The Jacksonville Jaguars expect their 2026 rookie class to make an immediate impact to keep their stronghold of the AFC South. But they'll also need several returning players to step up.
This is especially true when you take into account that key contributors such as linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Hunter bolted in free agency. With this in mind, here are five Jags players who did enough in 2025 to earn a bigger role next year.
Parker Washington, Jaguars receiver
Parker Washington saw a bit of an uptick in playing time last season, going from 57 percent of the total snaps on offense the year prior to 62 percent last year. He went on to haul in a career-best 58 receptions for 857 yards with five touchdowns. But as pivotal a role as the Sugar Land, Texas native played, he could still have an even bigger workload on offense.
Head coach Liam Coen has already stated that he wants Washington to run more vertical routes next year. But on top of that, he should get as many targets as possible. Already, the former Penn State Nittany Lion has shown that the Jaguars are better when he's thrust into action.
Dennis Gardeck, Jaguars linebacker
Ventrell Miller will be the first in line to replace Devin Lloyd, but another linebacker should also get a featured role next season: Dennis Gardeck. The former Sioux Falls standout was still recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in 2024 when he landed with the Jaguars. But once he was at full strength, he became a mainstay on defense and special teams.
Gardeck signed a two-year deal worth $6 million early in 2025 to return to Jacksonville. He should get plenty of work as a standup linebacker and as a pass rusher.
Danny Striggow, Jaguars defensive end
Not much is expected from undrafted free agents, which is why it's noteworthy when one makes a 53-man roster. Such was the case for B.J. Green II and Danny Striggow with the Jags in 2025. While they didn't get many snaps early in the season, they saw their role increase as the year progressed.
Of the two, Striggow is getting the most praise after 2025. He's even been projected to be the No. 3 pass rusher behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Of course, the former Minnesota Golden Gopher will need to fend off rookies Wesley Williams and Zach Durfee but should have an edge by virtue of having one year of experience under his belt.
Antonio Johnson, Jaguars safety
After flashing as a rookie, Antonio Johnson struggled in 2024, getting benched a handful of times throughout the season. Understandably, he had to compete for the starting job last year. The East St. Louis, Illinois native ended up losing to Andrew Wingard but eventually saw playing time when injuries hit the safety group. He made the most out of it, registering five interceptions and nine passes defensed.
Johnson should be the unquestioned starter next season, as he should have no trouble building off his second half of 2025. The fact that he's entering a contract year could incentivize him to play at an All-Pro level.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars running back
On a surface level, making Bhayshul Tuten the No. 1 running back doesn't make sense. He only averaged 3.7 yards per carry as a rookie, and he had trouble holding onto the football in college. However, the former Virginia Tech Hokie routinely got the ball in short-yardage situations, which dropped his yard-per-carry average. Moreover, Liam Coen says the coaching staff has yet to utilize his full skill set.
With Travis Etienne out of the picture, Tuten can showcase his blazing speed and bruising running style. Already, he flashed against the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs, toting the rock four times for 51 yards. That should be a sign that Jacksonville needs to give the sophomore running back more work.
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