JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Reese from Loyal Jaguar Fan in Va
I cannot be the only one that enjoyed and was so glad we took such a beautiful and methodical approach to this year's draft! Go Jags!!!
The Jaguars indeed took a comparatively methodical – and patient – approach to the 2026 NFL Draft, which they concluded by selecting six players on Saturday's Day 3. That brought their three-day total to 10 selections, with the list as follows: 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). That the Jaguars didn't trade up early – either into Round 1 or up in Round 2 from No. 56 overall – seems to have surprised many observers. That they didn't select edge rusher or linebacker – or some other "sexy "position – early also seemed to surprise many observers. A lot of observers overall seemed surprised at some of the Jaguars' specific selections. As often happens when observers are surprised in the draft, anger and confusion and angst ensued in some Jaguars circles. That's hardly a new or concerning happening, with very few NFL drafts in my three decades experience not coming with some degree of angst and misunderstanding on the part of fans and observers. Bottom line: The Jaguars focused on improving the tight end position in this draft, also focusing on toughness and line play. The general feeling within the Miller Electric Center is they got done what they wanted to get done, and they feel good about this class. How well did they do? We won't know that Sunday or Monday. Or next month. Or even next season. We'll see as time moves forward, as is the case with … well, pretty much every NFL Draft ever.
Nolan from St. Augustine, FL
Bringing six tight ends in to camp this year. Wouldn't think we keep more than three active for game days. Seems we intend to either cut two from our existing group, or maybe we are drafting guys for the practice squad? Please help this make sense for us lowly armchair experts.
If there is a theme to the Jaguars' 2026 NFL Draft, it's that they are clearly reshaping and reemphasizing the tight end position. They already had a front-line tight end in fourth-year veteran Brenton Strange – a tough, versatile player. They added depth and versatility this weekend by selecting Boerkircher and Koziol – with the idea being to play two- and three- tight-end ("12 and 13 personnel") packages extensively moving forward. I therefore expect the Jaguars will have four tight ends playing extensively in 2026 – Strange, veteran Quintin Morris, Boerkircher and Koziol. I don't think there's a guarantee that they will take six tight ends into training camp. Three tight ends on the roster used to be sort of a lot. Four tight ends for the foreseeable future figures to be sort of the norm. The Jaguars are not drafting guys for the practice squad. They're drafting guys because they want to be able to use two and three tight ends on the field at the same time – and if you're going to do that, you need more than three on the roster.
Zach from Jacksonville
"I can't believe we took that tight end with a 'strange' name in the second round, way ahead of other tight ends I would have preferred we take! This guy didn't have much statistical production in college, what are we doing?!?!?!" I am of course referring to the selection of Brenton Strange in Round 2 in 2023, roundly criticized as an awful pick at the time and now one of the best handful of players on our team. Good for thought.
Good eye.
Daniel from St. Johns
The volume and detail of information that Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone has shared about player evaluation and draft strategy has been incredible. How can anyone think the sports writers and podcasters know better who the Jaguars should have picked?
Fans gonna fan, sportswriters gonna sports write and podcasters gonna do whatever it is that is. It's what they do.
Jordan from Fresno, CA
I think the Jaguars started from the bottom of the draft boards or had it flipped. I haven't seen one positive response to the Jaguars' second-round pick. This reminds me of the Strange pick, but worse. The most positive thing I have read is head-scratcher. Why do I get my hopes that the Jaguars are ever going to draft well? Just trade all the picks away next time. Better than throwing them in the trash.
We're not going to wallow in the muck and mire of this theme much longer. It's pretty well- established fans and observers didn't understand and were frustrated with the Jaguars selecting Boerkircher, an unsurprising development because history tells us fans often don't understand and get frustrated with selections that aren't heavily discussed before the draft. A couple of thoughts before we sink our mental equity into the rest of the draft. One is that the Jaguars didn't "start from the bottom of the draft board." Another is that if selecting Boerkircher reminds you of Strange, that would be a glorious and productive selection. As for the most important discussion point … did the Jaguars draft well this weekend? Maybe. Maybe not. Check back in two years.
Joel from Kings Landing
Do you think the New England Patriots traded up to No. 55 to grab a defensive end because they thought it was someone the Jaguars were targeting?
Maybe.
Steve from San Marco
Reading the bios on this site, the last two picks Friday had bios five times longer and 10 times more impressive than the first two. And Teal and Black had our first pick slated as a fourth- or fifth-round talent. What gives? All that time and waiting to see who was still on the board and Nate was their highest rated? And I thought tight end was more of a luxury pick than pressing need. I trust the front office, but this was a head scratcher.
Memo to self: Check with Gladstone Monday and make sure he folds bio length into his draft evaluation process. And make sure he consults with Teal and Black, too. (Second memo to self: Gladstone will act like he hates this idea, but that will be an act. Persevere and push through.)
Drew from Buford
Rosella, Gladstone and Coen had a remarkable year last year. Turned the franchise around. Got better play out of existing players. So, with this draft, maybe they know something we don't. But it's plausible they aren't really great at the "draft game." The trade last year for wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is still TBD, but we are seeing why those trades are usually frowned upon. Our team has not gotten better this offseason. I am skeptical that any of these players other than Pregnon make this team any better than a post- or late-draft pick would have. I guess I'm a little concerned that we lost major contributors, and have not done much to address that. Are they playing a longer-term strategy? Do they really think we have improved our team from last year at this point? I want to trust the process, but I would like to hear them discuss the plan to get better this year because I am not seeing it.
"Maybe they know something we don't." I try not to overemphasize this point because to emphasize it too much sometimes seems to be insulting fans. But if the people who run NFL teams don't know at least a little something fans don't, something has gone terrible awry. One thing I do know: Whoever that Rosella guy is deserves a raise. Maybe a big one. And maybe a gold jacket.
Jimsure from DBS
No question, but I love reading the questions about why we drafted XYZ instead of the player that the fan wanted. I like certain players also, but I think the people who do this for a living know much more about a player than the fans. I know, fans gonna fan.
It's what they do.
Al from Orange Park, FL
Poz looked good up there didn't he? Proud of the way he represented our team.
Former Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny indeed did a nice job representing the team in Pittsburgh, Pa., announcing several Day 2 selections. If only the guy had kept himself in physical shape after retiring …
Bill from Iselin, NJ
No real question, just wanted to be the first to say RIP to your inbox following Day 3 of the draft. I'm sure all messages will be based in rationality, calmness, and a total respect to the big picture…
Yes. That's what happened. No, wait …
