JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
J.Hooks from Mandarin
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone is probably the best sleight-of-hand general manager I ever have seen. He tells you everything, but tells you nothing. Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen will flat-out tell us what he does, but we will never get it. It's transparent, but looking through frosted glass. I love it!
You're kinda sorta referencing Gladstone and Coen speaking at the Jaguars' pre-draft luncheon at the Miller Electric Center Thursday. But while neither Gladstone – nor Coen, really – said much that was newsworthy on this day, I don't know if that was as much "sleight of hand" as the nature of the moment. I have been "fortunate" enough in three decades covering the NFL to attend many pre-draft luncheons. I therefore know from experience that general managers and head coaches usually say something at these functions about being willing to trade back if the opportunity were to arise – and about being willing to trade up if the right player becomes available. They also usually talk about the need to draft the best available player – and of having that be part of a bigger picture. They also then talk about a few positions being deep in that particular draft and a few positions being not as deep. Because nothing has yet happened in the draft, and because there's nothing to be gained by speaking in specifics, general thoughts and evasiveness are generally the rule of the day.
Daniel from Johnston, IA
Kind of outrageous question to even ask, but do you see the Jags possibly moving BACK in the draft? With 11 picks already seems unlikely but what does the O think?
The Jaguars moving back from No. 56 in the 2026 NFL Draft seems unlikely for the reason you cite. With 11 selections, it would seem strange for them to want to accumulate more. That's at first glance. The reality is the Jaguars may have multiple players they like projected at various spots in the draft. If Gladstone believes it would benefit the Jaguars to have, say, three fourth-round selections instead of one, it's conceivable he might try to gain a fourth-rounder or two by moving back a few selections in Round 2. The draft once it begins is a living, breathing event. It's tough to predict what any team will do until it begins.
Adam from Round Here
Not sure how relevant this would have been in actuality regarding the Hutch-versus-Walker discussion. Hutchinson was very much a Michigan kid, who wanted to be in Michigan. I'm sure that was well-known and discussed. How would he have performed in Jax if he was here and unhappy? Conversely, Travon grew up not far from Jax and loves being here. I think those are major factors when it comes to the way the draft played out for those two at the time. Zone, do you remember or think that was a factor?
Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker and Detroit Lions defensive end Aiden Hutchinson were the Nos. 1 and 2 selections in the 2022 NFL Draft, respectively, so many topics were discussed at the time. I expect both players are happy to play closer to home. I think that was a minimal factor, if it was a factor at all, in the Jaguars selecting Walker No. 1 overall.
Jay from THE BURG, FL
I also agree that Walker's gifts are many. And I agree he sets the tone. And we can agree that, like quarterback Trevor Lawrence, he is the true leader now. And he must play in a system that wins. I just see him playing in a more offensive posture against the run and the pass. Where his strength and quickness can really shine. Defending passes and pursuing runners in the backfield being the key. Unbridle that fury and Let er Rip like Trevor.
I never have thought Walker wasn't "letting it rip," or playing without passion. He ripped and played passionately last season. The main problem was he was ripping passionately with an injured knee and shoulder. When Walker is heathy next season, I expect he will be ripping with passion – and playing at a high level – just as he was in 2023 and 2024.
Stephen from The Jaguar Den
An unladen swallow or that nasty rabbit with HUGE fangs has nothing on the Black Knight. THE BLACK NIGHT ALWAYS TRIUMPHS!
It's a flesh wound.
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. Just read the article about the status of the '26 running backs in the upcoming draft. Short of trading up for Love, which is probably unlikely, it would appear the Jags should save a pick for a different position. Not sure if any of our current backs are Pro Bowlers, yet, but they seem to be a talented group, with blocking and pass catching abilities. How do you think the Jags should address this position in the draft?
The Jaguars hold the No. 56 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. With Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love projected in the Top 10, trading up for him would be as near impossible as possible without actually being impossible. The Jaguars have 11 overall selections in the '26 draft, so "saving" a selection isn't as necessary as determining whether – and possibly where – to select a running back. I expect they will select one, quite likely in the first four or five rounds. How would this work next season? I expect Chris Rodriguez Jr., Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. to make the roster. The Jaguars carried four running backs on the roster to start last season. This is a regime that is willing to do that, so there's room for a drafted rookie.
Chris from Columbus, OH
Zone, what do you think about the Dept. of Justice taking a new look at the NFL's antitrust status overall, and specifically do you think there's any possibility of the Jags selling the rights to preseason games to a streaming service?
I think this is a complex issue and I think, too, that it was inevitable that it would reach this point. The demand for the NFL is such that it would have been unusual for the league not to have taken advantage of potential revenue streams of services such as Netflix, Peacock and Amazon Prime. There also was a gray area already established, with the league having made all games – including out-of-market games – available via the Sunday Ticket for decades. The Sunday Ticket for many fans was an opportunity – a chance to see games not otherwise available nationally or locally. Games on the streaming services is a similar concept, but it felt less like opportunity for fans and more like the league taking advantage of the situation. The sense here is that the tipping point was when the league placed playoff games on streaming services. What once was assumed to be free suddenly was not. I expect any resolution would lean more toward compromise rather than the league losing antirust status, but I'm not a lawyer or a television executive. With the league exploring the idea of allowing teams to sell preseason games to streaming services, I expect the Jaguars would explore it, too.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
Gimme Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, too. After all his accolades, if/when he slips into the second round, you can guarantee the chip on his shoulder will be larger than the Kismet. Warranted based on positional value or not. Outside of kicker, long snapper or quarterback QB, is there a position or two at 56 that would make you really scratch your head and wonder "why?"
Not really.
Jon from Arcanum, OH
A previous poster mentioned the possibility of the Jags drafting the eventual successor to Brenton Strange. That got me thinking, what if the Jags drafted a guy at No. 56 as a complement to Strange? A guy with similar blocking and receiving skills for a tight end. I understand that sort of prospect has to be available at 56, but the possibilities of two Brenton Stranges on the field at the same time in certain packages feels like a huge advantage.
There's a decent chance the Jaguars will address tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft. If they do, I don't expect it will be a player with similar skills as Strange. He's relatively rare in that he is a devastating blocker with capable pass-catching skills. I could absolutely see them selecting a tight end whose skills lean more toward being a receiver.
Johnnu from Jax
Everybody knows it's not a question of airspeed velocity - it's a question of weight ratio.
Fair.
Al from Orange Park, FL
"I don't know what makes Jaguars observers laugh." Yes, you do. You do it every day. You are, after all, the king of all funk. (And that's just your socks).
What do you mean I'm funny? What do you mean? You mean the way I talk? What? Funny how? What's funny about it?
