There are two 2025 NFL draft prospects in particular that ESPN's Adam Schefter mentioned for the Jacksonville Jaguars at pick No. 5.
In a recent interview with News4Jax, one of the prospects that Schefter mentioned was Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham.
This one doesn't come as a surprise, given that the Jaguars have a huge need at defensive tackle. Graham is also widely considered the top defensive tackle prospect in this year's draft, and he's mocked to the Jaguars repeatedly since free agency began to wind down.
"The fifth pick there, they've got a lot of needs," Schefter said via Jaguars on SI. "There's a lot of different ways that they could go. I think the feeling across the league seems to be that they would lean defense," Schefter said. "They might lean defensive line. I think the name that you continue to see mocked there is Mason Graham, the Michigan defensive tackle. Don't think it would be a surprise if they went in that direction."
The other prospect that Schefter mentioned is Georgia linebacker and pass rusher Jalon Walker. There have been some mock drafts here and there that have the Jaguars taking Walker, but at least from the outside perspective, this would be more of an under-the-radar selection for the Jaguars.
"Think there's a lot of different ways they still could go. They could wind up using that pick on a pass rusher. It depends, of course, what goes on with the four picks in front of them. But yeah, I've heard the name Jalon Walker, the pass-rusher from Georgia, there as well," Schefter said.
Walker would add versatility to the Jaguars' defense, which is going to be a coveted trait in Anthony Campanile's adaptable defensive scheme. At Georgia, Walker played off-ball linebacker and rushed the passer off the edge.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein would note that Walker's leadership is "famous in the Georgia building," which is important to note, given that we've frequently heard GM James Gladstone discuss the importance of bringing in "intangibly rich" players.
To maximize Walker's versatility, Zierlein mentions using him as an early down linebacker and then as a blitzer or pass rusher on passing downs. In those instances, Walker and Josh Hines-Allen could rush from the defensive end positions, allowing Travon Walker to move inside on those downs.
"Those seem to be the two names that are most linked to them, Mason Graham, Jalon Walker, and obviously, we'll find out here in a couple of weeks which way they decided to go in the first draft for the new general manager of James Gladstone," Schefter added.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars 2025 NFL draft: Adam Schefter highlights 2 prospects to watch
