2025 NFL Draft: Ranking each Jaguars rookie by how soon they’ll play

The Jacksonville Jaguars added nine new players via the 2025 NFL Draft, highlighted by the selection of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter in the first round.

This draft was the first under general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen and could prove to be one of the Jags' most pivotal and impactful in years. Gladstone puts a high level of purposefulness and thought into every move, which was reflected in this year’s draft strategy.

The team took players they coveted, players who could help them, and didn’t seemingly take a single luxury flier. It does not seem farfetched to think that all eight picks were brought to Duval County to contribute to a new winning culture within EverBank Stadium immediately.

All of our 2025 NFL Draft content covering the Jacksonville Jaguars is available HERE.

Round 1, 2nd overall: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

Week 1

Take a seat because your mind is about to be blown: Hunter will play from Day 1. There really is not much more to be said.

One can have a conversation about which side of the ball Hunter will play more on opening day. You can try and predict what position he will inevitably be better at in the long run, but regardless, Hunter will be playing when the Jags open the 2025-26 season. And he will likely be playing both sides of the ball. After all, why not?

Round 3, 88th overall: Caleb Ransaw, CB, Tulane

Week 4-8

At Tulane, Ransaw played nickel corner in the program’s 4-2-5 defense. With five defensive backs on the field, Ransaw saw plenty of action and started in 12 games. He is an incredibly athletic defender who ran a 4.33 40-yard dash and scored a 90 overall athletic score at the combine. That being said, he is likely not going to play corner for the Jags but rather play safety.

Ransaw’s comp to a current Jaguar would be Antonio Johnson, who came into the league as an explosive playmaker at defensive back, but might not fill one whole niche completely. At safety, the Jags can use Ransaw’s speed and range to look over the whole field instead of having to play one offensive player straight up.

Eric Murray and Darnell Savage should be the Day 1 starters deep for the Jags. The jury could also be out on Johnson after his somewhat lackluster season last year, though he is still young. If Savage plays poorly and Johnson can’t cut it, the Jags could see Ransaw inserted into the starting lineup by midseason. It would also be hard to imagine he won’t see time on special teams early on.

Round 3, 89th overall: Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia

Injury replacement. Could start next season.

There is no clear path to starting this year for Milum. Though drafted as a tackle, all signs are pointing to him transitioning to guard in the pros. He will be behind Ezra Cleveland at left guard and free agent signing Patrick Mekari at right guard. Since Milum was a left tackle for the Mountaineers, he will almost certainly play left guard when the time comes.

Cleveland has had a history of injuries for Jacksonville since he arrived so maybe we will see Milum sooner rather than later. Assuming health, it would make sense that the Jags would want to keep Milum on the bench and learning for a potential starting nod during his sophomore season.

Round 4, 104th overall: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech

Week 1

Despite the number of running backs on the roster, it makes sense that Tuten will see use early in his career. His impact will immediately show up as a returner for the Jags on special teams. He can give a guy like Tank Bigsby a break on kickoff returns and has the homerun, 0-100 speed that the Jags need at returner after not getting much of that from former Pro Bowler Devin Duvernay last season.

Duvernay has since been shipped off and there is really no telling what the Jags have in Keilan Robinson, so Tuten slots in as the go-to guy on returns. On offense, it seems like he should find immediate use out of the backfield as someone to take a pitched ball the distance around the corner or catch a swing pass.

Round 4, 107th overall: Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame

Mid-year defensive contributor. Starter on special teams.

One of the oldest prospects in the draft this year, Kiser is an interesting linebacker. Playing at Notre Dame for six seasons, Kiser showed a lot of potential to be an enforcer in stopping the run. He can rush the passer as well and was the Special Teams Player of the Year for the Irish in 2023. He played enough games (the most in ND history to be exact) to know how to play football and what he needs to do to stay on the field.

The Jags did not pick up Devin Lloyd’s fifth-year option, and Kiser fits a similar mold as Lloyd. He doesn’t have the potential and upside that Lloyd presents, but could be a fine two-down piece in the right system.

Round 6, 194th overall: Jalen McLeod, LB, Auburn

Mid-year defensive contributor.

Much like Kiser, McLeod doesn’t have a clear path to starting but could see package use based on what he provides. McLeod has one of the highest motors out of anyone drafted this past year and uses that to make up for his lack in traditional size as an edge player: 6’2”, 240 pounds.

He led an OK Auburn team in tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles. His ability off the edge will have to be acknowledged. He posted a win rate off the edge of 18.8%.

Round 6, 200th overall: Rayuan Lane III, S, Navy

Starter on special teams.

Drafting a player out of a service academy is always cool. Drafting a player out of a service academy with the upside of Lane is even better.

At safety, Lane already fits into a defense that is in need of contributors. Clearly the front office thinks they are going to rely on rookies early on to help, especially on the defensive side. Lane could be a guy who gets a handful of snaps on defense after posting an All-AAC First Team season last year. He had 70 tackles for the Midshipmen last year and started 43 games for Navy overall. He is lauded for his ability in coverage overall but has traits to work on.

He most certainly has multiple uses on special teams, especially as a gunner with his 4.57 40-yard speed. Lane is a guy who does a little bit of everything. It would make a ton of sense to see him on the field early.

Round 7, 221st overall: Jonah Monheim, C, USC

Injury replacement.

Monheim will serve as a backup center, most likely as a third stringer, behind starter Robert Hainey and crowd favorite Luke Fortner. Monheim has experience all over the line, though. In 2022, he started at right tackle and right guard. In 2023 he made 12 starts at left tackle. Last season, Monheim started 12 games in the middle.

He has the potential to probably fill in on the line if the injury bug really hurts the team, but for now, he will be stashed in the center lineup.

Round 7, 236th overall: LeQuint Allen Jr., RB, Syracuse

Week 8-12

Despite being the second running back drafted by Jacksonville, and now the fourth or fifth RB in a suddenly crowded room, Allen actually has a shot to play some minutes this year.

Like Tuten, Allen has homerun traits and is a formidable pass catcher. He lined up in the slot as a receiver a decent bit last season too, furthering his use potential for a new-age Coen scheme.

He will start out on special teams but it would not be surprising to see him get snaps on offense. At Syracuse, Allen was twice named an All-ACC member. He rushed for well over 3,000 yards and 26 total scores.

He is built almost identically to Tuten which doesn’t necessarily help his case to make the 53-man roster. However with the way this team is projected to be run, Allen’s ability to be multiple on offense could see him sticking around.

When do you think these rookies will see the field, Jaguars fans? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!