Nobody has probably been under more scrutiny than general manager James Gladstone after the NFL Draft, and understandably so. The Jacksonville Jaguars defied convention when they picked players before the consensus board projected them to go. Having said that, Gladstone approached the whole process with a clear plan in mind.
The Jags wanted to bring in physical players to bolster the running game. Similarly, they tried to raise the ceiling of several position groups. When you add it all up, Gladstone's draft class doesn't look that bad. Moreover, not all the picks were a reach.
Offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon at No. 88 got widespread approval, with several analysts calling it the steal of the draft. With him in the mix, the Jacksonville offensive line can go from good to outright dominant.
The Jaguars are giving the O-Line a massive boost with Emmanuel Pregnon
Not long after the Jaguars drafted Emmanuel Pregnon, he said he was stoked to land in Jacksonville, pointing out that he didn't know he was going to the Jaguars. The former Oregon Duck later stated that the whole process was a cluster of emotions.
"Oh, man, it's been a roller coaster. It's been a rollercoaster," Pregnon told team reporter Kainani Stevens. "And it's just been a flurry of emotions, and I'm just excited. I'm forever grateful for that, that I got this opportunity, and I'm ready to capitalize in any way I can."
Later in the exchange, Pregnon stated that he'll make sure Trevor Lawrnece will stay protected.
"My mindset is, I die for my quarterback. Nobody's going to touch him with a 10-foot pole. I'll give him all the time he needs. If he wants to sit on the toilet, he's going to sit on that toilet," Pregnon said.
This is the kind of intangible-rich mindset James Glastone wants in players who'll suit up for the Jaguars. Leaving aside his aggressive mentality, Pregnon has size and length to set the tone in the trenches. Couple that with the fact that he's got ample experience lining up at both guard positions, and he could make an impact right off the bat.
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated, for his part, believes Pregnon will add toughness to a Jacksonville offensive line that's been somewhat finesse in past years. Here's the skinny.
"Simply put, the Jaguars' offensive line has been, let's say, a bit of a finesse line for several years now," Shipley wrote. "The Jaguars took steps toward changing this last season with Patrick Mekari, Robert Hainsey, and Wyatt Milum, but there's more work to be done to make the Jaguars bigger, stronger, and more physical in the trenches. Perhaps more than any other guard in the draft, Pregnon helps the Jaguars do that."
And below's Pregnon's exchange with Stevens in case you want to give it a look.
What should Jaguars fans expect from Emmanuel Pregnon?
The Jaguars signed Patrick Mekari to a three-year deal worth $35 million in 2025. He was underwhelming last season. Some of that had to do with the fact that the former Cal Golden Bear had switched to right guard after lining up on the left side the year prior. Moreover, he was hindered by injuries. The expectation is that he's going to bounce back in 2026, but he may need to fend off Emmanuel Pregnon in the offseason workouts.
If Pregnon flashes early on, he will have a realistic chance to start next season. That said, he'll also need to compete with sophomore Wyatt Milum for the primary backup role on the interior.
Regardless of the role Emmanuel Pregnon ends up getting, he'll add immediate competition to the offensive line. That alone will help the Jaguars be better, but don't be shocked if he becomes a fixture up front as soon as next season.
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