Jacksonville Jaguars 2020 mock draft: Full 7 rounds

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Derrick Brown #5 of the Auburn Tigers reacts to a play during the 2020 Outback Bowl against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Derrick Brown #5 of the Auburn Tigers reacts to a play during the 2020 Outback Bowl against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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STARKVILLE, MS – SEPTEMBER 21: Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. #6 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs runs the ball in for a touchdown in front of quarterback Sawyer Smith #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the first quarter at Davis Wade Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS – SEPTEMBER 21: Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. #6 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs runs the ball in for a touchdown in front of quarterback Sawyer Smith #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the first quarter at Davis Wade Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Jacksonville loves them some athleticism at linebacker and no prospect in that class fits that description better than Missisippi State’s Willie Gay Jr.

The former Bulldog can absolutely fly, as evidenced by his 4.46 40-yard dash at the Combine earlier this year. And this ain’t just testing speed, either. Gay Jr.’s speed somehow looks even faster on tape. There are definitely some questions that need to be answered for teams, namely some off-field concerns that included an eight-game suspension in 2019 for violating team rules.

I can’t make a fair assessment of how these off-field incidents factor into Gay Jr.’s draft stock, as it’s something he has to answer for behind closed doors with teams during the draft process. But there is certainly no denying his talent and potential to be one of the most explosive linebackers in football.

He will need to improve in diagnosing offenses and taking better angles to the football but Jacksonville would be awfully excited to pair Gay Jr’s athleticism with their picks in the first two rounds.