Has Ikem Ekwonu going number one. I’ve said many times I can’t see Neal going #1 overall, but Ekwonu’s a different story. He’s a manimal. Brugler also says many of the scouts he talked to have him ranked higher.
Jaguars take NC State tackle Ikem Ekwonu with No. 1 pick in Dane Brugler’s latest NFL mock draft. Brugler also has three quarterbacks going in the first round: Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, Ole Miss’ Matt Corral, North Carolina’s Sam Howell
With the first pick in The Athletic’s latest NFL mock draft from expert Dane Brugler, the Jacksonville Jaguars select North Carolina State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu.
Brugler said with no clear-cut top prospect, going with an offensive tackle might be the smartest choice as the position, according to several draft evalutors, is stronger than the pass-rusher group, which includes Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson and Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux.
“A three-year starter at NC State, Ekwonu has impressive movements for his size and generates extraordinary explosion at contact,” Brugler said. “He lacks refinement and is guilty of over-setting, but he is nimble, powerful and should get better and better as his technique and awareness mature. Ekwonu’s tape shows a tackle who can also play guard, not the other way around.”
Brugler also has three quarterbacks going in the first round: Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, Ole Miss’ Matt Corral and North Carolina’s Sam Howell.
Our picks were Hutchinson, Olave, and Roger McCreary. I wouldn’t hate it. Love getting Hutch. Olave’s not my favorite option at WR but the board really worked against us, really like McCreary, surprised he lasted that long.
Yeah, I saw that mock this morning and I trust it more than anyone who mocks us a QB in the first 3 picks.
I like Olave with Goff because he’ll get open when and where he’s supposed to–in my ferverish mind at least. He’ll need to block with Lions and develop in that area. Hutch check. Taking McCreary: Do we transition JO to safety with Iffy and 2-4 looking good at CB?
Jags have to protect Lawrence. If he has a 2nd rough season, the bust drums will get deafening and the pressure goes way up.
Their only priority is to get Lawrence to be the guy they think he was a year ago. Better OL, add back Etienne, and hopefully a new culture will get Chennault and Marvin involved the right way.
They could go WR at 2.33 as well…deep class, probably lose Chark, Marvin has just a couple years left…
After Day 2 of the draft I want to read that we took 3 impact players, because it means that here and now is important to this team. We can build, “the right way”, meaning for the future but that doesn’t preclude us from building for today. We don’t have to reach to get players who fit our needs. DE, WR. LB and Safety… I absolutely believe that there will be players available to fill those needs and don’t require us to reach to make it happen. These guys are going to change their drafts 50x between now and actual draft day, our focus should remain steady.