Jaguars selected Auburn LB Jalen McLeod with the No. 194 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Auburn transfer made his mark at Appalachian State with 24 TFLs in 24 games, showing off a well-schooled pass-rush toolbox and a motor that never idles. A savvy “Buck” ‘backer in D.J. Durkin’s 4-2-5, McLeod (6’2/241) profiles as a hybrid OLB/DE with the hand usage and leverage technique to play bigger than his frame. He doesn’t have the athletic twitch or length teams covet off the bus, but he wins early in the rep with quick hands, effective dip-rip combos, and explosive effort on second-chance rushes. His 2024 tape shows an uptick in sack production (8), but also confirms his limitations in space (12.5% missed tackle rate). With a compact build and limited lateral range, McLeod projects as a 3-4 rotational edge with special teams upside.
