The Jaguars have several different positions that they’ll need to add to this offseason, but with the fifth pick in a recent mock draft from Danny Kelly of The Ringer, Jacksonville goes back to the wide receiver position, selecting Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan.
After coming away with Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of the 2024 draft, who put together a huge rookie season, going back to the receiver position again early on in 2025, given the other needs that the Jaguars have, may not seem like the prudent move, but here is why Kelly likes this pick:
“This might feel a bit redundant for the Jaguars after the team struck gold with 2024 first-round receiver Brian Thomas Jr., but some of the best offenses in the NFL have at least two field-tilting pass catchers,” wrote Kelly.
At 6-5 – 212 pounds, McMillan is a big-bodied receiver. Over the last two seasons, he has caught 174 passes for over 2,700 yards, averaging 15.6 yards per catch with 18 touchdowns, lining up primarily on the boundary.
Among all receivers during this most recent 2024 season, McMillan ranked second in yards, ninth in yards per route run, and was one of the more heavily targeted downfield receivers in college football.
Recently, when speaking with reporters, Trevor Lawrence was asked how the Jaguars’ offense becomes less predictable. Lawrence’s response centered around an improved run game, which would help keep the offense ahead of the sticks and out of obvious passing situations.
Bolstering the offensive line should very much be in play for the Jaguars, but with LSU’s Will Campbell off the board already in Kelly’s mock, the opportunity to do that fifth overall wasn’t necessarily there from a value standpoint.
Still under contract at receiver for the 2025 season is Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Josh Reynolds, Devin Duvernay, and others.
