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Neal may not be the clear-cut "best" prospect in this class, but he has mammoth size, insane athleticism, and the Jaguars have to protect Trevor Lawrence a lot better in 2022 than they did in his rookie season.

At this time last year, the Jags were starting a rebuild under a new coach and ... they're back at the same spot. Urban Meyer didn't even last a full season. I wrote last January that this wasn't going to be a quick fix, and they're not much closer to contending, hence back-to-back No. 1 picks. I do think they have their quarterback, even though Trevor Lawrence had a mostly abysmal rookie season.

So if the Jaguars get first dibs on any prospect in this draft, I'd go with Hutchinson; I have him ranked slightly ahead of Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. Hutchinson, who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, is a dominant and consistent pass-rusher who can put up double-digit sacks as a rookie. He's a safe No. 1 pick. They can play him on the other side of Josh Allen, who is a really nice player. Now, there could be some talk about the Jags taking a left tackle here, but I'm not buying that over the value of having a truly great edge rusher. Yes, left tackle might be more of a "need," but they should take the best prospect, not fill the biggest need.

After numerous conversations with NFL scouts and league execs in preparation for this mock, there were two key takeaways that led me to Ekwonu here. First, there are several evaluators around the league who have Ekwonu ranked higher than Alabama's Evan Neal and Mississippi State's Charles Cross. Second, several evaluators agreed that in a draft class missing a no-brainer top prospect, they prefer the tackles over the pass rushers. I have no clue how the Jaguars feel, but Ekwonu at least belongs in this conversation.

A three-year starter at NC State, Ekwonu has impressive movements for his size and generates extraordinary explosion at contact. He lacks refinement and is guilty of over-setting, but he is nimble, powerful and should get better and better as his technique and awareness mature. Ekwonu's tape shows a tackle who can also play guard, not the other way around.

Size, athleticism and production -- Aidan Hutchinson has it all. In the PFF College era (2014-21), only Chase Young and Josh Allen have earned higher single-season pass-rushing grades than Hutchinson's 93.6 in 2021. The Michigan phenom also led all Power Five defenders in total pressures (73), 15 of which came against an Ohio State offensive line that was in the running for the Joe Moore Award before their November trip to Ann Arbor.

The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder should only continue to turn heads at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Coming in at No. 2 on Bruce Feldman's 2021 College Football Freaks List, Hutchinson reportedly timed a 6.54-second three-cone, 36-inch vertical, 4.07-second short shuttle and 4.64-second 40-yard dash.

"He's gonna test really well when he goes to the combine," one source said to Feldman. "He has a huge chip on his shoulder and can be right where Kwity [Paye] was [in those agility numbers], running low 4.6s with a mid-30s vert, but he's over 6-6, and he's gonna bench [225] in the 30s."

There's no consensus top player in this year's draft class, which makes the No. 1 pick a bit of a toss-up. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Thibodeaux, the former No. 2 overall prospect in the country, recorded 19 sacks in three seasons for the Ducks and finished with a 91.3 pass-rushing grade as a senior, according to Pro Football Focus. He'd be a cornerstone piece for a Jaguars defense that ranked 31st in Football Outsiders' DVOA.

It says plenty about the Jags' needs when they're picking first overall in back-to-back drafts but at least they land an impact pass rusher in Thibodeaux. The former Ducks star can do it all and benefits from a polished repertoire of moves and a physical skill set that ticks every box.

Before drafting Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars selected an edge rusher in back-to-back drafts -- K'Lavon Chaisson and Josh Allen -- so auctioning the first pick off would make sense considering all of the holes on this roster. Until we have more clarity, the Jags get Thibodeaux. He is a top tier athlete who wins with speed and has shown surprising coverage versatility. His ceiling is massively high, but it might take a few years for his technique and toolbox to catch up to his talent.

A down year for potential franchise passers would likely vex most teams that landed the No. 1 pick. Not so for Jacksonville, which is settled at quarterback, thanks to Trevor Lawrence, but not at many other spots. Although he's not the prospect that Myles Garrett was at the same point in his career before being selected in the top slot in 2017, Thibodeaux looks like the early favorite for the honor this year. A game-wrecker when at his best, the 6-5, 258-pound edge rusher throws blockers off balance from the get-go with his explosive burst off the line. Not merely a one-note speed rusher, Thibodeaux also excels against the run and is developing his arsenal of moves for reaching the quarterback. Adding him opposite 2019 first-round pick Josh Allen would give Jacksonville a foundation on which to build the rest of its defense.

The Jaguars get Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is just scratching the surface on how dominant he can be. Thibodeaux can be an explosive, versatile addition to the Jaguars' defensive line. He'd be a perfect building block for a new staff.

The Jaguars have struggled on both sides of the football and are set to hire a new head coach. With so many different needs, it opens up options for them in the draft to simply pick the best player on the board regardless of need and simply add good football players to the roster.

While Aidan Hutchinson has claimed plenty of sizzle as the top EDGE in the rising class, Kayvon Thibodeaux has also been sensational and remains fully in the conversation. He has the makings of a dynamic playmaker at the next level that could pair with Josh Allen and provide Jacksonville with a lethal pair of pass rushers to unleash on opposing quarterbacks.