson, MMQB (1/21): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (1/16): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Luke Easterling, USA Today (1/14): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (1/14): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/14): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (1/14): Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
Vinny Iyer, Sporting News (1/14): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Luke Easterling, USA Today (1/13): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/9): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (1/9): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Bryan Fischer, Athlon Sports (1/7): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Dan Kadar, SB Nation (1/7): Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (1/7): Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Vinny Iyer, Sporting News (1/6): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Josh Edwards, CBSSports.com (1/2): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Greg Bedard, Las Vegas Review-Journal (1/2): Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com (1/1): Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com (12/31): Austin Jackson, LT, Southern California
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (12/31): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Luke Easterling, USA Today (12/30): Kristian Fulton, CB, Louisiana State
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports (12/30): Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (12/30): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
