With the bye week giving the Jacksonville Jaguars some breathing room, attention has already started to drift toward the 2027 NFL draft - and one early mock has them going where they’ve shown a clear willingness to invest: defense.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports slotted the Jaguars at No. 27 and had them taking Cal safety Kingston Lopa. It’s an early projection, of course, and plenty will change before draft day arrives.
But these kinds of mock drafts still serve a purpose, especially this far out. They spotlight names worth tracking through the rest of the college season and into the pre-draft grind.
Edwards described Lopa this way: "Kingston Lopa is a tall safety who plays with great range and has managed unimpeachable ball production in a short time as a starter for a rudderless California team," Edwards wrote. "Lopa has to do a better job tackling, but everything Liam Coen and his coaching staff have touched has turned to gold."
Lopa has backed up that billing with production early this season. Through six games, he has five interceptions and one pass breakup, including a three-interception showing against Syracuse.
The fit also makes sense when you look at how Jacksonville has approached the safety room under general manager James Gladstone. In his first two drafts, he selected Caleb Ransaw and Rayuan Lane in 2025, then added Jalen Huskey this past April.
The results, though, have been uneven so far. Ransaw has been slowed by injuries, Lane has mostly contributed on special teams, and Huskey has been largely inactive.
There’s also some roster movement to keep in mind as the Jaguars look ahead. Antonio Johnson is set to hit free agency in 2027, and Eric Murray will be entering the final year of his deal, though Jacksonville does have an out.
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