ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his first 2025 NFL mock draft on Wednesday. So who did he have the Jacksonville Jaguars taking?
Like many, Kiper has the Jaguars bolstering the interior defensive line with the fifth overall pick by taking Michigan’s Mason Graham.
Kiper added that he also considered taking cornerback Will Johnson to pair with Tyson Campbell or safety Malaki Starks if Andre Cisco leaves in free agency.
As PFF noted, from a measurables standpoint, Graham doesn’t align with past Trent Baalke draft picks. However, he’s consistent, wins his matchups, and plays with excellent technique.
“He wins with his technique, using leverage to beat interior offensive linemen,” wrote Kiper. “Graham could slide between Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen and wreak havoc from the inside.”
Graham was a productive pass rusher, totaling 34 pressures and five sacks during the 2024 season. However, his calling card in the middle of that Michigan defense was his ability as a run defender.
Graham would record the highest run defense grade among all interior defenders this past season, according to PFF’s metrics, and he was second in run-stop rate as well.
The Jaguars have a strong foundation along the defensive front with Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, and Arik Armstead returning, but need more steady production from the unit as a whole, particularly from the defensive tackle spot.
Success on defense often starts in the trenches. Slowing the run puts the offense behind the sticks and in predictable passing situations, while pressuring the quarterback is the name of the game.
Beyond the production that a high-caliber interior defender can bring on their own, that presence in the middle of a defense can open up opportunities and create advantageous matchups for other defenders with the attention that they draw from opposing offensive lines.
