Version 3.0 of our NFL Wire editors' mock draft is live, and for the Jacksonville Jaguars, just like many others out there, I went with Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham at pick No. 5.
Let's discuss why.
While I may have selected Graham as many mock have the Jaguars doing, if Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter aren't available at pick No. 5, I am really flexible with this selection. Meaning that I don't have to have Graham. So what I attempted to do was trade down from the fifth pick. Ideally, I wanted to land in the 9-11 range. However, nothing value-wise materialized where it made sense to do that.
So instead, I went with who I thought was the best player at a position that is a big need for the Jaguars and took Graham. This was a defensive front in 2024 that ranked 32nd in ESPN's pass rush win rate and 27th in run stop rate, and is a unit that GM James Gladstone said he wanted to prioritize this offseason.
The Jaguars have a strong foundation up front, but at a heavily rotated position group, improved depth is needed.
"I think ultimately, you’re looking to add some competition in there," Coen said via Big Cat Country. "We’ve got some really good players down there. I think we’ve got three first-rounders on our defensive line currently.
"Three guys that are going to have some good years, hopefully. They’re hoping to elevate that room. We’ll continue to evaluate it, but absolutely, you’re looking to add somebody to the D-line however that thing plays out, inside or outside.”
Graham made noise as a pass rusher last season, totaling 34 pressures and five sacks, according to PFF. But his greatest impact came against the run, where he ranked first in PFF's run defense grade and second in run-stop rate among all interior defenders.
As we saw in the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, a strong interior presence can be game-changing. Having a player who consistently generates push, eats up space, and occupies blockers benefits the 10 other defenders on the football field.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: NFL draft: Why Jaguars picked Mason Graham in latest NFL Wire mock
