One of the reasons the Jacksonville Jaguars went 13-4 in 2025 was that they built a well-rounded roster. Sure, general manager James Gladstone inherited a solid core, but he put the finishing touches that helped them get over the hump. And heading into the NFL Draft, the Jags surely feel good about the talent they have at hand. That said, they must also be aware that they need to address several key needs.
The defensive line and the pass rush are in dire need of upgrades, but other positions could also use depth. Tight end is one of them, and based on the pre-draft meeting, Jacksonville is looking to add reinforcements behind Brenton Strange.
The Jaguars met with Justin Joly ahead of the 2026 NFL draft
North Carolina State tight end Justin Joly had an exclusive sitdown with Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated and stated that the Jaguars are one of the many teams he's met virtually ahead of the draft. Here's the skinny.
"I have the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins coming up," Joly told Melo. "I've also recently met with the New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Washington Commanders, to round off a few virtual meetings."
Joly lacks top athleticism or speed. Moreover, he needs to clean up his blocking. Having said that, the former Wolfpack excels at moving the chains and possesses the flexibility to line up anywhere across the line of scrimmage. Couple that with his superb ball skills, and he could most definitely contribute in Jacksonville.
Daniel Harms of the Bleacher Report scouting department has a Round 3 grade on Joly, dubbing him a potential high-end backup or starter with upside. That said, he could be available in the fourth round and is ranked No. 8 in Athlon Sports' tight end board.
Why it makes sense for the Jaguars to draft Justin Joly
Tight end isn't an immediate need for the Jaguars with Brenton Strange, Hunter Long, and Quintin Morris in the mix. However, all three are scheduled to become free agents in 2027, so it wouldn't hurt the team's brass to replenish the position in the draft once other, more pressing roster voids have been taken care of.
The Jags could use their second-round pick to bolster the interior defensive line or the pass rush, and add a tight end in Round 3 or 4. At that point in the draft, Justin Joly should be available.
While Strange is firmly entrenched as the No. 1 on the depth chart and is trending toward returning, Joly has more upside than either Long or Morris. Granted, he's not nearly as polished a blocker, but if he hones that area of his game, he could have a bigger impact, as he's a better pass-catcher.
Of course, other teams are also zeroing in on Justin Joly, as shown by the list of meetings he's held before the draft. That means that the Jaguars could end up missing out on him, but precisely because he's garnering that much interest, they should strongly consider using a pick on him.
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