The Jacksonville Jaguars caught lots of heat for their 2026 draft class because they ignored the consensus big board and instead stuck with their internal process. Some analysts made it sound like they were pulling random names from a hat, but the truth is that the Jags were looking for players who fit their vision. And in Week 1, they got an intriguing glimpse.
While not all of their rookies played in the 34-10 win over the Cleveland Browns, tight end Nate Boerkircher, offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon, and wide receiver CJ Williams most definitely made an impression in their NFL debut.
With this in mind, here's how all Jaguars' rookies looked in the season opener and the impact they could have moving forward.
Jaguars rookie stock report ahead of the Broncos game in Week 2
Nate Boerkircher, tight end
Without a doubt, Nate Boerkircher was the Jags' most controversial draft pick in 2026. Leaving aside that his passing numbers didn't pop off the stat sheet at Texas A&M, Jacksonville chose to ignore the consensus big board, picking him way before he was expected. Then again, the team's decision-makers knew the former Aggie would be the perfect piece to run multiple tight-end sets alongside Brenton Strange. They knew what they were doing.
Boerkircher played nearly as much as Strange against the Browns and showcased his ability to block. He only had one catch for nine yards, but head coach Liam Coen expects that amount to increase as the year progresses.
Albert Regis, defensive tackle
Even though defensive tackle was seemingly the Jaguars' biggest need ahead of the draft, they passed on the top prospects at the position and waited until Round 3 to select Albert Regis. Seen as a nose tackle who can stuff the run, Regis could be DaVon Hamilton's heir apparent if he leaves. For the time being, he's stuck behind Hamilton, Arik Armstead, and Matt Dickerson. That was reflected in his snap count.
The former Aggie only played 12 defensive snaps in his NFL debut. He could get more later in the season, but it's hard to see him make a surge on the depth chart at this moment.
Emmanuel Pregnon, left guard
The Jaguars didn't get high grades for most of their 2026 draft picks. Pregnon was one of the exceptions, with some analysts going as far as calling him a steal in Round 3. The former Oregon Duck seemed to have an uphill battle to earn a starting role as a rookie, but he ended up getting the nod at left guard.
While Pregnon wasn't perfect, he showed massive upside and generally looked good. Keep in mind that it was just his first NFL start, so he still has plenty of untapped potential and should have no trouble unlocking it sooner rather than later.
Jalen Huskey, safety
Jalen Huskey was a ballhawk at Maryland, but landed in a crowded safety room when the Jaguars used a third-round selection on him in this year's draft. Precisely because the former Terrapin is stuck behind Antonio Johnson, Eric Murray, Caleb Ransaw, and Rayuan Lane III, he didn't log a single snap on either defense or special teams in Week 1.
Then again, Huskey was active, and that's a step in the right direction. The same cannot be said about Wesley Williams (more on him later).
Wesley Williams, defensive end
With B.J. Green II, Danny Striggow, and Bryan Thomas Jr., Wesley Williams was always going to have trouble getting playing time even though he made the 53-man roster. The Jags just placed Green on IR, but that may still not be enough for Williams to earn a few snaps. And that's because Jacksonville also signed BJ Ojulari, who showed pass-rush upside with the Arizona Cardinals and can fill multiple roles on defense.
Barring more injuries, Williams will continue to be inactive more often than not in 2026.
Tanner Koziol, tight end
Tanner Koziol was inactive, but unlike Wesley Williams, he showed massive upside in training camp, making several jaw-dropping catches in training camp. His ability to use his frame in red-zone situations will make him an intriguing weapon on offense. That said, Koziol's usage may be matchup-based because he isn't nearly as proficient as a pass-blocker.
That said, expect Koziol to get opportunities in the red zone throughout the year, but don't be surprised if he's inactive.
Josh Cameron, wide receiver
Apart from Nate Boerkicher and Emmanuel Pregnon, no other Jaguars rookie had a bigger impact in Week 1 than Josh Cameron. He only caught two receptions; one of them was arguably Trevor Lawrence's throw of the day, and it went for a touchdown.
Cameron managed to reel in the needle-threading pass while making it look effortless. It's worth noting that it was Lawrence's 100th NFL touchdown, and he allowed Cameron to keep the football he used.
It's just one game, but the Jags will continue to feed Cameron the ball.
CJ Williams, wide receiver
Both Josh Cameron and CJ Williams showed big-play capability in training camp, but only Cameron had his name called against the Browns. It's not that Williams is less talented, though. Simply, there are many mouths to feed and only so many targets.
It may not happen in Week 2, but Williams will get his chance sooner rather than later.
Parker Hughes and Zach Durfee didn't get a breakdown because both of them are currently on the Injured Reserve list. Whereas Hughes will spend his rookie season on IR, Durfee is designated to return, so he still has a chance to make an impression in 2026.
Add us as a preferred source on Google