There was no greater position of need for the Jacksonville Jaguars than defensive tackle ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Or at least that wasn't the case until they sent Maason Smith to the Atlanta Falcons in return for Ruke Orhorhoro.
With no defensive tackle inside the top 55 at the position in Pro Football Network's Defensive Tackle Impact (DTi) score last year, Jacksonville probably needed at least two contributors. Smith, a 2024 second-round pick, played over 50 percent of the snaps just once last year — a sign he'd lost favor with the new coaching staff.
Then, Jacksonville's ascending general manager James Gladstone pulled off a heist, sending Smith to the Atlanta Falcons for Ruke Orhorhoro.
Orhorhoro has his own warts, but the explosive 3-technique generated 30 pressures last year and will absolutely get after the quarterback in Black & Teal.
What does the Orhorhoro acquisition tell us about the Jaguars' NFL Draft plans just five days from the event kicking off in Pittsburgh?
Jaguars will beef up their run defense in the 2026 NFL Draft
Many mock drafts for the 2026 NFL Draft have Jacksonville selecting Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller, but I’m not so sure he is the right fit anymore.
The Jags' interior defensive line is still missing beef. 335-pound DaVon Hamilton is a serviceable option, but a middle-of-the-pack run defense could use a real plug on early downs. Hamilton's 9.6 percent stuff rate was 19th in the NFL, but the stress of this unit will be heightened without Devin Lloyd.
New names to watch at defensive tackle for the Jaguars
Throughout the draft, there will be quality nose tackles available. Orhorhoro might cross off names like Gracen Halton and Zane Durant, but I'll be watching closely when the Jags are on the clock to see when they choose to invest here.
Texas Tech's Lee Hunter is increasingly likely to slip in the direction of No. 56. Hunter's disruptive, brutish strength jumps off the tape, but concerning measurements and tests at the combine are closer to "undraftable" status. It's a fine balance teams will navigate on Day 2.
In Round 3, Iowa State's Dominique Orange was the very first player that popped in my head as a potential target following the deal. "Big Citrus" is a 324-pound mountain with rare movement skills for a big guy. He battled some lower-body injuries last year and doesn't provide much upside to rush the passer, but that's a strong consideration. Jacksonville has three third-round picks.
Extending into Saturday, Cincinnati's Dontay Corleone could be worth a look. Corleone battled blood clots in college, so his medicals won't be for everyone, but he's absolutely a stout, hard-to-move force in the run game. Corleone's complete lack of a first step is why he'll likely be drafted in the final three rounds.
Jacksonville put itself in a more flexible draft position by acquiring Orhorhoro, but I expect them to address the position at some point with one of 11 total selections. Remember, Gladstone's roots come from the LA Rams -- a team that has invested several mid-round picks into defensive tackles in recent years.
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