Jacksonville Jaguars fans had the best kind of bye week. The Jaguars sat at home, and every other team in the AFC South lost, a weekend we called the Jaguars winning the bye week. At 4-2, they sit 22nd in the updated first-round order heading into Week 8.
Houston, Indianapolis and Tennessee all lost Sunday, leaving Jacksonville with a 2.5-game lead in the division and 11 games to play. That’s great for January and less so for the draft board, because the schedule ahead is soft enough that the pick should keep sliding.
How the Jaguars got to 4-2
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jacksonville routed Cleveland 34-10 in the opener, lost 20-13 in Denver, then blew out New England 35-6. Wins at Cincinnati (22-17) and over Philadelphia (19-17) followed before a 34-31 loss to Houston at Wembley Stadium.
Travis Hunter scored a touchdown and intercepted a pass in that loss, joining Brian Dawkins in rare company for doing both in one game. NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks says Trevor Lawrence is playing at an MVP level. Anton Harrison’s torn ACL, suffered against Philadelphia in London, has forced the Jaguars to turn to Walker Little at left tackle. The pass defense has also allowed 320 yards per game over its last three games, a problem Eric Murray traced to communication.
By current records, Jacksonville’s 11 remaining opponents are a combined 30-44-1 (.407). The Colts, Titans and Texans make up five of those games, Washington (1-4-1) visits in Week 17, and Chicago and Pittsburgh (both 5-2) are the only opponents with more than four wins. That lines up with our look at how the division’s slow start gives the Jaguars the easiest path to the playoffs. If they win at that pace, their pick will drift toward the 30s and could end up in the playoff portion of the order.
Luke Easterling’s latest first-round mock draft was built on the previous week’s order and had Jacksonville at No. 25 taking Florida running back Jadan Baugh. Easterling called Baugh one of his favorite fits in the round. He likes what Bhayshul Tuten has shown but sees Baugh as the more complete back, with the size, power and explosiveness to carry the load, while cautioning that nobody should expect the next Fred Taylor.
The trade deadline could reshape the board, too. Liam Coen’s frustration with Brian Thomas Jr. has us arguing the Jaguars should take a second-round pick for the receiver, which would add another early pick to the 2027 class.
More on the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Latest Trade Proposal has Jaguars Benefitting from Eagles’ Proposed Selloff
- Jaguars Come Out of the Bye With the AFC’s Safest Division Lead and 7 Road Games Still Ahead
- Jacksonville Jaguars Face a Tough Call on Brian Thomas Jr.
- Update: Jaguars Holding Onto Brian Thomas Jr. for Now as a Tackle Search Takes Over Trade Rumors
