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NFL Draft Analyst Calls Jadan Baugh to the Jaguars One of His Favorite First-Round Fits
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- NFL Draft Analyst Calls Jadan Baugh to the Jaguars One of His Favorite First-Round Fits
Jacksonville went into its bye at 4-2 and alone atop the AFC South, but the backfield is still sorting itself out. The Jaguars rank 14th in the league in rushing yards at 4.1 yards per carry, and running back sits second on their list of 2027 needs, behind only safety.
Our NFL draft analyst Luke Easterling keeps coming back to one answer. In his updated 2027 first-round mock draft , the Jaguars pick 25th and take Florida running back Jadan Baugh, a pairing Easterling said "continues to be one of my favorite potential fits in the first round."
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Why Jadan Baugh fits the Jaguars' backfield
Jacksonville let Travis Etienne Jr. leave for the Saints in free agency in March, and Bhayshul Tuten has carried most of the load since. The second-year back has 388 yards and two touchdowns on 94 carries through six games. He flashed in London with two receiving touchdowns against Houston , but Liam Coen has been honest about where he is.
"I've been pleased with him, but we've got to take another step," Coen told ESPN's Michael DiRocco in August. "We've just got to continue to work on his tracks, reading his keys, and just go play."
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Baugh would give the Jaguars a bigger, more complete back. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior has 763 yards on 135 carries this season, good for 5.7 yards per attempt, and his 13 rushing touchdowns lead the SEC through seven games. He ran for 1,170 yards as a sophomore and caught 31 passes, and Easterling ranks him as the top running back in the 2027 class . Chris Rodriguez Jr. has made a case for more early-down work , but neither he nor Tuten brings that kind of résumé.
Then there's the history. The last time Jacksonville spent a first-round pick on a Gators running back, it took Fred Taylor ninth overall in 1998, and he ran for 11,271 yards in teal. Easterling said it isn't fair to expect Baugh to be the next Taylor, but he has the size, power and explosiveness "to do his best impression."
For a fan base that still measures every back against No. 28, a Gainesville product who scores this often would be an easy sell. With the Jaguars currently slotted at No. 25 in the draft order , Baugh fits both the need and the range.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
