The Jaguars entered the 2026 NFL Draft with 11 total selections after coming off an overachieving 2025 season that saw the team finish 13–4, claim the AFC South title, and earn a playoff berth. Many thought the team would be aggressive after GM James Gladstone came in hot last year by trading up for unicorn two-way superstar WR/CB Travis Hunter. That would not be the case this year. Jacksonville would not have a first-round selection this year thanks to the Hunter trade. Many fans should be thankful that James Gladstone did not have a first-round selection this year.
Jacksonville Jaguars 2026 NFL Draft Grades: Complacent Failure
Let’s dive into what has been widely viewed as one of the worst draft classes of 2026, and quite frankly, the worst draft class since the days of former Jags GM Gene Smith taking punters and Division III prospects in Round 3.
Round 2, Pick 56
Nate Boerkircher
Tight End, Texas A&M
6’5”, 245 lbs
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first pick of the night was absolutely horrendous. Boerkircher was widely viewed as a fifth or sixth-round prospect by most. I had him going in the sixth round. He’s an undersized (just 245 lbs) blocking tight end who offers very little in the passing game. He’s stiff and not as fluid as you’d like from a player at his position. While he’s known as a blocker, he still has areas for improvement there. Boerkircher will also be an older rookie at 25 years old. Todd McShay had him ranked as his 284th overall prospect and TE24 on his big board. A massive reach for a player that would have been there much later with far superior talents on the board. Wow.
Grade: F
Round 3, Pick 81
Albert Regis
Defensive Tackle, Texas A&M
6’1”, 295 lbs
Another big-time reach. Albert Regis is a fine player—but not at No. 81 overall. He was not in ESPN’s top 125, coming in at 134th overall. He’s very undersized, with short arms (31 inches), and offers very limited pass-rush ability. He does provide upside in the run game, but one must wonder how that will translate at the next level, given his size and length limitations. The Jaguars desperately needed to add a pass rush to their interior defense, but failed to do so with this selection.
Grade: D-
Round 3, Pick 88
Emmanuel Pregnon
Guard, Oregon
6’4”, 315 lbs
Third time’s a charm, right? That’s the case here with Pregnon. He could have easily gone early in Round 2. He is your prototypical NFL guard, with size, power, and length. A 2025 First-Team All-American at Oregon, Pregnon should be a mainstay along the Jaguars’ offensive line. One of the few knocks on him is that he’s another older rookie, coming in at 25 years old this season. Pregnon should be an immediate starter at guard if Gladstone is willing to admit the mistake he made with the 2025 free agent signing, Patrick Mekari.
Grade: A
Round 3, Pick 100
Jalen Huskey
Safety, Maryland
6’1”, 196 lbs
Folks, this pick is beyond baffling at No. 100 overall. It would appear that James Gladstone is officially in over his head after this selection. Some have started to speculate that he is frozen at the wheel. If this team wants to capitalize on its success from 2025, it will need to thaw out and wake up.
Huskey was a seventh-round prospect at best on many boards. I had him pegged as a priority undrafted free agent. He is very limited athletically, his length is a concern (just 30-inch arms), and he is nonexistent in the run game. He was a ball hawk of sorts in college, racking up 11 career interceptions. However, his ability may not translate to the next level, and he will be relegated to special teams only. Not exactly what you want from a top 100 selection.
Grade: F
Round 4, Pick 119
Wesley Williams
Edge, Duke
6’3”, 256 lbs
After this move, it can be confirmed that Gladstone is either frozen at the wheel or suffering from a Trent Baalke-like syndrome of thinking he’s the smartest man in the room. The Jags traded up five spots in the fourth round, sending Pick 166 for this selection and Pick 196.
Williams is an undersized edge player with very limited pass-rush moves and is better known for his run defense and special teams play. The Jaguars swing and miss once again. Williams was ESPN’s 240th-ranked player.
Grade: D-
Round 5, Pick 164
Tanner Koziol
Tight End, Houston
6’6½”, 247 lbs
Another tight end?! Yikes. Koziol was ranked No. 247 overall on his big board—and, ironically, ranked ahead of the Jags’ second-round selection, Nate Boerkircher. You can’t make this stuff up.
Koziol brings much more pass-catching ability than his second-round counterpart but desperately needs time in the weight room to add mass and strength to his frame. He was a three-time All-MAC selection at Ball State before transferring to Houston, where he earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors in his lone season. Another reach—but at least this one offers more upside and is just 22 years old.
Grade: C-
Round 6, Pick 191 Josh Cameron Wide Receiver, Baylor
6’1½”, 220 lbs
This is a pick many expected for Jacksonville—a big-bodied receiver who offers run-blocking upside with some big-play potential. Cameron fits that mold. The Jaguars traded up from Pick 196 to 191, also sending Pick 245.
In 2025, Cameron had his best college season with 69 receptions for 879 yards and 9 touchdowns. His story is impressive, as he originally joined Baylor as a walk-on after receiving no Division I offers out of high school. Cameron lacks burst, and his route running needs work. Nevertheless, he has some upside and a motor that doesn’t quit.
Grade: B-
Round 6, Pick 203
CJ Williams
Wide Receiver, Stanford
6’1”, 205 lbs
And we’re back to head-scratching selections. Williams was not on most big boards and was viewed as a potential undrafted free agent. He is a below-average athlete who lacks explosiveness. With just 1,179 receiving yards from 2022–2025, he doesn’t offer much production on tape, though he did post 749 yards in 2025 at Stanford.
Williams has a long way to go to make the final roster. Just a bad pick by what is starting to look like a bad GM.
Grade: F
Round 7, Pick 233
Zach Durfee
Edge, Washington
6’4”, 247 lbs
I know it’s the seventh round, but Durfee wasn’t even in the top 400 for most evaluators. He doesn’t have a ton of tape, with just 18 games under his belt. He’s an explosive, twitchy edge player, but undersized at 247 lbs. He also struggles with short arms and a lack of pass-rush moves.
I’m not sure how he fits on this roster, but my guess is he’s a practice squad player at best.
Grade: F
Round 7, Pick 240
Parker Hughes
Linebacker, Middle Tennessee State
6’1”, 228 lbs
To finish out the most lackluster and disappointing draft class since the Gene Smith era, James Gladstone fittingly takes a swing at a small-school prospect with outstanding athletic traits.
Hughes is undersized at 228 lbs but displays elite speed, running a 4.39 40 at his pro day. He earned 2025 Second-Team All-CUSA honors after leading MTSU in tackles. However, he is another player who can’t be found on most draft boards. He will need to add weight and strength to compete at the next level.
He’s an intriguing prospect due to his athleticism, but he will be limited by his size.
Grade: D
The 2026 NFL Draft is a frustrating one for Jaguars fans. On Twitter, some fans were even saying they missed Trent Baalke, while others were calling for Gladstone to be fired. This team greatly overachieved in 2025 thanks to the coaching of Liam Coen, but after making virtually no upgrades to the roster, regression feels inevitable.
There is one word to sum up the Jaguars’ 2026 NFL Draft, and really their entire offseason: complacent. Complacency is the gateway to failure. In the NFL, the window for success can close in the blink of an eye.
Let’s hope Gladstone truly is the smartest man in the room and not just another blundering “wonderkid” in over his head.
