Duvaaaalll’s Next Step: How the Jaguars Can Navigate a First-Round-Less 2026 NFL Draft
It is perfectly normal for the Jacksonville faithful to be sipping a cocktail of elation and low-key dread right now. On one hand, the Jaguars are coming off a spectacular 13-4 season and an AFC South division title in 2025 under head coach Liam Coen. On the other hand, the reality of the NFL salary cap is knocking at the door at EverBank Stadium, and free agency departures are looming.
To compound that anxiety, you are going to have to wait a while on draft night. I hear your frustration—it is hard to sit out Thursday night’s first-round festivities. But let’s ground ourselves in reality: trading that 2026 first-round pick to secure a two-way superstar like Travis Hunter in 2025 was objectively the right move. Now, it is up to general manager James Gladstone to prove he can build premium depth on Days 2 and 3.
Here is a candid look at the Jaguars’ draft capital, their most pressing roster holes, and exactly who they should target when they are finally on the clock.
The Draft Capital Reality
Not having a first-round pick hurts, but the Jaguars are far from empty-handed. Through some savvy draft-day maneuvering last year—specifically a trade down with the Detroit Lions—Jacksonville is actually sitting on a volume-heavy war room.
The Jaguars possess 10 total draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Their action kicks off in the second round at No. 56 overall, but the real meat of their draft is in the third round, where they hold three crucial selections: Nos. 81, 88, and 100. Those middle-round picks are the exact sweet spot for finding immediate rotational contributors, which is exactly what a cap-strapped, Super Bowl-contending roster needs.
Assessing the Glaring Needs
Despite the glittering 2025 record, Jacksonville's roster has clear structural deficiencies that must be addressed if they want to get past the Divisional Round.
1. Interior Offensive Line Do not let the team's offensive success mask the ugliness of their run-blocking. The Jaguars ranked 24th in the league last year in yards before contact per rush (1.09 yards). This is a unit that desperately needs an injection of youth and nasty physicality on the interior to keep Trevor Lawrence upright and pave the way in the ground game.
2. Cornerback and Secondary Depth The plan for 2026 is reportedly to transition Travis Hunter into a full-time defensive back, which is a massive upgrade. However, with Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown hitting free agency, and veteran safety Eric Murray viewed as a potential cap casualty, the secondary is dangerously thin. Getting the band back together is unlikely, so fresh legs are required to survive the elite passing attacks of the AFC.
3. Running Back Travis Etienne is hitting free agency, and the Jaguars may not have the luxury to pay top dollar for a veteran back. While 2025 draft picks Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. showed flashes in Liam Coen's system, the offense needs a reliable, between-the-tackles grinder to shoulder the early-down workload.
4. Edge Rusher / Defensive Line Jacksonville's run defense was arguably the best in the NFL last season, but their pass-rush productivity outside of Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker was dismal. Veteran Arik Armstead is aging, and the team finished bottom-10 in total sacks. They need a rotational edge rusher who can consistently win one-on-one matchups on third down.
Who Should the Jaguars Target?
With their cluster of Day 2 picks, Gladstone and Coen need to target "snap-eaters"—players who can immediately step into a rotation. Here is who they should have circled on their big board:
Chase Bisontis, Guard, Texas A&M (Target: Pick 56): If the Jaguars want to fix their run-blocking woes, Bisontis is the physical mauler they need. He has the violent hands and anchoring ability to immediately push for starting reps at guard and reset the line of scrimmage.
Anthony Hill Jr., Linebacker, Texas (Target: Pick 56): If Devin Lloyd departs in free agency, Hill makes a ton of sense if he slides to the back of the second round. He posted jaw-dropping combine numbers and has the sideline-to-sideline speed required for modern NFL run defense.
Jermod McCoy, Cornerback, Tennessee (Target: Pick 56 or 81): A fluid athlete with great ball skills. If Hunter commands the CB1 role, pairing him with a high-upside rookie like McCoy on a cheap four-year deal is the smartest financial and tactical move the Jaguars can make.
Mike Washington Jr., Running Back, Arkansas (Target: Pick 81 or 88): A physical, decisive runner with great lateral cuts. If Coen wants to deploy a running back committee in the post-Etienne era, Washington has the ideal three-down skill set to compliment Tuten's speed.
Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech (Target: Pick 88 or 100): Height is a raw but explosive pass rusher who could immediately step into a situational third-down role to spell Walker and Hines-Allen, adding much-needed juice to the defensive front.
The Verdict
It is easy to get caught up in the stress of an off season cap crunch, but the Jaguars are operating from a position of strength. They have their franchise quarterback, they have elite top-end talent, and they have the Day 2 draft capital to patch their roster holes. If they can secure a road-grader on the offensive line and a physical corner in the second and third rounds, Duvaaaaallll will be primed for another deep playoff run in 2026.
