The Jacksonville Jaguars were blasted for many of the picks they made in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, they earned widespread praise for taking offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon at No. 88, with some analysts calling it the steal of the Day.
Liam Coen, for one, was hyped up about Pregnon landing in Round 3, using a hilarious three-word description to praise him. Two weeks after the draft, the hype surrounding the former Oregon Duck hasn't waned. In fact, an NFL analyst just confirmed the Jags hit it out of the ballpark with him.
The Jaguars got a Round 3 draft steal in Emmanuel Pregnon
Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated drew up a list of draft steals from Round 2 to 7 and included Emmanuel Pregnon for the third round, noting that he gives Jacksonville a future starter on the offensive line.
"The Jacksonville Jaguars ranked dead-last in our NFL Draft class rankings, but it's certainly not because they selected Emmanuel Pregnon with the 88th selection," Melo wrote. "Pregnon was a top 100 prospect on our board. The best pick Jaguars GM James Gladstone made, he possesses overwhelming power while moving defenders off their spot. Jacksonville got better in the trenches, as he projects as an eventual starter."
For context, the Jags ranked dead last in Sports Illustrated's draft power ranking, but they were praised for taking Pregnon, the 46th overall prospect in their top 100 big board.
Keep in mind that Melo is far from the only analyst who has given the Jags rave reviews for drafting Melo. In the aftermath of Day 3, NFL Media dubbed him a value pick of Rounds 2 and 3, noting that he could be a plug-and-play candidate in Jacksonville.
Pregnon's biggest knocks in the draft process were his age (he'll turn 25 in October 2026) and that he can almost exclusively line up at guard. Having said that, Jacksonville doesn't need to plug him in at offensive tackle because he thrives on the interior.
And that's the thing, Pregnon can play both guard spots, so he'll give the Jaguars options up front.
Emmanuel Pregnon is off to a strong start with the Jaguars
The Jaguars just held their rookie minicamp. John Shipley of Sports Illustrated noted that Emmanuel Pregnon and Nate Boerkircher were the biggest standouts, arguing that the former looked athletic and physically imposing.
Next, Pregnon will need to build off of his strong outing at minicamp. If he can continue to make strides at the Organized Team Activities, he could then put either left guard Ezra Cleveland or right guard Patrick Mekari on notice.
Cleveland is entering the last year of an extension he signed in 2024, while Mekari is coming off an underwhelming campaign. Cleveland had a strong 2025, so Pregnon may not be able to challenge for the job at left guard. That said, it shouldn't be ruled out. On the other hand, Mekari dealt with injuries last year, so he could bounce back next season.
This is a roundabout way to say that Pregnon will have a shot, but it won't be a walk in the park. In fact, may also need to compete with sophomore Wyatt Milum for a starting job or the primary backup role on the interior offensive line.
The good news is that Emmanuel Pregnon is talented enough to seize a staring job at some point in 2026. He just has to keep doing what has helped him get as far as he has.
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