Times-Union 2023 NFL mock draft 2.0: Jacksonville Jaguars go big early and often

With free agency essentially in the rear-view mirror, the Jaguars will look toward this month's NFL Draft to continue building a competitive roster.

The Jaguars will make their first selection with the 24th-overall pick on April 27. Jacksonville earned the selection after winning the AFC South, then defeating the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The team finished with a 10-9 overall record (9-8 regular season) after falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Jacksonville would have selected 25th-overall, however the Miami Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick after the league found the team violated NFL policies relating to the integrity of the game, which included impermissible communications with quarterback Tom Brady in 2019-20.

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The Jaguars made two first-round picks in both the 2021 and 2022 NFL Drafts. Last year, the team selected outside linebacker/defensive lineman Travon Walker with the first-overall pick before selecting linebacker Devin Lloyd with the 29th-overall pick after trading up from the second round.

In 2021, the Jaguars picked quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first-overall pick before selecting running back Travis Etienne at No. 25.

The Jaguars have been relatively quiet in free agency, bringing back key players while signing five outside targets, none of which are expected to start this upcoming season.

Still, what the team did (or didn't do) in free agency could signal what they might do in this year's draft.

With that, here's the second mock draft of the Times-Union, excluding players selected in our previous version while focusing on players the team would likely be interested in.

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

1st round (24th overall): O'Cyrus Torrence, Guard, Florida

Torrence, 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, was one of the best offensive linemen in the country last year for the Florida Gators. Torrence transferred to Florida after starring for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns for three years.

The Jaguars will enter this year's draft with some uncertainty at guard. Last year's starter, Ben Bartch, was injured just five games into the 2022 season, forcing veteran Tyler Shatley to take the reins. While Shatley (6-3, 310) performed well in his duties, the Jaguars want to get bigger up front and Torrence will easily do that as one of the largest humans in the class.

The Jaguars have already met with Torrence at the NFL Combine and were in attendance for all of Florida's home games this year.

Career stats: Zero sacks, one hit and 24 hurries allowed in four years (Pro Football Focus).

2nd round (56th overall): Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech

The Jaguars have made it clear they want to get better in the pass-rush department. Enter White at 6-foot-5, 285 pounds. He fits the mold as not only a premium edge setter but also can move inside.

His athleticism sets him apart. White jumped 34 inches in the vertical at this year's Combine, and ranked fourth among EDGE players, according to NFL.com. At his Pro Day in March, scouts timed him between 4.65 and 4.75 seconds.

White's drawback is his age. He's 24 years old. After playing tight end at Old Dominion during his freshman year, he moved to defensive end. He transferred to Georgia Tech after the 2020 season and missed most of 2021 with an ankle injury. He earned All-ACC in 2022 after totaling 54 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

The Jaguars have reportedly already met with White, according to a report by The Draft Network.

Career stats: 79 tackles, 12 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, 88 total pressures in 606 pass-rush snaps (PFF). Added 33.5 tackles for loss.

3rd round (88th overall): Anthony Johnson Jr., DB, Iowa State

A versatile piece for the Cyclones, Johnson would be an interesting player in this slot for Jacksonville. Johnson moved to safety in his last season at Iowa State after playing on the boundary.

His transition enabled him to play more in the slot, giving him an even better chance at playing there in the pros. According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson played 245 snaps in the slot last season, nearly identical to his in-the-box play at 258 snaps.

His physicality (6-foot, 205 pounds) and speed (4.54) give him an edge and he could become the Jaguars' starting nickel this season.

Career stats: 193 tackles, 57.7 percent completion percentage allowed, 18 pass breakups, two interceptions (PFF).

4th round (121st overall): Colby Wooden, DL, Auburn

Another player the Jaguars have already met with, Wooden makes a ton of sense in the middle rounds. Wooden, 6-foot-4, 273 pounds, could take the role left vacant by Jaguars DL Dawuane Smoot, who remains a free agent as of Sunday.

Though Wooden appears to be a redundant selection with White already on board, the Jaguars cannot have enough players on the defensive line, and Wooden packs a punch as a versatile run defender and edge setter. He adds depth behind Roy Robertson-Harris, White and Walker.

Career stats: 95 tackles, 101 pressures, 17 sacks, 16 quarterback hits (PFF). Added 29.5 tackles for loss in 40 games.

4th round (127th overall): Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas

The Jaguars added running back D'Ernest Johnson in free agency, but that doesn't mean they are finished with the group.

Jacksonville's rushing attack needs help behind starter Travis Etienne and third-down back JaMycal Hasty.

At 6-foot, 219 pounds, Johnson is a bigger back who has solid athleticism after running a 4.58 40-yard dash at the Combine to go with his 31.5-inch vertical jump. Johnson could be a steal at this point in the draft.

Career stats: 392 rushing attempts, 2,190 yards and 23 touchdowns in four years.

6th round (185th overall): BJ Wilson, OL, Quincy

Perhaps one of the biggest sleepers in this year's draft, Wilson is also one of the biggest players.

At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, the incredibly long (37-inch arms) tackle from "small-school" Division II Quincy University is going to be one of the most interesting players this year.

Wilson moved to the offensive line after originally entering the school as a tight end. Last year, Wilson was thought to have run a 5.2 40-yard dash and a 4.7 pro agility shuttle, showing off his impressive athleticism.

The Jaguars are among the teams that have reportedly spoken to the tackle prospect this offseason and it wouldn't be surprising to see them pull the trigger this late.

Career stats: Not available — 42 games played.

6th round (202nd overall): Starling Thomas V, DB, UAB

Another intriguing player, Thomas, 5-foot-10, 194 pounds, finished as a First Team All-Conference USA cornerback prospect after posting a team-high 15 pass breakups, ranking in the top five in Conference USA. He missed the 2020 season due to injury but has played and started in 26 games over the past two years.

Thomas also has played as a punt and kick returner, totaling 10 punt returns last season for 51 total yards and three kick returns for 45 total yards.

Thomas posted one of the best 40 times among all defensive backs this year with a 4.38-second 40-yard-dash, though he did not take part in the Combine, only able to perform drills at UAB's pro day. Thomas also posted a 37.5-inch vertical jump, showing off his explosion.

The Jaguars will select multiple defensive backs this year and Thomas should be considered one of the options late.

Career stats: 49 games played, two interceptions, 65 solo tackles, 28 pass breakups, 21 punt returns, 157 yards (7.5 yards per return)

6th round (208th overall): Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati

After losing tight end Chris Manhertz to the Denver Broncos earlier this offseason and allowing TE Dan Arnold to continue testing the waters, the Jaguars are thin at the TE position.

It's very possible and perhaps likely the team will draft this position earlier than the sixth round, but with how the mock draft board fell, Whyle was one of the last remaining options available. Still, he's worthy of the selection as an athletic TE, who actually compares to Arnold a bit at 6-foot-2, 248 pounds.

Whyle can slot in as an option after Evan Engram and Luke Farrell, while eventually taking over for Farrell down the road. The Jaguars can still add to this position in free agency.

Career stats: 37 games played, 88 receptions, 1,062 yards, 15 touchdowns. Posted 28 receptions for 353 yards and six touchdowns in 2020 (career highs).

7th round (228th overall): Jacob Copeland, WR, Maryland

Copeland, a former Florida Gator, transferred to Maryland for his final year in college.

Copeland has a solid ceiling given his size at 5-foot-11, 201 pounds and speed after posting a 4.42 40-yard dash at the Combine.

He is an explosive athlete who will require a lot of work but has shined at times, showing off his physicality in the middle of the field. The Jaguars likely want to add a receiver at some point, but it will be in the latter rounds.

Career stats: 44 games played in five years, 112 receptions, 1,742 yards and 11 touchdowns. Posted career highs in 2021: 41 receptions, 642 yards and four touchdowns.

Click here to view last month's mock draft.

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: Jaguars 2023 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Predicting nine picks in seven rounds