Times-Union 2023 NFL mock draft: Jacksonville Jaguars load up on depth, create competition

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in the midst of a different type of offseason than in years past. While the team still has plenty of needs, they'll be selecting near the bottom of the draft for the first time since the 2018 NFL Draft.

For the better part two decades, the Jaguars have selected in the top 10, making it a bit easier to see what prospects could fall to them for the selection.

In last year's draft, the Jaguars went defense early while taking a couple of offensive players in the middle and latter portions of the draft. This year could be a similar spin in Round 1, but will likely be more offensive-focused as the team looks to continue building around Trevor Lawrence.

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With that said, following the NFL Combine there are fewer questions about what direction the team might be headed in now that the roster is beginning to settle just prior to the new league year and free agency.

Here is how we see it potentially playing out for the Jaguars in the draft come April.

Note: For the purposes of this mock draft we assumed no trades.

1st round (24th overall): Brian Branch, DB, Alabama

Branch, 6-foot, 190 pounds, isn't likely to make it this far in the draft, but if he does, Jacksonville ought to have the league office on the phone immediately when their pick is called. He comes in as one of the top defensive backs in the draft and has one of the highest production grades among all prospects, according to NFL.com.

Branch's athleticism isn't too shabby, either. He ran a 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds while jumping 34.5 inches in the vertical jump and 10 feet-5 inches in the broad jump.

Branch offers a versatility that Jacksonville needed last year when the team was sorting through its depth at the cornerback position and now they'll have a long-term starter who can play multiple positions, including nickel — his primary role at Alabama.

2022 stats: 90 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.

2nd round (56th overall): Matthew Bergeron, OL, Syracuse

Bergeron, 6-foot-5, 318 pounds, started five games as a freshman at Syracuse, becoming the first to start outside for the Orange in 20 years. He has played both sides of the ball, including 31 games at left tackle from 2020-22. He started eight games at right tackle over the course of his career.

For Jacksonville, the team will very likely be looking to land a tackle early on in the process. Though he does not possess incredible arm length (33 3/4 inches), he makes up for it with his versatility and athleticism.

The Jaguars are likely to allow right tackle Jawaan Taylor to walk via free agency and having insurance at the tackle and, potentially, guard positions is a must.

2022 stats: 80.8 pass-blocking grade, 69.0 run-blocking grade, five sacks, four hits and 12 total pressures allowed, per Pro Football Focus.

3rd round (88th overall): Karl Brooks, DL, Bowling Green

Brooks, 6-foot-4, 303 pounds likely doesn't fit the mold of defensive lineman that general manager Trent Baalke will be looking for, but the ability of the player could outweigh any of that.

Coming out of Bowling Green, Brooks has stayed under the radar, unable to attain an NFL Combine invite. Still, he showcased his skills at the Senior Bowl earlier this year and has the ability to play both inside and out in the Jaguars' scheme that has yet to be fully realized under defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell.

2022 stats: 36 stops, eight sacks and 69 total pressures.

4th round (121st overall): Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan

Shoonmaker, 6-foot-5, 251 pounds could be the perfect complement to Evan Engram as an in-line blocker and receiver at the tight end position. With his athleticism (rated sixth among tight ends at the Combine per NFL.com), Soonmaker appears to have all of the traits needed in a second-option tight end with plenty of upside.

Shoonmaker has shown an ability to sustain blocks while at Michigan and might need some time to refine some of his skills, but could fill in nicely as the Jaguars look to add depth at the position. Jacksonville is likely to move on from TE Dan Arnold and could use another receiving option that adds value as a blocker.

2022 stats: 35 receptions, 418 yards and three touchdowns

4th round (127th overall): Chase Brown, RB, Illinois

Brown, 5-foot-9, 209 pounds, is a compact, explosive and fast athlete that could add value to Jacksonville's backfield. He is a one-cut runner that has the vision needed to perform well in Jacksonville's scheme.

Though the team drafted Snoop Conner in the fifth round of last year's draft, there's no question the team is looking for another answer behind both Travis Etienne and JaMycal Hasty.

Brown had one of the best workouts of any RB at the Combine, running a 4.43 40-yard dash and jumping 40 inches in the vertical jump. He had nine-straight 100-plus-yard performances in 2022 and is a prototypical downhill rusher.

2022 stats: 329 rushes, 1,632 yards, 10 touchdowns and 935 rushing yards after contact.

6th round (185th overall): McClendon Curtis, OL, Chattanooga

It's possible Curtis doesn't make it this far. At 6-foot-6, 324 pounds and with 35-inch arms, he possesses all of the traits that Baalke likely looks for in an offensive guard and could provide depth for the team while they look for an eventual replacement for Brandon Scherff.

The Jaguars reportedly met with Curtis at the Senior Bowl and sent scouts to a slew of Chattanooga games this season, likely to get a closer look at him.

2022 stats: 90.9 pass-blocking grade, 80.3 run-blocking grade, zero sacks and seven pressures allowed, per PFF.

6th round (202nd overall): Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia

Ford-Weaton, 6-foot-4, 221 pounds can fly. At this point in the draft, it makes sense to just target incredible athletes and hope they pan out.

Ford-Wheaton is exactly that and he performed about as well as any receiver that has ever participated at the NFL Combine. He jumped 41 inches in the vertical jump and ran a 4.38 40-yard dash. It isn't a marker of a great NFL player, but it's a start.

Though he didn't produce at the level of a player with those measurables, he played in an offense that continues to rebuild without much help coming his way through five years at West Virginia.

2022 stats: 62 receptions, 675 yards and seven touchdowns.

6th round (208th overall): Cameron Brown, CB, Ohio State

Brown, 6-foot, 199 pounds, was probably one of the most confident players at the Combine, but he did not participate in any drills, only there for medical evaluation, interviews and media appearances.

Still, the former Buckeye has solid size and athleticism to compete as a depth player at the next level. The Jaguars will always draft defensive backs and this year is no different.

Brown will likely be selected late due to consistency and durability issues throughout his career at Ohio State. He will participate in drills during Ohio State's Pro Day later this month.

2022 stats: 14 tackles, five pass breakups

7th round (228th overall): Will Mallory, TE, Miami

Mallory, 6-foot-4, 239 pounds hails from Jacksonville. He attended Providence School of Jacksonville and is the son of former Jaguars special teams coach Mike Mallory.

While none of that means much today, it would still make sense for Jacksonville to target another tight end with their final pick in the draft, especially if that player has ties to the city. Mallory led all tight ends at the Combine with a 4.54 40-yard dash and jumped 36.5 inches in the vertical jump.

2022 stats: 42 receptions, 538 yards and three touchdowns

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @Demetrius82.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 2023 NFL mock draft: Jaguars seven-round mock offers team depth