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Every team is excited about their incoming class of rookies, but how will those new players affect each team in 2026?
Let's look at the Jacksonville Jaguars, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from their class while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Jacksonville Jaguars 2026 Draft Class: Which Rookies Will Make an Impact?
GM James Gladstone made one of the wildest reaches of the draft with the selection of Nate Boerkircher (second round). Boerkircher had 19 career catches during his six years in college and will be 25 years old when he makes his debut. Although he tested well at the Combine and flashed some athleticism last year at Texas A&M, Boerkircher was used primarily as a blocking tight end at Nebraska. Gladstone explained the selection as part of a desire to use more heavy formations next season, implying that Boerkircher was favored for his blocking skills. That is an arrogant misuse of draft capital in the second round.
Gladstone reached again for Albert Regis (third round), who will likely play nose tackle in Jacksonville, but is an outlier in terms of weight and length. Regis primarily lined up at the 2i spot on the defensive line at Texas A&M, which is where Davon Hamilton typically lines up for the Jaguars. However, drafting the 293-pound Regis to back up the 335-pound Hamilton was an odd choice. Regis flashes some potential against the run in that role for the Aggies, making a tackle on 23% of his snaps in the run game, the fifth-highest rate among power-conference interior linemen. Although he’s an odd fit in Hamilton’s role, it’s unlikely Jacksonville would trust him in the three-tech spot after his dreadful pass-rush performance with the Aggies.
Emmanuel Pregnon (third round) finally provided some decent value for the Jaguars draft class. Pregnon might push Ezra Cleveland for the starting job at left guard, but will almost certainly take over in 2027 after Cleveland hits free agency. With an impressive strength and length combination for the interior offensive line, Pregnon will help improve Jacksonville’s power rushing attack.
Gladstone reached again for Jalen Huskey (third round), a safety with below-average length and agility. Despite his modest traits, Huskey did show off some ball-hawk skills, hauling in 7 interceptions during his two seasons at Maryland. Huskey played both cornerback and safety in college, but likely provides depth at free safety in Jacksonville. Wesley Williams (fourth round) adds some depth to the defensive line. He’s a physical run defender but lacks the athletic traits to have much upside as a pass rusher.
Tanner Koziol (fifth round) joins Boerkircher on the depth chart at tight end. He’s a decent blocker and likely sees some action in three-tight-end sets, but also lacks much upside as a pass catcher. Josh Cameron (sixth round) is a big downfield weapon who has the potential to develop into a valuable receiver, especially if Brian Thomas Jr. isn’t part of the team’s long-term plans. Even late on Day 3, CJ Williams (sixth round) could be considered a reach. Like Cameron, Williams struggles to create separation 一 29% of his targets in 2025 were contested 一 but unlike Cameron, he lacks the size and strength to be trusted to win those battles in the NFL.
Zach Durfee (seventh round) turns 25 in October and never made a consistent impact during his three years at Washington, so it’s tough to buy into his developmental upside despite his athletic traits. Durfee’s testing numbers are worth a flier in the seventh round, but a 24-year-old grown man with those athletic traits should generate more than a 14% pressure rate against college kids. Parker Hughes (seventh round) is an undersized off-ball linebacker who spent five years at Middle Tennessee.
Gladstone’s approach to this draft was downright arrogant, selecting players far earlier than they were expected to come off the board. To make matters worse, most of them play non-premium positions and are older prospects. An occasional reach here and there for a player you feel strongly about can be justified, but it is impossible to build a winning franchise when more draft picks than not are considered substantial reaches. No one is consistently smarter than the consensus. For the second year in a row, Gladstone wasted considerable draft capital, and the franchise will start to feel the effects of his arrogance in the near future as the Jaguars’ depth suffers from his strategy.
This analysis continues in the 2026 Football Preview
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