![Jaguars Zach Durfee (58) runs through tackling dummies during the Jaguars’ fourth OTA of the year, Monday June 1, 2026 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_141,y_41,w_1305,h_734/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ReutersImages/mmsport/55/01kxrmsjnpgxy9ac68q3.jpg "Jaguars Zach Durfee (58) runs through tackling dummies during the Jaguars’ fourth OTA of the year, Monday June 1, 2026 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]")
The Jacksonville Jaguars need a No. 3 pass rusher behind the scary duo of Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen to round out their rotation. Several players will compete for the job in training camp, but sophomore Danny Striggow appears to have a leg up. That said, a dark horse could emerge.
The Jags didn't add a pass rusher in free agency and waited until the 2026 NFL Draft to take Wesley Williams in Round 4 and later Zach Durfee in the seventh. The latter could turn out to be a draft steal.
Dubbed Prospect X, a player who doesn't get the spotlight in the draft process as much as he should, Durfee has his work cut out to earn a role with Jacksonville next season. That said, he has the talent to turn heads.
The Jaguars could have found a draft gem in Zach Durfee
You usually don't expect seventh-round picks to have an impact, but Zach Durfee has several things going in his favor. In his lone season at Sioux Falls in 2022, he recorded 11 sacks, four of them in his first college game ever. The Dawson, Minnesota native transferred to Washington the following year, but because of NCAA restrictions, he had to sit out the 2023 season.
Compounding the issue is that injuries held Durfee back. Nevertheless, he shone when he suited up, registering 6.5 sacks and 8.5 sacks in 17 games for the Huskies.
Heck, Jedd Fisch argues that Durfee could have been an early-round prospect if he had stayed healthy. Sure, you could argue that Fisch is being biased because he was his head coach, but he probably wouldn't endorse a player if he thought it would tarnish his reputation
Anyway, Durfee has the talent to make an impact in the NFL. Already, he flashed in the offseason program. His twitch and short-area quickness allow him to get after the quarterback. On the other hand, his short arm length could hinder him. On top of that, he needs to hone his skills, and that may take a while. But if he can make a quick leap to the pros, he could end up getting playing time as a rookie.
Zach Durfee is a rookie to watch at Jaguars training camp
Now, Zach Durfee won't suddenly turn into a Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher, but he could carve out a niche as a rotational piece. Of course, he'll need to stand out in training camp, which could turn out to be challenging when you take into account that Danny Striggow, B.J. Green II, and fellow rookie Wesley Williams are also in the mix.
Heck, Striggow and Green will enter training camp with an edge by virtue of having one year of experience under their respective belts. Then again, they made an impression as rookies, and nothing is impeding Durfee from doing the same.
In the end, Zach Durfee is a sleeper, but one that everyone should keep tabs on, especially when you take into account that the Jaguars will give him and everybody else a legit opportunity to compete for the No. 3 job.
Add us as a preferred source on Google