Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft has Jaguars doing something they probably should have done this year
Jacksonville still has a notable need after the 2026 NFL Draft, and one notable pundit has them addressing it head on in next year’s draft.
The Jacksonville Jaguars made waves with their selections last week in the 2026 NFL Draft. Without a first round pick, general manager James Gladstone got the draft underway with the selection of blocking tight end Nate Boerkircher out of Texas A&M with pick No. 56 overall.
It was one that left some fans and media scratching their heads, particularly with notable needs on the defensive side of the ball. In particular, Gladstone and company have work to do to improve a pass rush that ranked 27th in the NFL with 32 sacks last season.
While Jacksonville did finally address pass rush with Duke EDGE Wesley Williams in the fourth round, a notable name has them picking an edge rusher much earlier next year. ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid put out his way-too-early 2027 mock draft, and he has the Jaguars taking Miami Hurricanes EDGE Damon Harris II with the No. 15 overall pick.
ESPN way-too-early 2027 mock draft has Jaguars taking Miami edge rusher Damon Wilson II
“Wilson had nine sacks at Missouri in 2025 before transferring to Miami in the offseason,” Reid wrote. “He has a chance to fill the edge rusher void for the national runner-ups, who just saw Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor get drafted in Round 1. Wilson could be next after a year working with defensive line coach Jason Taylor and has excellent length and acceleration to close on QBs. The Jaguars had only 32 sacks in 2025 (27th in the NFL) despite having Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen, so Wilson could give them a key rotational rusher.”
The Jaguars have Hines-Allen and Walker both locked up through the 2028 season, but beyond them, they clearly need more. Adding a dynamic pass rusher to work into the rotation in the first round would be a logical choice, and Wilson would certainly hit that nail on the head.
Jacksonville has done a nice job, outside of running back, at building a deep roster on the offensive side of the ball, spending four picks on pass catchers and building offensive line depth with Emmanuel Pregnon. But if they want to take the next step as a team, finding some difference makers on the defensive side of the ball — something they needed coming into 2026 — will need to happen next year.
