By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

When the Jacksonville Jaguars walked into the 2026 NFL Draft, they were already operating under a different set of circumstances than most teams.

For the first time in franchise history, Jacksonville didn’t have a first round pick.

But that wasn’t an accident. That pick had already been spent a year earlier in a deal with the Cleveland Browns that helped the Jaguars land one of the most electric young players in football, Travis Hunter, with the second overall pick in 2025.

So, when you look at Jacksonville’s 2026 draft, you can’t judge it the same way you judge most draft classes.

There wasn’t going to be a splashy headline pick. Instead, this draft was about building the roster out and giving quarterback Trevor Lawrence more help. And honestly, that’s exactly what the Jaguars tried to do.

Jacksonville started in the second round by selecting Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher. That pick makes a lot of sense when you think about what this offense needs.

For years, the Jaguars have been trying to get more production out of the tight end position, and Boerkircher brings a nice mix of pass catching ability and blocking. In other words, he’s the kind of player who can stay on the field for all three downs.

Then in the third round, Jacksonville went back to Texas A&M again and grabbed defensive tackle Albert Regis. This one felt like a classic “get bigger and tougher” type of pick.

The Jaguars have had stretches where they struggled to control the line of scrimmage, especially against the run, and Regis adds some muscle inside.

But if there’s a pick Jaguars fans should really pay attention to, it might be offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon from Oregon.

If this franchise is serious about getting the most out of Trevor Lawrence, protecting him has to be priority number one. Pregnon brings versatility along the offensive line, and depth up front is never a bad thing in the NFL.

The Jaguars kept addressing needs later in the third round when they selected Maryland defensive back Jalen Huskey, a guy who picked off four passes last season. Jacksonville has clearly been trying to add more playmakers in the secondary, and Huskey fits that mold.

Once day three rolled around, the Jaguars shifted into what you might call roster building mode. They even traded up in the fourth round to grab Duke edge rusher Wesley Williams, which tells you he was a player they specifically wanted.

The rest of the class added more depth across the board. Houston tight end Tanner Koziol, Baylor wide receiver Josh Cameron, Stanford receiver CJ Williams, Washington edge rusher Zach Durfee, and linebacker Parker Hughes out of Middle Tennessee State.

Now let’s be honest. None of those picks are going to dominate the national headlines.

That’s just the reality when you don’t have a first round pick.

But here’s the thing Jaguars fans should remember. A lot of really good NFL teams are built on day two and day three of the draft.

You don’t always need the flashy pick. Sometimes what you really need are solid players who fill roles, compete for snaps, and develop over time. And that’s what Jacksonville seems to be aiming for here.

This draft felt less like a blockbuster and more like a roster tune up. Add a weapon for Trevor Lawrence. Strengthen the offensive line. Get bigger up front on defense. Bring in competition at receiver and in the secondary.

It might not be the kind of draft that gets fans jumping out of their seats right now.

But if even a few of these players turn into reliable contributors, the Jaguars might look back a couple of years from now and realize this class quietly helped push the team forward.