Could the Jaguars take a linebacker in Round 2? Here's a look at who might go.

Editor’s note: This is a multi-part series previewing each position group of need for the Jaguars prior to the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft on April 28.

True inside linebackers in a 3-4 or three of them in a 4-3 alignment have become among the most devalued NFL positions in recent years when it comes to high draft picks, roughly paralleling the need to draft a running back on the first day.

But with little experience on the roster at the position save for free-agent signee Foye Oluokun, the Jaguars could be tempted with either Nakobe Dean of Georgia or Devin Lloyd of Utah with the first pick of the second round if those players last that long.

Myles Jack and Damien Wilson are gone and aside from Oluokun, the only players with NFL experience are Shaq Quarterman and Chapelle Russell, both entering their third seasons with the Jags, and the well-traveled Tyrell Adams, who is with his seventh team in seven years.

Elijah Sullivan is with his third team in two years and has yet to play a down in the NFL. Quarterman, Russell, Adams and Sullivan have combined for 13 NFL starts — 12 by Adams.

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Based on analysts, rankings and various mock drafts, there seem to be only a handful of true linebackers who have a chance to go in the first two days of the draft: Georgia's Nakobe Dean (6 feet, 226 pounds), the Butkus Award winner, Utah's Devin Lloyd (6-3, 235) and possibly Dean's teammate, Quay Walker (6-4, 240).

Mel Kiper and Todd McShay of ESPN have Dean and Lloyd going in the first round, but differ on the position. Kiper is mocking Lloyd to Philadelphia with the 18th pick (in a trade with New Orleans) and Dean to Detroit with the 32nd pick; and McShay has the Eagles nabbing Dean and New England jumping on Lloyd with the 21st selection.

Four mock drafters for CBSsports.com all have Lloyd going in the first round, with two picking Dean and two of the belief that Dean will fall to the second round.

Dean and Lloyd are 1 and 1A for a reason: both can play the run and the pass and are projected as every-down players.

Dean had 72 tackles, 10.5 for losses, six sacks, 28 hurries, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. The only rap on him is his size.

“I don’t shy from it,” the 6-foot-tall Dean told the Athens Banner-Herald recently. “Everybody can see me, but everybody will get my measurement. So it is what it is.”

Lloyd had 110 tackles, 22 for losses, eight sacks and four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

One of them is not likely to get past the Eagles at No. 15, who covet a big-play linebacker. If Lloyd is the first linebacker taken, Dean may not last past Detroit with the final pick of the first round, since his only pre-draft visit to this point has been with the Lions.

A few of the linebacker prospects are project to play inside in a 3-4 or the middle or outside in a 4-3, such as Dean, Harris, Clark and Brandon Smith of Penn State (6-4, 250).

The good news for the Jaguars is that if they want to take a linebacker with their second-round pick or one of the two third-round selections, there should be plenty of solid players available beyond Dean and Lloyd.

There are several linebackers from the SEC available, such as Dean's teammate, Quay Walker (6-4, 240), who ran a 4.52 40-yard dash and is a good blitzer from the inside; Christian Harris from Alabama (6-2, 232), whose strength is as a run-stopper; Damone Clark of LSU (6-3, 240), solid against the run; Grant Morgan of Arkansas (5-11, 235), who led the SEC in tackles in 2020; and Zakoby McClain of Auburn (5-11, 221).

Another possibility is Florida's Jeremiah Moon (6-5, 245), who moved to the inside after Ventrell Miller was hurt.

The top linebackers outside the SEC, based on a consensus of several draft services, include Wyoming's Chad Muma (6-3, 239), who was second in the nation in tackles; two Wisconsin players, Leo Chenal (6-3, 250) and Jack Sanborn (6-2, 234); and Michigan's Josh Ross (6-0, 227).

There's a wild card linebacker in the draft, if the Jags want to grab an exceptional athlete for a long-term project. Troy Andersen of Montana State (6-4, 243) was an All-Big Sky quarterback in 2018, rushing for 1,412 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was moved to linebacker the next year and last season was the conference defensive player of the year with 147 tackles, 14 for loss.

He also played running back and punted for Montana State. Anderson stood out at the Senior Bowl and led all linebackers at the NFL Combine in the 40-yard dash at 4.41 and posted the best combined numbers in the athletic skills tests.

NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah isn't sure the team that takes Andersen will need much time to turn him into an NFL linebacker from an FCS program.

“He’s going to be a day one starter at linebacker,” Jeremiah said on the NFL Network. “In the fall, he was outstanding. Went to the Senior Bowl and was one of the better players down there. Then he comes out here and runs a 4.4. He’s eliminating any kind of questions you could have about his ability to come in and make an impact right now.”

Top-five projected linebackers

5. Damone Clark

Height: 6-3

Weight: 240

School: LSU

Year: Senior

Quick take: Excelled against the run and was fourth in the NCAA FBS with 135 tackles, with 15.5 for losses. He added 5.5 sacks, intercepted a pass, broke up three and forced two fumbles. He may not be able to contribute in 2022 because of spinal fusion surgery in March.

4. Christian Harris

Height: 6-2

Weight: 232

School: Alabama

Year: Junior

Quick take: Can play inside and out but his strength in college was as a run-thumper. However, he's a good blitzer and five of his 10 career sacks came in the SEC championship or CFP bowl games. Logged 12.5 tackles for losses and 5.5 sacks last year.

3. Quay Walker

Height: 6-4

Weight: 241

School: Georgia

Year: Senior

Quick take: Paid his dues by playing special teams and as a reserve on defense and finally nailed down a starting job last year. Unlike his teammate Nakobe Dean, he ran the 40-yard dash at the Combine with a 4.52.

2. Nakobe Dean

Height: 6-0

Weight: 225

School: Georgia

Year: Junior

Quick take: Has the ability to play in the middle in a 4-3 or 3-4, and on the outside in a 4-3. Made the first-team All-American and SEC teams and won the Butkus Award. He was relentless both rushing the passer (28 hurries, six sacks) and in coverage (two interceptions, six break-ups.

1. Devin Lloyd

Height: 6-3

Weight: 227

School: Utah

Year: Redshirt senior

Quick take: Made a ton of big plays for the Pac-12 champions on his way to first-team All-American, including 22 tackles for losses and eight sacks. Has the ability to play all three linebacker positions in a 4-3.

Don't miss any of the picks:

What: 2022 NFL Draft

When:

• Round 1: Thursday, April 28, 8 p.m.

• Round 2-3: Friday, April 29, 7 p.m.

• Round 4-7: Saturday, April 30, noon

TV: All three rounds can be seen on ESPN and NFL Network

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Which linebacker will Jaguars take in NFL Draft second round?