rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
The 2025 NFL Draft might not be chock-full of the star talent that other years’ drafts have had, but it is certainly shaping up to be interesting. Due to the lack of obvious blue-chip talent, it is hard to nail down an exact top 20, but many prospects intrigue analysts because of their high ceilings.
Quarterback Cam Ward is widely expected to be the first player off the board to the Tennessee Titans on nearly every mock draft, including PFSN’s most recent. However, the landing spots of the other likely first-round picks are up for interpretation, which means this draft could be full of teams, like the Jacksonville Jaguars, looking to trade and grab as much talent as they can.
The Jaguars Make a Wild First-Round Trade To Snag Much-Needed Offensive Help
In a recent ESPN+ column focusing on each team’s “boldest draft day prediction,” the Jaguars use a trade to acquire offensive weaponry. NFL draft analyst for ESPN, Jordan Reid, made a surprising prediction.
“The Philadelphia Eagles trade Nos. 32 and 168 to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Nos. 36 and 107. With 10 picks, Jacksonville can be aggressive in addressing holes on the roster. Finding a WR2 alongside Brian Thomas Jr. should be a priority.
If Missouri’s Luther Burden III or Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka are on the board at the end of the first round, then this is a move that’s worth making. New general manager James Gladstone was part of a Rams front office that wasn’t afraid to make a bold trade up for a player. Los Angeles did it last year to get Braden Fiske,” wrote Reid in an interesting prediction for ESPN’s article.
The Jaguars’ offense ranked 18th with a grade of 72.8, a C-, in PFSN’s Offense+ metric for 2024. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has not made the progress that many expected from him when he helped Clemson win a National Championship.
Jaguars fans are hoping new head coach Liam Coen sparks life back into their struggling offense in 2025. It is not impossible. Their WR1, Brian Thomas, made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season and was one of only four rookies in the modern era to record 1,100 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns.
However, Thomas can not do it alone, and the Jaguars need to find him some help in the upcoming draft.
Do Emeka Egbuka or Luther Burden III Fit What the Jaguars Need?
Both Egbuka, from Ohio State, and Burden, from Missouri, are considered to be in the top five of all wide receiver prospects entering this year’s draft.
According to PFSN’s Draft Profile of Egbuka, he is considered one of the safest prospects. He is a well-built and athletic player who consistently runs clean routes. He has strong hands and good instincts. However, he isn’t a player whose speed takes the roof off, which will likely impede him from becoming a team’s WR1 in the pros. He could be the perfect partner for Thomas.
Burden is another option for Jacksonville. PFSN’s Draft Profile of Burden notes that when the ball is in his hands, he will find a way to make a play. Like many of the other receivers in this draft, Burden will need to be polished once he arrives in the pros; in his case, route running needs improvement. He could also help take some of the heat off Thomas while finding opportunities to make a name for himself.
Egbuka and Burden might not be WR1, but they are both expected to be day one starters who make a significant impact. If either is available for the Jaguars at 36, then it would be a draft steal.
