Pair of Alabama players, potential Jags draft targets declare for draft
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Jacksonville’s pool of potential draft picks grew a bit over the last two days when a pair of Alabama Crimson Tide players and top prospects announced that they would be declaring for the 2022 NFL draft. Both offensive tackle Evan Neal, the best offensive line prospect in the draft, and Jameson Williams, one of the top receivers available, announced their intentions to forgo their remaining college eligibility.
If the Jaguars want to select Neal, they’ll likely have to do so with the first overall pick. It’s unlikely that he’s still on the board after the top five, as the versatile lineman was a consensus First Team All-American this season. He has started 39 games over the last three years at left guard, right guard, and left tackle. However, he mostly projects as a tackle at the NFL level.
Many expect the Jags to take one of the two talented edge rushers at the top of the class in Kayvon Thibodeaux or Aidan Hutchinson, but they could go in a different direction to help shore up quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s protection long term.
While they would need to take Neal with the first pick, the Jaguars could potentially get Williams later on. The Ohio State transfer had a breakout season this year for the Crimson Tide, leading the team with 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns. However, a stellar year ended on a sour note, as he tore his ACL in the team’s national championship loss to Georgia.
That recovery will certainly impact his draft stock, as he may not be available at the start of his rookie year. There’s still a good chance Williams ends up in the first round, but if he falls out, he would be an ideal selection for Jacksonville at the top of the second round. The team desperately needs receiver help, and Williams would provide a home-run option for this passing offense.
Both Neal and Williams were expected to declare, but now that it’s official, the Jags can begin to determine how they want to approach their first two picks in the upcoming draft.
