JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Matt from Pace, FL
Yo, Zone! We made a couple picks that I really like, and we made quite a few that were head-scratchers to me. But I am going to trust the guys that have poured their lives into making these decisions. It sounds like Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone and Co. had a specific type of player they were targeting, and if they truly stick to their guns on that, then good on them. Toughness, high character, dedication, a love for football … if that is the Jags' DNA, I'm here for it!
We're close to having run our course on this topic – i.e., the good, not-so-good and not-always beautiful reactions to this past weekend's Jaguars 2026 NFL Draft. To review yet again, the Jaguars selected 10 players in that draft: Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher (Round 2, No. 56 overall), Texas A&M defensive tackle Albert Regis (Round 3, No. 81 overall), Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon (Round 3, No. 88 overall), Maryland safety Jalen Huskey (Round 3, No. 100 overall), Duke edge Wesley Williams (Round 4, No. 119 overall), Houston tight end Tanner Koziol (Round 5, No. 164 overall), Baylor wide receiver Josh Cameron (Round 6, No. 191 overall), Stanford wide receiver CJ Williams (Round 6, No. 203 overall), Washington edge Zach Durfee (Round 7, No. 233 overall) and Middle Tennessee State linebacker Parker Hughes (Round 7, No. 240 overall). Many observers didn't love the draft because the Jaguars didn't have the courtesy select every player at every position precisely where those observers expected them to be selected. This will not be the first time observers have not loved a draft and those observers' observations will have not an ounce to do with the success or failure of the class. The Jaguars selected players with the idea of finding players who fit their approach and their goal is to win games, not the draft. They indeed "stuck to their guns," which meant the "Jaguars DNA" you cited – toughness, high character, dedication, a love for football – ruled the day. How this class will fare in the NFL, I do not know. Because no one does. I do know the Jaguars operate without worrying about how observers feel about their process, which when it comes to building a culture and a team is the only logical way to operate.
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, it's a good draft if you are looking for depth, not so good if you are looking for starters.
The Jaguars went into the 2026 NFL Draft with no Top 50 selections. It wasn't going to be a draft with multiple first-year starters. Whatever analysts may say to the contrary, teams generally consider players outside the Top 50 players who will contribute early and start later. Also: Where on the Jaguars' roster do we think a first-year player – outside of the first round – was going to start?
David from Maplewood, NJ
John, I don't know if any of these guys the team drafted will be good or not and neither does anyone critical of the draft – including Mel Kiper Jr. To quote Money Ball, "I know, I know … and you don't, you don't." I will say this: I will feel a whole lot better about the team's future once they get Strange and Washington signed to extensions because I do know they are both very, very good.
I expect the Jaguars want very much to extend the contracts of tight end Brenton Strange and wide receiver Parker Washington. They're good players. The Jaguars like them.
Andy from Green Cove Springs, FL
I have seen bashing of the Jaguars for their picks, but after watching several of the initial press conferences, it is obvious that character, work ethic and versatility are the most important traits they are looking for. I can live with that. The draft also tells me they don't think there were as many glaring holes in the roster as the media does. After last year, I am willing to give Coen & Stones the benefit of the doubt.
OK.
Yeti Daddy from Somewhere and Yet Nowhere
How do you do it? I know you say, "Be Nice." "Grades" are as relevant as the mock drafts. And you must shift through the expert fan emails, who know how much of a train wreck, home run and everything in between this draft was. I for one will trust the team making the picks, and see how they look in December.
Analysts analyze. Mockers mock. Draftniks do whatever it is draftniks do. Observers observe. Fans fan. It's what they all do and we're in this crazy world together. For better or worse. Thank goodness.
Tony from Belleville
Now that the draft is over, is the roster better this year than it was this time last year?
We shall see.
Daniel from Johnston, IA
Regarding the decision to draft two tight ends in this draft, did Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen and Gladstone/Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli meet and Coen was like, "Look I want to run more tight end packages next year, we need tight ends." How exactly did that focus develop?
Good question – so good, in fact, that I asked Gladstone something to this effect when he was a guest on this week's O-Zone Podcast. His answer: "A lot of that becomes just organic dialogue that occurs over the course of a year. At the same time, we have systematic touch points to really chop through those sorts of things at the same time. But it's those micro-moments that I really think move forward more than any of the structure. That's a massive piece to the puzzle."
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
One only need look at the snap grades from any previous year to see how ridiculous and comical those are from mostly national media. This would be a more productive discussion in three years. Tight ends seem criminally undervalued considering how important they are in both the running and passing games.
Pretty much, yeah.
Josh from Atlanta
I always love digging through the undrafted free agents to see if we can guess any potential gems that might make a bit of noise. At first glance, Virginia running back J'Mari Taylor looks like he might bring some oomph. With the room this full, he has a big hill to climb. Looking forward to seeing what he might do. Is there a particular position you think a guy might have a better chance to make at least the practice squad? Or not really?
One of the hallmarks of the Jaguars under Gladstone and Coen is a belief that late-round selections and undrafted free agents should have equal – and real – opportunity to make the roster. This was seen in 2025 when seventh-round running back LeQuint Allen Jr. and undrafted free agent defensive ends B.J. Green and Danny Striggow not only made the roster but played significant roles. The Jaguars emphasize this with agents and players, and there really isn't a position where rookie free agent couldn't at least be on the practice. Players to watch here: Taylor and UCLA guard Garrett DiGiorgio. There are others. Start there.
Al from Orange Park, FL
I was thinkin' that we needed to draft a pass rushing defensive tackle to ultimately replace defensive tackle Arik Armstead. Regis isn't that. Then I realized that, aside from rotation, Regis is Hamilton's eventual replacement. Does that sound about right? What is Hamilton's contract status after 2026?
The Jaguars selected defensive tackle Albert Regis in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft because he can give them penetration and disruption at the position. He's perhaps not a high-end pass rusher, but high-end pass rushers at defensive tackle are really hard to find and few teams have them. Jaguars nose tackle DaVon Hamilton's contract expires at the end of the 2026 season, but I expect there's a very, very, very good chance he signs an extension and is with the team beyond that.
JAY from THE BURG FL.
Mr. O, When comes to Robert Saleh sayin' we cheat, Mr. Coen didn't back up. When it comes to Sean Payton sayin' we're small, Mr. Coen didn't back up. And when they talk about Jacksonville, Mr. Shad Khan a.k.a. "The Big Iguana" and "DUVAL" county gave them about $2 billion reasons we ain't Backin' Up!
OK.
Caljaguar from Gulfport MS
I understand drafting two tight ends for 12 and 13 personnel. But if that's your plan, what are you going to do with these receivers you just paid and the one you plan to pay? That doesn't include moving up for wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft. It just doesn't make any sense to me. I love this team, I'm just tired of hating our front office and don't want to be back in that mindset.
The Jaguars aren't just going to play 12 and 13 personnel. They're going to play it more than they have in the past. Teams run more than one personnel package in today's NFL.
