The 2026 NFL Draft came and went, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are in better shape than they were at the end of the regular season, at least on paper. Sure, they got poor reviews for their draft haul, but the truth is that they operated with a clear plan and never deviated from it.
Of course, we won't know if the Jags nailed their picks for at least a couple years, but there are plenty of reasons to be thrilled about. In particular, they made an effort to become a tougher team in the trenches. Moreover, they tried to increase the ceiling of several position groups even though they weren't in need of upgrades.
If their strategy works, the Jaguars will be hard to beat in 2026. For the time being, here are their biggest winners and losers from the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jaguars winner: Brian Thomas Jr., receiver
Dating back to the 2025 trade deadline, there have been rumors that the Jags could deal Brian Thomas Jr., and just before the draft, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested that Jacksonville could trade the third-year wideout in an effort to jump into the first round.
Day 1 came and went. Then, rounds two through seven, and Thomas didn't go anywhere, showing that he remains part of the team's plans. Granted, he's coming off an unremarkable season, but the team's brass is surely confident that he can bounce back and once again become the game-altering talent he was as a rookie.
Another year in Liam Coen's system should help Thomas pull it off.
Jaguars loser: Arik Armstead, defensive end
The Jaguars traded for Ruke Orhorhoro just before the draft. They then chose Albert Regis at No. 81, making it clear that they weren't thrilled with their interior defensive line last year. At the same time, Jacksonville could be sending a blunt message to veteran Arik Armstead.
While the expectation is that the former Oregon Duck will play the remaining year of the contract he signed in 2024, but with Regis and Orhorhoro in the mix, the timeline could accelerate, and he could be shown the door before the start of the regular season.
Jaguars winner: Matt Edwards, defensive line coach
While the Jaguars didn't use premium picks to bolster the defensive line, they did draft Albert Regis in Round 3, Wesley Williams in Round 4, and Zach Durfee in the seventh round. That's lots of enticing talent to work with. Now, there's a chance that not all three will pan out, but defensive line coach Matt Edwards will have a chance to work his magic.
And if Williams, Durfee, or Regis end up making an impact early on, Edward's stock will get a substantial boost.
Jaguars loser: James Gladstone, general manager
On the one hand, you have to tip your hat to James Gladstone, as he stuck to his vision through the whole draft. Having said that, he's under scrutiny for going against the grain and not following the consensus big board.
Now, Gladstone is under the spotlight and not for good reasons. If his approach works out, he'll be labeled a genius. But if it doesn't, he could be on the hot seat as early as 2027. Time will tell how things play out.
Jaguars winners: Bhayshul Tuten
Head coach Liam Coen heaped praise on Bhayshul Tuten after Travis Etienne bolted for the New Orleans Saints, pointing out that the coaching staff had yet to unlock his full skill set. However, there were reports before the draft that the Jags were planning to either trade up for Jadarian Price in Round 2 or take a running back in Round 3. Neither scenario ended up happening.
By not using a draft pick to bolster their backfield, the Jags are showing they're confident in Tuten's ability to carry the workload next season.
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