JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Yeti Daddy from Somewhere and Yet Nowhere
The goal of this draft is clear, at least to some. The Jaguars have a process they believe in, and that process seems to have led them to adding to the team's level of physicality this offseason – both in the 2026 NFL Draft and free agent signings. Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is what I believe is a clear example of this. I think this is the personality of Head Coach Liam Coen, and it is certainly the personality of Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli. Is that also the personality of the Boy Wonder, General Manager James Gladstone? We know he is smarter than the average bear, but if you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly! Is he a grizzly? This kind of draft will show up in December if the goal was achieved.
The goal of the Jaguars' '26 draft and offseason indeed has been clear – if not to every Jaguars fan and all Jaguars observers, certainly to the team. And that's kinda, sorta the most important part of the process. The Jaguars this offseason wanted to improve their running game and their offensive versatility, efficiency and production. They also wanted to continue getting physically and mentally tougher, something they did last season – and they believe toughness increasingly will be the franchise's identity. One of the cores of all this is improving short-yardage efficiency and overall efficiency in the running game. The move to play more multiple tight end sets should affect this as well. Is Gladstone a grizzly? I haven't the foggiest idea. I do know the Jaguars are going to continue to lean into this identity of physicality as long as this regime is making the decisions. It's not necessarily any particular member of the regime as much as the trio's overall shared philosophy.
John from Jacksonville
What defense would you call if the Jaguars are in 13 personnel and the lone wide receiver is Travis Hunter?
This is tough to answer without knowing the specific scheme and personnel strengths of the defense. It would be tricky to defend because you would want to counter Hunter's speed and athleticism, and you theoretically might want to have a "heavy" defense to counter the potential run play that a three-tight end looks suggests. That could leave Hunter one-one-one with a cornerback, which should be Hunter's advantage. Or you may want to stay in a base defense with two safeties and a cornerback, which could be tricky to defend if you have to put a safety or a linebacker on tight end Brenton Strange. Maybe you should just blitz, because that's what a lot of fans like to do if the pass rush isn't getting home. When in doubt, blitz. Because it always works. Just ask any fan on any given Sunday night.
Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville
I finally found a good use for AI. It turns out the NFL teams who consistently get praised by the media after drafts in recent years are the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs while the teams who consistently get poor media draft grades immediately following drafts are the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills. And now the Jaguars. How do we go about putting this in our pipes and smoking it?
Maybe ask AI.
Jadon from NC State
My Scobee sense tells me you were forgetting someone yesterday. Carter Bradley? Probably. Anyway, who is the best player to wear No. 11 for the Jags in Jaguars history?
Eleven is a pretty deep number in these parts with multiple possibilities for this discussion: Quarterback Jay Fiedler (1999), quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2011-2013), quarterback Rob Johnson (1995-1997), wide receiver Marvin Jones (2021-2022), wide receiver Marqise Lee (2014-2019), wide receiver Mikes Sims-Walker (2009-2019), wide receiver Parker Washington (2023-present) and wide receiver Reggie Williams (2004-2008). Johnson deserves a nod here because he turned into the selection that brought the Jaguars running back Fred Taylor – and Jones made some big catches for this franchise in 2022. But if the answer here isn't Washington already it has a chance to be very soon.
Marlin Day from Trenton, FL
Zone, Tom from Nocatee is spot on about 11. Forget those wide receivers. Rob Johnson might have been the most important pick the Jaguars ever made. I'll let you tell us why.
Johnson certainly qualifies as one of the most important selections in franchise history. The Jaguars selected him with the first selection of the fourth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. He not only became a quality backup, stepping in notably to lead the Jaguars to a come-from-behind victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 in 1997, he eventually was traded to the Buffalo Bills for the No. 9 overall selection in the 1998 NFL Draft. That selection became Taylor, one of the best two or three players in franchise history.
Josh from Middleburg, FL
Hey, John. With the draft now behind us could you see the Jags signing any veteran defensive ends before training camp or are they feeling comfortable with the depth? Thanks!
I don't sense the Jaguars are in a rush or feel pressured to sign a veteran defensive end this offseason. They like defensive ends Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen starting, and they like the competition they expect from second-year veterans Danny Striggow and rookie Wesley Williams. If they get to training camp and feel a need in this area, I expect they would address that need. Defensive end is a position where teams often wait to address issues in this fashion and on this sort of timeline.
Ray from Newport News
Ozone. I have really enjoyed the posts of the best player by number to play for the Jags. I know we are in the early stages of said list. My hope and ask is once the list have been completed that you find a place or an article that captures the complete list. I imagine a few positions will have your top person per position and maybe a close second. Easy numbers like No. 8 will always be quarterback Mark Brunell's number, 28 is Taylor's and 32 is always running back Maurice Jones-Drew's.
OK.
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. Knowing it's early, but do you think JMari Taylor could be the hidden gem of the Jags' undrafted free agents? Many projections (including NFL.com) had him around the 10th best back in the draft, going somewhere between the fifth or sixth round. Last year he led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 1,062 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Think some of his listed attributes being "notable for yards after contact and as a pass-catcher" may have contributed to his pick?
The Jaguars signed Virginia running back J'Mari Taylor as an undrafted free agent shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft – and he absolutely is a player to watch among that group. He not only attended the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, he was widely projected as a possible late-round selection. And yes … receiving ability and yards after contact matter very much for running backs around here. There are no guarantees in the world of UDFAs, but it will be surprising if Taylor isn't at least on the practice squad in 2026 with a chance to develop.
Ryan from Big Stone Gap, VA
Long-time reader, first-time writer. I know a lot has been harped on the draft and draft grades, but every year some team has to be ranked last in the immediate aftermath, and it's going to be the one that went most against the consensus. This year, that was the Jags. After a year or two, will it still be considered the worst? Who knows! That's the fun of actually playing the games rather than declaring a team Super Bowl champions based on the draft/free agency.
Yep.
Stuart from Cottonwood AZ
Are you as glad as I am that most of us clueless fans don't make selections for the Bold New Team of the South!
I'm fine with whatever, I guess, but fans of the Jaguars who want them to win should be really glad the people who are making the selections are the ones making the selections.
Jags4life from Canton, GA and Born in Jax
I find it refreshing that almost everyone thinks we had a bad draft and that Gladstone is arrogant, clearly believing he is the smartest guy in the room. Do we want someone who fits inside the NFL box? I think not. People who are considered groundbreakers MUST think differently than everyone else in order to be a groundbreaker. They are also often seen as a little crazy until those inside the box see life is better on the outside. Here's to Stones being a groundbreaker.
I'd rather have the smartest guy in the room than the dumbest. One fer Gladstone? Sure.
