JACKSONVILLE – The draft draws near, and the mocks get more creative.
This is the seventh 2026 jaguars.com mock draft tracker – and while analysts continue leaning defense for the Jaguars early, at least one is projecting the Jaguars to be aggressive if they move that direction.
Seven of seven analysts in this week's tracker project the Jaguars selecting a defensive player with their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Pa. That selection currently is No 56 overall.
One notable projection:
Peter Woods, a defensive tackle from Clemson. Bruce Feldman of the Athletic projects him to the Jaguars – and has the team trading up from No. 56 overall to No. 30 overall in Round 1 to make the selection.
The Jaguars do not have a first-round selection in the '26 draft, having traded it the deal to acquire wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter No. 2 overall in the '25 draft.
Players projected this week to the Jaguars at No. 56 include: Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday, Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., Michigan defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny, Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange, Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter, Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
Here's a look at the Jaguars' 11 selections in the '26 draft:
Round 2 (No. 56 overall, original Jaguars selection), Round 3 (No. 81, acquired in a trade with the Detroit Lions), Round 3 (No. 88, Jaguars), Round 3 (No. 100, Detroit Lions special compensatory), Round 4 (No. 124, Jaguars), Round 5 (No. 164, Jaguars), Round 5 (No. 166, from San Francisco 49ers through Philadelphia Eagles), Round 6 (No. 203, Eagles through Houston Texans through Eagles), Round 7 (No. 233, Lions), Round 7 (No. 240, Jaguars), Round 7 (No. 245, Los Angeles Rams through Texans).
Here's the sixth jaguars.com 2026 mock draft tracker, with a look at players analysts believe the Jaguars may select No. 56 overall:
Jake Golday, linebacker, 6-4, 237, Cincinnati.
- Briefly: Played at Cincinnati 2024-2025 after playing at Central Arkansas 2021-2023. Named first-team All-Big 12 2025.
- Analyst: Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic. Date: April 6.
- Other players projected to the Jaguars in Baumgardner's April 6 three-round mock: Chandler Rivers, cornerback, Duke (Round 3); Keyshaun Elliott, linebacker, Arizona State (Round 3); Jaishawn Barham, edge, Michigan (Round 3).
Anthony Hill Jr., linebacker, 6-2, 238, Texas.
- Briefly: Played at Texas 2023-2025. Second-team All-America selection 2024-2025 and first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection 2024-2025. A freshman All-America selection in 2023 and the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2023.
- Analyst: T.J. Randall, Pro Football Network. Date: April 4.
- Other players projected to the Jaguars in Randall's April 4 seven-round mock: Malik Muhammad, cornerback, Texas (Round 3); Chris McClellan, defensive tackle, Missouri (Round 3); Dontay Corleone, defensive tackle, Cincinnati (Round 3); Emmett Johnson, running back, Nebraska (Round 4); Cyrus Allen, wide receiver, Cincinnati (Round 5); Zxavian Harris, defensive tackle. Mississippi (Round 5); Bishop Fitzgerald, safety, South Carolina (Round 6); Travis Burke, offensive tackle, Memphis (Round 7); Alex Harkey, guard, Oregon (Round 7); Joe Fagnano, quarterback, Connecticut (Round 7).
Rayshaun Benny, defensive tackle, 6-4, 305, Michigan.
- Briefly: Played at Michigan 2021-2025. Third-team All-Big 10 2025.
- Analyst: Chad Reuter, NFL.com. Date: April 3.
- Other players projected to the Jaguars in Reuter's five-round April 3 mock: Max Klare, tight end, Ohio State (Round 3); Kyle Louis, linebacker, Pittsburgh (Round 3); Tacario Davis, cornerback, Washington (Round 3); Nicholas Singleton, running back, Penn State (Round 4); Caleb Douglas, wide receiver, Texas Tech (Round 5); Patrick Payton, edge, Louisiana State (Round 5).
Domonique Orange, defensive lineman, 6-4, 325, Iowa State
- Briefly: Played at Iowa State 2022-2025. Third-team All-Big 12 selection 2025. Registered seven career tackles for loss with a sack and 66 tackles with 32 solos.
- Analyst: Josh Edwards, CBS Sports. Date: April 2https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-mock-draft-2026-cowboys-trade-top-10/.
- Other players projected to the Jaguars in Edwards' April 2 seven-round mock: Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee (Round 3); Kamari Ramsey, safety, Southern California (Round 3); Logan Jones, interior offensive lineman, Iowa (Round 3); Kendrick Law, wide receiver, Kentucky (Round 4); Tyreak Sapp, Edge, Florida (Round 5); Dallen Bentley, tight end, Utah (Round 5); Cade Klubnik, quarterback, Clemson (Round 6); Jayden Loving, defensive lineman, Wake Forest (Round 7); Aamil Wagner, offensive tackle, Notre Dame (Round 7); Kaelon Black, running back, Indiana (Round 7).
Josiah Trotter, linebacker, 6-2, 237, Missouri.
- Briefly: Played at West Virginia 2023-2024 and Missouri 2025. First-team All-Southeastern Conference selection 2025. Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year 2024. Son of former NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and brother of NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
- Analyst: Field Yates, ESPN. Date: April 2.
- Yates comment: "A tone-setter at linebacker, Trotter would help Jacksonville fill the vacancy created by Devin Lloyd's departure in free agency. He had 183 tackles over the past two seasons."
Caleb Banks, defensive lineman, 6-6, 327, Florida
- Briefly: Played at Louisville 2021-2022 and Florida 2023-2025. Redshirt senior. Registered 10.5 career tackles for loss with 6.5 sacks, including seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2024 – his final full collegiate season.
- Analyst: Curt Popejoy, USA Today Draftwire. Date: April 1.
Peter Woods, defensive tackle, 6-2, 300, Clemson (No. 30 overall, projected trade with Miami Dolphins)
- Briefly: Played at Clemson 2023-2026. First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference 2025. Registered 14.5 career tackles for loss with five career sacks, including 3.5 tackles for loss with two sacks in 2025.
- Analyst: Bruce Feldman, The Athletic. Date: April 1https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-mock-draft-2026-cowboys-trade-top-10/.
- Feldman comment: "Woods is an extremely powerful, big athlete who some coaches at Clemson thought would be a top-five pick when he finished his career."
Jacob Rodriguez, linebacker, 6-1, 230, Texas Tech
- Briefly: Played at Virginia in 2021 before playing for Texas Tech in 2022-2025. Won Chuck Bednarik (nation's top defensive player), Butkus (top linebacker), Lombardi (top linebacker or lineman) and Bronko Nagurski (outstanding defensive player) awards in 2025 when he finished fifth in Heisman Trophy balloting. Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year 2025.
- Analyst: Vinny Iyer, Sporting News. Date: April 1https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-mock-draft-2026-cowboys-trade-top-10/.
- Iyer comment: "The Jaguars need to get back on track with their linebacker corps with Devin Lloyd gone. Rodriguez can give them what they once had in prime Paul Posluszny."
- Other players projected to the Jaguars in Iyer's April 1 seven-round mock: LT Overton, Edge, Alabama (Round 3); Julian Neal, cornerback, Arkansas (Round 3); Emmett Johnson, running back, Nebraska (Round 3); Bryce Lance, wide receiver, North Dakota State (Round 4); Josh Cuevas, tight end, Alabama (Round 5); Keagan Trost, guard/center, Missouri (Round 5); Louis Moore, safety, Indiana (Round 6); J. Michael Sturdivant, wide receiver, Florida (Round 7); Jalen Stroman, safety, Notre Dame (Round 7); Jack Pyburn, Edge, Louisiana State (Round 7).
