The Jacksonville Jaguars didn't get much production in 2025 from their NFL Draft class because of injuries. However, all their rookies who missed time last year should be back at full strength next season. Moreover, those who did manage to play routinely flashed potential. One of them is poised to have an even bigger role.
Bhayshul Tuten posted impressive results in the NFL Scouting Combine. Yet, he slid to Round 4. One big reason was his inability to hold onto the football. Back in college, he lost a concerning nine fumbles, and the fastest way to stay on the bench is to turn the ball over. On the other hand, the former Virginia Tech Hokie ran with aggressiveness and possessed big-play capability. If he could fix the issue, he could turn into a mainstay of the offense.
Ultimately, Tuten began his rookie campaign behind Travis Etienne. He only had more than 10 carries in one game but showed game-changing skills that one time, toting the rock 15 times for 74 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Etienne is now slated to hit the open market, and his potential departure has led an NFL analyst to dub his sophomore counterpart a breakout candidate for 2026.
An NFL analyst says the Jaguars have a breakout candidate in Bhayshul Tuten
Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus drew up a list of one breakout candidate for each NFL team and picked Bhayshul Tuten for the Jaguars, noting that the second-year running back will have a prime opportunity to showcase his talent if fellow running back Travis Etienne leaves.
"Starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. will be a free agent this offseason, and it's unclear whether he will remain in Jacksonville," Wasserman wrote. "The team could look for reinforcements at the position, but 2026 could serve as a prime opportunity for Tuten to seize the starting role. Tuten recorded a respectable 67.7 PFF rushing grade this season while forcing 19 missed tackles across just 87 carries. An expanded role in the passing game could also lead to his breakout."
Tuten played in just 21 percent of the team's total snaps on offense. It's also worth noting that he missed two games with a hand injury. His average of 3.7 yards per carry leaves a bit to be desired, but some of that was due to the blocking he got up front. Heck, the Jags were among the best teams to run the football early in the season but finished 27th in yards per carry to end the year.
It's fair to assume that with the addition of run game coordinator Brian Picucci, Tuten and the rest of the backfield will post better numbers.
Why Bhayshul Tuten will break out for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025
Not long after the Jaguars drafted Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen, a report surfaced that the team's brass wasn't sold on Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne. The former ended up being traded two weeks into the season, and the latter went on to have a bounce-back season.
That Etienne showed out after an unremarkable 2024 was surely an unexpected surprise. And with him playing at a high level, Jacksonville didn't have the need to thrust Tuten into action. Etienne is now scheduled to hit the open market, though, and if he leaves, the Jags can circle back to their original plan and make Tuten the featured back.
Of course, there's a scenario in which the Jaguars find a way to keep Travis Etienne. If he returns, he and Bhayshul Tuten will share the workload. But if he leaves, Tuten should excel in a featured role.