After failing to bring pressure inside in the playoffs, the Jacksonville Jaguars have no choice but to bolster the interior defensive line in the 2026 NFL Draft. The issue is that they don't have a first-round pick, so many of the top prospects will be off the board by the time they're on the clock at No. 56.
The good news is that there will still be plenty of talent available in Round 2. And based on a recent scoop, the Jags could see several defensive tackles fall into their lap.
The Jaguars may see defensive tackles slide to Round 2
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports shared what he's hearing across the league before the NFL Draft. He says that clubs aren't enamored with the defensive tackle class, suggesting that one or two of the top prospects at the position may slide to Round 2.
"Teams do not love the defensive tackles in this year's class. It may be the late 20s before we see a DT go off the board, and even that may not spark a run at the position based off what I'm hearing," Jones wrote. "Peter Woods, Kayden McDonald, and Christen Miller are the three who are in contention to be the first defensive tackle taken, and I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of them have to wait to hear their names called Friday."
Although Jones didn't include Florida's Caleb Banks, he should also be in the mix for the first defensive tackle taken. He currently ranks 25th in Fansided's top 50 big board. On the other hand, Peter Woods and Kayden McDonald landed at No. 19 and No. 27, respectively, while Lee Hunter took the 43rd spot.
This should be music to the Jags' ears, as there's a strong chance that at least one of them will make it to No. 56.
Of course, it's not a given that Jacksonville will take a defensive tackle in Round 2. Heck, it could skip the position altogether and wait until Round 3 to address the position. At that point of the draft, Darrell Jackson Jr. and Domonique Oranage may still be on the board.
Dexter Lawrence could give the Jaguars another option to fix the defensive line
One of the biggest storylines across the NFL ahead of the draft is whether the New York Giants will trade Dexter Lawrence. They were engaged in contract talks, but negotiations have reached an impasse. The G-Men are now reportedly entertaining offers from other teams.
While Lawrence is coming off an underwhelming season, he was one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the whole league prior to 2025. That said, trading for him comes with a risk. Leaving aside his middling production last year, he wants a substantial pay bump. That could make any potential suitors wary.
On the other hand, the Jaguars shouldn't hesitate to trade for Lawrence if they think he can recapture his prior dominant form, especially if the price to get a deal done is a second-round pick.
Of course, Lawrence would be an alternative in case Jacksonville isn't thrilled with this year's batch of defensive tackles. Conversely, they could jump into the first round if they're enamored with any of the top prospects. The Buffalo Bills or the Seattle Seahawks might turn out to be suitable trade-up partners.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars will have options to fix the interior defensive line regardless of how they like this year's class.
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