JACKSONVILLE – For Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, the NFL Draft is about much more than just selecting football players.
It is about finding individuals who live and breathe the qualities the Jaguars value as pieces of the organization. It is about finding which players have "Jaguars DNA," and why nobody brought into the Miller Electric Center can afford to lack it.
One common trait to the Jaguars' most recent influx of players: Collegiate experience – a lot of it.
"I think it helps a great deal," Gladstone said.
Which is why experience is among several central themes to the Jaguars' 2026 NFL Draft class – with a draft-long theme the mental and physical toughness critical to "Jaguars DNA."
Gladstone's experience in the Los Angeles Rams' front office for nearly a decade surely played into those themes, as they are the same ones that Rams General Manager Les Snead and Rams Head Coach Sean McVay follow each offseason.
On-field experience was a theme early in the Jaguars' 2026 NFL Draft, with Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher – the Jaguars' first '26 selection at No. 56 overall (Round 2) – having appeared in 52 collegiate games. The Jaguars' next two Day 2 selections, Texas A&M defensive tackle Albert Regis (No. 81) and Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon (No. 88), played in 50 and 51 career games, respectively.
This trend continued in the later rounds, with the Jaguars' 10-player class playing an average of 46.4 games over their college career. Only one selection (seventh-round defensive end Zach Durfee of Washington) played fewer than 40 games in his college career.
The trend can be traced to last year's draft class, the first for Gladstone, Head Coach Liam Coen and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli setting the tone for the organization. Guard Wyatt Milum – a Round 3 selection by the Jaguars in '25 – played in 47 games at West Virginia, with third-round safety Caleb Ransaw also playing 47 games in four collegiate seasons.
Gladstone during the '26 draft discussed the value of such "time on task" when calculating a prospect's chances to contribute early in his NFL career.
"If you track back to a lot of my tenure with Los Angeles, it wasn't all that different," Gladstone said. "Those players tend to walk in the door and have a different version of polish than the ones that you may have to get reps and get that 10,000-hour rule associated to their play.
"Especially when the human beings themselves are the types that can really pour in and do it in the right way and have the routine that would cultivate a faster acclimation, you're going to be able to see that turn around rather quickly.
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"All these guys, they can have the talent, but the differentiator is the mindset, and that's a lot of what we focused on with these decisions."
That mindset runs through another Jaguars '26 draft theme – with Boerkircher, Durfee, sixth-round receiver Josh Cameron of Baylor and seventh-round linebacker Parker Hughes of Middle Tennessee State all having started their collegiate careers as walk-ons.
"You've got to love it," Gladstone said. "That is a part to me that says a lot. If you can start there and end in the conversation of being a potential draft pick, it says a lot about what you can overcome, being able to …
"When your back is against the wall, be able to find your path to success, and certainly something that we think about when we're prioritizing guys."
The Jaguars have been exceedingly purposeful with who they add to their locker room and how they do it. Judging from last month's draft, the Jaguars DNA is as important as anything else.
A lot goes into Draft weekend in Duval County, from media teams capturing and publishing content to football operations contacting future Jaguars. Take a look at the best behind-the-scenes moments from this year's NFL Draft.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars general manager James Gladstone calls Round 2, Pick 56: Nate Boerkircher (TE, Texas A&M) during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from day one of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 23, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from day one of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 23, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from day two of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars general manager James Gladstone inside the draft room during day two of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen inside the draft room during day two of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Recording of Jaguars Happy Hour before day one of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 23, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from day one of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 23, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from day one of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 23, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars senior reporter J.P. Shadrick speaks with general manager James Gladstone before day one of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 23, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen inside the draft room during day one of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars football leadership work inside the draft room during day three of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 25, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars owner Shad Khan inside the draft room during day two of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen welcomes Round 2, Pick 88: Emmanuel Pregnon (OL, Oregon) during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski welcomes Round 5, Pick 164: Tanner Koziol (TE, Houston) during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 25, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen and executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli inside the draft room during day three of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 25, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from day two of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from day two of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from day two of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from day two of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile welcomes Round 7, Pick 240: Parker Hughes (LB, Middle Tennessee) during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 25, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars general manager James Gladstone speaks with team reporter Kainani Stevens during day two of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from day two of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone speaks to the media after day two of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile speaks with team reporter Kainani Stevens during day three of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 25, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone speaks to the media after day two of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 24, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from day three of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 25, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars director of college scouting Brian Hill speaks with team reporter Kainani Stevens during day three of the 2026 NFL Draft at the Miller Electric Center on April 25, 2026.
