If nothing else was certain on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, at least we can be sure that the Jacksonville Jaguars will be running the ball to glory this season.
At Pick 88, the Jags selected Oregon offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon, a first-team All-Big Ten player who was a major contributor to the Ducks' success last year. It's definitely fair to call Pregnon's acquisition a steal, as he was ESPN's third-ranked guard and 47th-ranked prospect overall.
With such a talented player's arrival, it's obvious that someone currently on the roster will be on the chopping block. Ezra Cleveland is someone who comes to mind since he's entering the final season of his contract, but Chuma Edoga is actually the tenured veteran who should be looking over his shoulder.
Chuma Edoga's spot on the roster may have been filled in the blink of an eye
Before the draft, there were questions surrounding Edoga's place on the roster as the Jaguars teetered on the edge of the salary cap. The thought of Edoga being replaced by a scrappy rookie wasn't even that outlandish, and now it looks like that hypothetical outcome has become a reality.
The interior of the offensive line should be taken care of throughout the 2026 season. Even though Cleveland will be playing for a new contract in Jacksonville or elsewhere, it doesn't make sense for the team to wait this long to cut ties with a potential starter. Likewise, Walker Little or Wyatt Milum are more likely to take Patrick Mekhari's spot if something crazy happens.
That means the backup spots at left or right guard have become even more competitive. Despite his underwhelming tenure thus far, Little has the ability to play left tackle and is already under contract with a competitive salary. So, while it seems like Edoga and a couple of other linemen may be expendable, James Gladstone's tendency to rely on players who were already in the building before he got there hints that Little could be staying put.
Unlike Matt Dickerson's situation, I don't see a loose, outside possibility that Edoga makes it out of this one. His fits across the league are awfully limited as well, since there are four more rounds of draft picks to go through and the always plentiful undrafted free agent market. To throw even more salt in the wound, finding a cheap, backup offensive lineman who stayed ready and in shape by playing in the UFL this spring could lessen the demand for No. 55's services as well.
We'll see how things shake out, but it's clear that Pregnon's presence in Jacksonville is already due to cause some shake ups on the roster.
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