By not addressing the interior defensive line in free agency, the Jacksonville Jaguars telegraphed their intention to wait until the draft to take care of what's arguably their biggest need. This approach makes sense when you take into account that they didn't have the cap space to go after someone like John Franklin-Myers.
Having said that, this isn't a great year to draft a defensive tackle. Compounding the issue is that the Jags don't have a first-round pick in 2026 after trading up for two-way star Travis Hunter in 2026. Working in their favor is that they have 11 picks, which will be enough to address virtually any roster void. Then again, a recent NFL ranking shows why the team's brass must add reinforcements as early as possible.
This won't be a great year for the Jaguars to draft a defensive tackle
Lance Zierlien of NFL Media ranked all 11 position groups in the 2026 draft and placed the interior defensive trenches at No. 8, pointing out that, apart from the top three prospects, the group offers intriguing talent and rotational pieces in Rounds 2 and 3. Here's the skinny.
"With Caleb Baks apparently nursing a broken foot, we now have three defensive tackles who could be borderline first-rounds in the Florida product, Kayden McDonald and Peter Woods," Zierlien wrote. "Beyond that talented trio, the position offers a series of future starters/rotational contributors on Day 2."
Kayden McDonald would fix the Jaguars' void at defensive tackle, but he's projected to go in the first round. And after his strong outing at the Ohio State Pro Day, his odds of sliding are slim.
Later in his assessment, Zierlen highlights Zxavian Harris, noting that he's flashed potential, and concludes by saying that teams are going to need to pick within the first four rounds to come out with a quality defensive tackle.
"Zxavian Harris isn't for everyone, but the 6-foot-8, 330-pounder has impressive flashes on tape. Your team might need to draft a DT inside the first 120 picks in order to ensure quality," Zierlen said.
For context, Harris is projected to go on Day 3 in the draft. He has the size and tools to develop into a productive pass rusher in the NFL. On the other hand, he has multiple red hands. For starters, the former Ole Miss Rebel isn't a finisher. Moreover, he doesn't have a great burst and struggles with balance.
Couple that with the fact that Harris comes with off-field red flags (he's been arrested twice), and the Jags may pass on him altogether.
What are the Jaguars options at defensive tackle in Round 2?
The Jaguars have 11 draft picks, so they most definitely have the ammo to move up from Round 2 if they want. But if they ultimately chose to stay put, they should most definitely address the interior defensive line before they take care of other needs.
At No. 56, Christen Miller may be available depending on how the draft plays out. Lee Hunter would be another option. But if the Jags want to use any of their three picks in Round 3, they could roll with either Darrell Jackson Jr. or Domonique Orange. After that, the talent pool will decrease considerably.
Unless the Jaguars trade for defensive tackle help, it's becoming obvious that they'll need to add reinforcements early in the draft. The last thing they want is to go into the regular season with a massive hole in the interior defensive trenches.