The Jacksonville Jaguars just released their official 53-man roster for the 2026 NFL season. They'll probably make a few changes in the upcoming days, but one of the biggest surprises was watching undrafted rookie Bryan Thomas Jr. get the nod.
Now, general manager James Gladstone already has a handful of duds during his stint in Duval. However, it couldn't be more obvious that he has a knack for finding talent once the draft is over.
This year, Jacksonville signed Thomas after going undrafted. Last year, Gladstone signed Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II. Both made the initial roster in 2025. You can also include linebacker Branson Combs. He also went undrafted last year and managed to crack the initial 53-man roster this time around.
James Gladstone has had his fair share of hits and misses with the Jaguars
The Jaguars just released linebackers Jalen McLeod and Jack Kiser, draft picks from 2025. When you factor in that Wyatt Milum (a third-round selection last year) has also struggled, Jacksonville's draft haul doesn't look that great.
But leaving the draft aside, Gladstone also made mistakes in free agency. Dyami Brown signed a one-year deal worth $10 million last year, and he was a bust. Similarly, Patrick Mekari got a three-year, $37.5 million deal, but injuries have prevented him from making an impact.
Gladstone has also missed with trades. He acquired defensive tackle Khalen Saunders Sr. and cornerback Greg Newsome in 2025, and neither panned out.
Of course, those are only the moves that didn't work out. Gladstone has also had several hits in his brief stint with the Jaguars. He traded for Jakobi Myers midseason, and he quickly stabilized the offense. Similarly, he brought in Tim Patrick, and he gave Trevor Lawrence a big target from the get-go.
Gladstone also signed safety Eric Murray and center Robert Hainsey in free agency last year, and both of them brought stability not only at their position but to their whole unit as well.
When you add it all up, Gladstone has a solid track record, and it could look much better if some of the draft picks from the past two years take off in 2026. But his biggest strength thus far appears to be his ability to discover undrafted gems.
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James Gladstone has a knack for find Jaguars undrafted free agents
Bryan Thomas Jr., Danny Striggow, B.J. Green II, and linebacker Branson Combs. That's four players poised to have big roles next season. It's also worth noting that cornerback Jabbar Muhammad also had a favorable chance to make the 53-man roster but ultimately came up short. That he made it this far and managed to be part of the roster conversation is a big feat itself.
Circling back to Gladstone, you can definitely blast him for his misses. But if you do, you also need to give him credit for finding undrafted free agents who can become integral building blocks.
Now, James Glastone is still finding his groove as a general manager, but he's already shown that he can find undrafted free agents. If he can increase his number of hits in free agency and the draft, he could become one of the best executives in the whole league.
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