3 surprise positions the Jaguars will target in the 2026 NFL Draft

Analysts — yours truly included — have predicted what the Jacksonville Jaguars media will do in the NFL Draft. Often, the same positions pop up in the conversation: Defensive tackles, linebackers, and EDGE rushers in anticipation of the team beefing up the front seven.

The Jags have 11 picks at their disposal, though. Many of them will come on Day 3 when finding an impact contributor isn't the main objective. More likely than not, James Gladstone and Liam Coen will surprise us with a choice or two.

With this in mind, here are my bold calls for positions of selected players that you might not see coming — especially on Saturday, as the team's future is on their mind.

Quarterback

Thankfully for Duval County, the Jaguars aren't trying to find their franchise quarterback. Trevor Lawrence is that guy, pal.

However, things weren't always sunny for Lawrence in his first year in Coen's scheme. The former No. 1 overall pick's gradual improvement throughout the season has him as the unquestioned starter, but the Jags still have several other questions at the position.

What happens if Lawrence gets hurt? Nick Mullins is hardly an answer. Can the team generate trade value from the position -- similar to how the Patriots did with Joe Milton III? Could Coen, a quarterback whisperer in three consecutive spots, mold a successor for Lawrence if the penalties, mistakes, and misreads continue?

The answer to all three of those could be had in this year's quarterback class, which is perfect for finding one of those guys as a project. Drew Allar, Cade Klubink, Garrett Nussmeier, and Sawyer Robertson were all floated as potential first-round picks before poor seasons for all of them. Is there a quality reclamation project out there?

I made my case for Allar in my Jaguars 7-round mock draft already, but Klubnik would also be a natural fit with a similar makeup from Clemson as T-Law.

Tight End

This positional choice is a numbers game. While tight end doesn't have Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland, we could see 20-25 tight ends drafted in Pittsburgh. It's a deep group that'll largely come off the board on Day 3.

Brenton Strange finally started to deliver on his athletic gifts last season, but ranking 22nd in catches and 18th in yards at the position wasn't exactly a statement that he's an All-Pro. Compounding the issue is that Quintin Morris and Hunter Long have 41 career catches combined.

I actually think a productive use of a Saturday selection would be getting some real receiving upside at the position, and there are nominees. Cincinnati's Joe Royer is a polished yet unspectacular option. NC State's Justin Joly caught seven touchdowns for a dismal passing attack last season. Baylor's Michael Trigg has been a productive target for years if he can clean up some character issues:

It's not a commonly mocked position for the Jaguars, at least not that often, but tight end was an integral part of Coen's offense in Tampa Bay. Cade Otton had 87 targets. I really think they'd like to get another body in the room with upside to catch passes.

Cornerback

I think the endless Travis Hunter rumors are a smokescreen. It'd be organizational malpractice to take a wide receiver over a corner in this class that is much deeper at the latter position — especially after investing so much capital into Hunter.

Especially with one of their three Day 2 picks, don't be surprised if the Jaguars pluck a corner to potentially start next to Montaric Brown and Jourdain Lewis, freeing up Hunter to go where the flow of the season (and injuries) takes them.

I highlighted Arkansas cornerback Julian Neal here at Black and Teal, but the third round won't be short on names. Ohio State's Davison Igbinosun is also a natural Round 3 fit after having cleaned up the penalties in a productive, competitive 2025 campaign.

Both sides of a Jacksonville-based rivalry are in play, too. Georgia's Daylen Everette is a long, fast playmaker with loads of college experience, and Florida's Devin Moore could even be a hidden gem on Day 3 if he can put injury woes behind him.

Importantly, Hunter (6'0") is the largest corner of that currently entrenched trio. All four of those names would bring much-needed size to the Jags' secondary as they draw matchups with Nico Collins and Alec Pierce inside the division.

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