Grade the pitch: Jaguars give No. 1 draft pick to Giants after releasing Daniel Jones

The Jacksonville Jaguars are on pace to clinch the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Normally, that would be great news, as teams that hold the top selection are in a position to choose a franchise-changing player. The trouble is that there won’t be a consensus No. 1 next and the Jags could easily address most of their needs with a lower pick.

After all, they already have a pretty good quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and a pair of bookend pass rushers in Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Perhaps they could target an offensive tackle but none are worth the first overall selection in this year’s class. That leaves trading down as the most logical path, and fortunately for Jacksonville, Matt Miller of ESPN thinks the New York Giants would be the ideal partner after releasing Daniel Jones.

Jones was the starter dating back to 2019, but his poor play in recent weeks led to his benching and his eventual release. If the G-Men had kept him, they would’ve had to pay him $23 million in injury guarantees if he got hurt at any point of what’s left in the regular season. So instead of running the risk of Danny Dimes getting hurt, they went ahead and cut him.

That means the Giants have a massive need at quarterback. Miller believes they could get the No. 1 in exchange for their third overall selection, two second-round picks, and a third-rounder to take Shedeur Sanders at No. 1. Here is the skinny.

“I have the Giants going big to fix their quarterback situation, giving Jacksonville their second- and third-round picks in 2025, plus a 2026 second-rounder, to move up from No. 3. It gets New York out in front of Cleveland, which could also be looking at the QB class, and crucially doesn’t involve any future first-round picks. The Jaguars, meanwhile, collect valuable draft capital to restock a roster in desperate need of repair.”

With the No. 3 selection, the Jaguars take offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Here’s Miller’s analysis on the hypothetical pick.

“Banks has been rock solid for the Longhorns except for a rough outing against Georgia on Oct. 19, when he surrendered his only sack of the season. Jacksonville should be excited by Banks’ experience and productivity, as he has given up only three sacks and 13 pressures over 36 starts since cracking the lineup as a freshman.”

This scenario would be feasible only if the Jags don’t re-sign left tackle Walker Little next year. A second-round pick in the 2021 draft, the former Stanford Cardinal became Trevor Lawrence’s blindside protector when the team’s brass traded Cam Robinson to the Minnesota Vikings before the 2024 deadline. So far, the decision has paid off.

Dating back to Week 7, Little has given up just one sack and six total pressures. Moreover, he’s not surrendered a single pressure the past two games. He’s seen his stock go up ahead of free agency, and if he hits the open market, he’ll become a hot commodity for teams in need of help at left tackle.

In Miller’s scenario, Little walks next year, and the Jags replace him with the best available prospect at the position. A five-star recruit out of high school, Banks has been a three-year starter at left tackle for the Longhorns.

At 6’4″ and 324 pounds, the Texas standout has the athleticism and power you want at the position. While he needs to work on his footwork and overall technique, he’s the highest-graded left tackle slated to be in next year’s draft. The issue is that he’s a fine prospect but not nearly as dominant to go first overall. That’s why you will see the Jags taking him in mock drafts only if they trade down, which is what they do in Miller’s.

Kelvin Banks Jr. may or may not be the long-term answer at left tackle for the Jaguars but drafting him with the third-overall selection while amassing a pair of second-rounders and a third would give them ample ammo to revamp their roster.

Already, the Jags have an extra third and a fourth after agreeing with the Minnesota Vikings to move down six spots in the 2024 draft. For the sake of the argument, let’s say Jacksonville makes Matt Miller’s trade. That would give them five premium picks in the first three rounds next year, which would be more than enough to address what are poised to be the team’s top needs in 2025.

Currently, cornerback, offensive tackle, right guard, defensive tackle, and safety are probably the biggest ones. With the third overall, the team’s brass, regardless of who’s the general manager next year, can take Kelvin Banks Jr., and fill the rest of the holes in the second and third rounds. That’s pretty good value and all they would have to do is move back two spots.

Of course, the Jaguars would need to nail most of the selections to really take advantage of this potential trade. Otherwise, the whole thing would be moot. Still, it would be a pretty good trade, and they wouldn’t have to sacrifice much.

Grade: A+

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