The Jacksonville Jaguars opted not to address many needs in free agency and instead waited until the 2026 NFL Draft to fill roster voids. This approach made sense when you take into account that they didn't have much cap space to go on a spending spree without affecting their future cap.
On paper, the plan made sense, as the Jags had more than enough draft picks to fortify nearly every position group. The issue lay in the execution, as general manager James Gladstone defied convention, following his own board instead of the consensus.
Understandably, Gladstone has been blasted for reaching. In fact, an NFL analyst just cast doubt on his strategy.
The Jaguars may have been a bit eager and overreached in the NFL Draft
Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated took a look at five NFL teams that may have been a bit too eager during draft weekend. He included the Jaguars, arguing that they steered away from the consensus and ended up drafting several players way before they were projected to go.
"The Jacksonville Jaguars made 10 total selections, often veering from the consensus board to reach for prospects they held in higher regard than the rest of the league did," Melo wrote. "The aforementioned tight end usage around the NFL influenced their decision to take Nate Boerkircher at No. 56. It was among the more stunning draft picks through the entire weekend."
Melo continued, "The Jaguars continued reaching for prospects they uniquely valued. Albert Regis, Jalen Huskey, and Wesley Williams all went significantly earlier than expected. We'll be analyzing this James Gladstone draft class for years to evaluate whether or not he out-smarted everybody."
There's no doubt that that the Nate Boerkircher raised eyebrows. After all, the Jags took him at No. 56 despite the fact that not many big boards had the former Texas A&M Aggie in the top 10. That said, other teams were setting their sights on him and would have drafted him late in Round 2 or early in the third if Jacksonville hadn't swooped in.
Moreover, Boerkircker is a much better pass-catcher than his statline suggests. Last year, he had 19 catches for 198 yards with three touchdowns. However, the Aurora, Nebraska native had a jaw-dropping separation rate of 86.4 percent, which confirms that he wasn't targeted enough, even though he was routinely open.
This is a long-winded way to say that the Jags did do due diligence instead of just pulling random numbers from a hat. Having said that, the jury is still out.
The Jaguars draft class has the potential to be pretty good
If most of the picks from the Jaguars' 2026 class pan out, James Gladstone will be seen as a trailblazer. For the time being, though, it's a work in progress. And that's the thing, unlike mentor Les Snead or other general managers who have routinely enjoyed success, Gladstone has yet to prove that he's good at drafting. On the other hand, there's a lot to like about the moves he's made in the past two years.
Travis Hunter showed game-altering potential before he suffered a season-ending injury in 2025. Similarly, offensive lineman Wyatt Millum and safety Caleb Ransaw will be back at full strength after dealing with injuries last year. Both of them will compete for featured roles.
Meanwhile, Nate Boerkircher has the potential to turn into a key contributor on offense due to his blocking and pass-catching skills. Defensive tackle Albert Regis, safety Jalen Huskey, and offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnons will also compete for playing time next season, and some of them could even start.
When you add it all up, the Jaguars' draft class isn't nearly as bad as it seems, and James Glastone should be vindicated down the road.
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