2023 NFL Draft: 5 Players the Jaguars Could Target in a Trade Up

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke has never been afraid to trade up, especially while at the helm of the Jaguars' drafts. 

Whether the 2021 deal for Jordan Smith or the 2022 trades for Devin Lloyd and Snoop Conner, Baalke has shown a willingness to move up for the right fit.

So, are there any prospects this year who could be Baalke's next trade-up target? If there are, we believe it could be one of these five players:

Tennessee OL Darnell Wright

A former blue-chip recruit, Darnell Wright has the talent to be selected within the first 15 picks. While some teams may see him as a right tackle only, he showed the ability at Tennessee to perform at either tackle spot, while also flashing guard versatility as well. If the Jaguars want to secure a long-term anchor of the offensive line on a cheap contract, then Wright would be the top option.

Wright started nine games at right tackle as a sophomore in 2020 before starting 13 games at left tackle in 2021. Wright led Tennessee's offense in snaps as a junior in a year in which Tennessee set school records for points scored and total offense. Wright ultimately returned for his senior season, moving back to right tackle and starting all 13 games. Wright earned unanimous first-team All-SEC honors and was elected as a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award.

Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith

Pass-rushers typically fly off the board before pick No. 24, especially when they are as versatile as Smith. He can be a fit for every 3-4 team because he can drop in coverage, play the run, and fly off the edge with speed. He is a bit on the lighter side and never had high sack numbers at Georgia, but he would fit the Jaguars' culture, comes from a program Trent Baalke clearly respects.

Smith played right away as a true freshman, appearing in all 14 games and recording 18 tackles, 2.5 sacks and becoming co-winner of the Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award.

Smith saw more time in an expanded role in 2020, recording 21 tackles, 2.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Smith's best season then came in 2021, with Smith starting 14 games and recording 56 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception, and a pass deflection.

Smith returned as a senior in 2022, starting eight games and recording seven tackles for loss and three sacks before a torn pectoral injury against Florida forced him to miss the final six games of his college career.

Iowa EDGE Lukas Van Ness

It would be a surprise if the Jaguars were not interested in Iowa's Lukas Van Ness. He is one of the true upside picks of this class thanks to his blend of size, length, power, and movement skills. Van Ness has the length and strength to at the very least be a dominant run defender early on in his career, while he also showed positional versatility at Iowa. He could come in and be a solid pressure player early on before developing into a sack-master as he progresses. 

Van Ness was redshirted in 2020 but began to see snaps at defensive tackle during the 2021 season, recording seven sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. He saw his role increase in 2022 as he moved to edge rusher, recording six sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss and earning second-team All-Conference honors.

Clemson EDGE Myles Murphy

One of the top prospects in the entire class entering the 2023 season, Clemson pass-rusher Myles Murphy has slipped in some media boards due to an offseason hamstring injury. The former top recruit is a prototypical defensive end in a four-man front but also has the ability to stand up in a 3-4 front, similar to Travon Walker from a year ago. He could be a reliable and impactful run defender early on while offering both a high floor and ceiling as a pass-rusher.

Murphy, who measured at 6-foot-4 and 271 pounds at his pro day, ran a 4.53 40-yard dash and recorded a 31-inch vertical jump, a 7.21-second three-cone, and a 4.29-second short shuttle at his pro day. A former top-10 recruit, Murphy was a Freshman All-American in 2020, starting six games and leading Clemson in forced fumbles (three) and tackles for loss (12) while recording four sacks.

Murphy followed this up with 10 starts in 2021, leading the team in forced fumbles (two), tackles for loss (14), and sacks (seven) while earning Second-Team All-ACC honors. Murphy started 11 games in 2022, recording 11 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three pass deflections while earning First-Team All-ACC honors.

Florida OL O'Cyrus Torrence

It is getting harder and harder to envision Florida guard O'Cyrus Torrence falling to No. 24, especially with recent smoke of some teams being interested in him as an offensive tackle. Torrence would plug the Jaguars' hole at left guard for the long-term, helping them fix their short-yardage running issue while also giving them a cheap guard to anchor the line around once Brandon Scherff moves on.

Torrence started 13 games at guard as a true freshman before returning in 2020 for 11 more starts, earning Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He started 11 more games in head coach Billy Napier's offense in 2021, being named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference. Torrence transferred to Florida in 2022, following Napier and stepping in as a starting right guard from Week 1. After starting 11 games and being named to the AP All-SEC First-Team, he became the first Gators offensive guard to be named a Consensus All-American.