Most expected cornerback to be a top priority for the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2023 NFL draft. Not only did the Jaguars not address the position in the first round, they didn’t pick a cornerback until taking Christian Braswell at No. 202 overall.
So it’s not surprising that experts think that need will still be a pressing one in 2024.
For now, the Jaguars have Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams both under contract until the 2025 offseason. But the depth behind that duo is just a few underwhelming veterans with some late-round picks from the 2022 and 2023 drafts.
Even with a free agent acquisition or a breakout year from a young player already on the roster, cornerback stands to be a big need again next year.
In way-too-early 2024 mock drafts published this weekend, many experts think that’ll be the position the Jaguars target when they’re on the clock in the first round next year:
PFF (Max Chadwick) - Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State (24th overall)
Analysis: “As a true freshman, Burke started at outside corner for Ohio State and only allowed a 48.4% completion rate while forcing 10 incompletions and not allowing any touchdowns.
“He regressed as a sophomore, allowing a 110.2 passer rating when targeted. He’s a physical press corner at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds and could go much higher than this with a bounceback junior campaign.”
USA Today (Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz) - Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa (22nd overall)
Analysis: “Trent Baalke loves adding rangy athletes to his defense, and the multitalented DeJean certainly fits the bill. The 6-1, 209-pounder tallied five interceptions last year and returned three for scores.”
Draft Wire (Curt Popejoy) - Sedrick Van Pran, G/C, Georgia
NBC Sports Philadelphia (Reuben Frank) - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama (23rd overall)
Analysis: “He’s certainly got the best name in next year’s draft. Ga’Quincy McKinstry was nicknamed Kool-Aid by his grandmother at birth – apparently she thought he looked like the Kool-Aid pitcher dude – and the name stuck. McKinstry already has an NIL deal with Kool-Aid. As a player, McKinstry is a long 6-foot-1, 190 pounds with terrific speed and leaping ability and elite instincts in coverage, and Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell will find ways to use McKinstry from the jump.”
The Draft Network - Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama (23rd overall)
Touchdown Wire (Doug Farrar) - Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State (27th overall)
Pro Football Network (Ian Cummings) - Andrew Mukuba, S, Clemson (23rd overall)
Analysis: “The Jacksonville Jaguars are gearing up to be competitors in the AFC for a long time. One of the few remaining pieces left to add is an elite slot defender. Andrew Mukuba has the tools to fill that role. He’s already proven his versatility at the collegiate level, and he has the fluidity, short-area athleticism, and playmaking ability to be a mainstay in coverage.”
