ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has released his final mock draft of 2025, and it’s a two-rounder. So who did the Jacksonville Jaguars come away with this time?
Let’s break it all down with our instant takeaways from each selection.
Jaguars pick at 5: Mason Graham, IDL, Michigan
Graham to the Jaguars has been an extremely popular selection, especially since free agency. It’s a big need for Jacksonville, one that we know GM James Gladstone wants to prioritize adding to, and of the 10 free agent signings made, none were defensive linemen.
Graham was a productive pass rusher, tallying 34 pressures and five sacks last season, but his biggest impact came against the run, according to PFF’s metrics. Graham was first in run defense grade and second in run-stop rate among defensive tackles.
Last season, the Jaguars’ defensive line ranked 32nd in ESPN’s pass rush win rate and 27th in run stop win rate. When a defense has a strong interior presence, every defender benefits when that player is able to create a strong push, eat up space, and take on blockers.
“With great power and quickness, Graham can get into the backfield to create interior pressure on quarterbacks and drop running backs behind the line of scrimmage,” wrote Kiper. “With Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker collapsing the pocket on either side, Graham could have an immediate impact.”
Jaguars pick at 36: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Landing Egbuka here feels like a steal as he is a potential first-round selection. The Jaguars have options on the roster already in Gabe Davis, Dyami Brown, and Parker Washington when it comes to finding that secondary option behind Brian Thomas Jr. However, it’s not a given either that any of those players can consistently step into that role, which still makes wide receiver a need.
Egbuka has totaled over 100 targets in two of the last three seasons, and has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark each of those years as well. He’s also been an extremely efficient pass-catcher, hauling in 73% of his career targets.
The bulk of Egbuka’s snaps have come from the slot, although he does have boundary experience. The ability to play both will be an important element in Liam Coen’s offense, so whether the Jaguars view Egbuka as a boundary option could determine how highly he’s rated on their big board.
“Egbuka — my No. 18 prospect — is a smooth route runner and caught 10 touchdowns last season,” Kiper wrote. “Brian Thomas Jr. was terrific as a rookie, and taking Egbuka here would help make up for the loss of Christian Kirk and give Jacksonville a pair of young talented pass catchers to build the offense around.”
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Breaking down Jaguars picks in Mel Kiper’s latest mock