Former Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr. could be the answer to one of the Jacksonville Jaguars' biggest needs.
The 2025 NFL Draft starts at 7 p.m. CT Thursday and will end on Saturday, so where prospects end up will be known soon, but projections are already revealing possibilities. The Jaguars are projected to select Bowman with the No. 88 overall pick in the third round of the NFL Draft, according NFL.com's Chad Reuter's latest seven-round mock draft.
Former Sooners safety projected to go to Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025 NFL Draft
The Jaguars should utilize this draft to beef up their defense that has multiple holes to fill. Two of Jacksonville's biggest needs before next season are in the secondary, including safety and cornerback. Reuter predicts the Jaguars to fill both of those spots early in this draft.
The Jaguars have two picks in the third round thanks to a past trade with the Minnesota Vikings to get that 88th pick where Bowman is projected to go. The other pick at No. 70, according to Reuter, will be used on Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo.
Arroyo would be the Jaguars' first offensive player taken based on Reuter's mock draft. He predicts the Jaguars to start the draft by taking Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the fifth overall pick. In the second round, it's Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston, so the pick on Bowman would presumable sure up the Jaguars' needs in the secondary.
Bowman could be a steal for the Jaguars if they take him. Listed at a generous 5-foot-10, the only real knock on Bowman during the draft process has been his size. He's impressed scouts every chance he's gotten, though, including at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine.
Because of his size, though, Bowman would likely still be available for the Jaguars in the third round. The third round has been the earliest any known NFL Draft expert has had Bowman going.
Bowman was a four-year starter for OU and played in 47 career games while starting 41 of them. He had 199 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 11 interceptions, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 14 pass breakups during his career. Bowman's 249 interception return yards led the country between two seasons in 2022-23 and he tied for the national lead with three interceptions returned for a touchdown during that span.
Day 2 of the NFL Draft that includes the second and third rounds, when Bowman and OU linebacker Danny Stutsman will likely get selected, will start at 5 p.m. CT Friday on ABC or ESPN. If either fall, the final rounds of the draft will start at 11 a.m. CT Saturday.
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