JACKSONVILLE – The idea is to create freedom.

General Manager James Gladstone late last week said the Jaguars did just that in the early days of the 2026 NFL League Year, which bodes well for success late next month.

The depth chart is sound, which could be a positive come draft weekend.

"I'm excited about that," he said.

Gladstone, speaking last week shortly after the start of the 2026 NFL League Year, discussed multiple Jaguars-related issues – including the recent re-signing of cornerback Montaric "Buster" Brown – and also said he believes the Jaguars' roster is structured well to be ready for the April 2026 NFL Draft.

"The best way to think about that is right now we've structured it so we don't have to pick based off of need necessarily at any specific spot," Gladstone said. "That's a luxury."

Gladstone, in his second season as the Jaguars' general manager, spent nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He said too often during that time the Rams at times "felt pressed to take a specific position" to fill a need in the draft.

"There were instances where it worked out fine for us," Gladstone said. "There were instances where it didn't and that may just be the draft. It may just be the way that those specific situations unfolded."

The Jaguars currently hold 11 selections in the '25 draft, with their first selection the No. 24 selection of Round 2 – the No. 56 overall selection. The Jaguars traded their '26 first-round selection to Cleveland Browns as part of the deal acquiring wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Jaguars have three '26 third-round selections – Nos. 81, 88 and 100 overall – meaning they have four selections on Day 2's Rounds 2 and 3.

"I think walking into the door on Day 2, as it stands right now, we're not saying that we need this position at this spot, which is a luxury," he said. "It means that we can really take somebody that we understand that we have a clear vision for, alignment on and it doesn't have to be dependent on it's got to be at this specific spot or this side of ball."

The Jaguars last week not only solidified running back by signing Chris Rodriguez Jr. from the Washington Commanders as a restricted free agent, they re-signed No. 2 cornerback Montaric Brown Monday – two days before the fifth-year veteran was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

"So jacked to have Buster back," Gladstone said. "His interest in being back existed and when it's such a strong match, both parties really interested in bringing that to life."

Brown in his first season playing for defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile last season started 12 of 15 games with two interceptions, a team-high 12 passes defensed and 47 tackles, 39 solo.

"Buster's in a position where he's finally got a chance to play with the same defensive coordinator back-to-back seasons and build off of what was a really strong schematic and skill set tie," Gladstone said. "He and Coach Camp have a really close relationship. He's just starting a family and to have consistency is not a bad thing.

Gladstone on a running back position that now includes Rodriguez, second-year veteran Bhayshul Tuten, second-year veteran LeQuint Allen Jr., seventh-year veteran DeeJay Dallas and first-year veteran Ja'Quinden Jackson:

"It's a really good crew that we feel confident in at this stage. Look forward seeing how things unfold throughout the course of the spring and allowing our coaches to get hands on with Chris and see how that all takes shape. But as it stands, it's a fairly well-rounded, complementary group and we're excited about it."

Gladstone on the difference between his first and second seasons as the Jaguars' general manager:

"Last year there was a lot of translation in comparison, not everyone speaking the same language and trying to bridge that gap. This year it's very seamless. Dialogue is on the same plane and when communication's operating at a high tick, it allows decisions to unfold in a way that you would feel really confident in because of that. There's clarity that comes with that. There's a lot of energy that I look back on a year ago that was applied to bridging the gap and a lot of parallel modes of operation that were being brought together but this is now a situation where everybody's walking down the same track. That allows it to be a little bit more efficient."