What’s Next for the Jaguars After the 2026 NFL Draft?
The 2026 NFL Draft has officially concluded, as now teams across the league are analyzing the next steps needed to become winners this season. The Jacksonville Jaguars and head coach Liam Coen have some work to do after a quiet NFL Draft in which the team did not own a single first-round selection. However, general manager James Gladstone and his staff were able to fill out some noticeable gaps on the roster through the draft, including an improvement in depth across the board. In other spots, like the glaring lack of depth in the running back room, the team will need to decide whether more work needs to be done. Training camp for Jacksonville begins in July, where crucial position battles will take place to round out the starting roster for 2026.
After being rumored but ultimately not selecting a running back, the Jaguars will enter the season led by second-year Bhayshul Tuten and former Washington Commander Chris Rodriguez Jr. After strong flashes during his rookie campaign, Tuten will be expected to be the starting running back in 2026. Rodriguez and backup LeQuint Allen will be looking to prove themselves in camp, leading to an intriguing running back corps for Duval County. There’s no clear star in the rushing attack, meaning anyone could break out and be integral to the offensive scheme under offensive coordinator Grant Udinski. Fans may be disappointed in losing tenured rusher Travis Etienne in free agency, but there’s a lot of potential to look forward to among these young athletes.
Not every position received little attention in Jacksonville, as the tight end corps got a major shakeup. Gladstone and the front office selected two tight ends in the draft, including second-round selection Nate Boerkircher out of Texas A&M. Alongside starters Quintin Morris and Brenton Strange, the Jaguars now have a loaded tight end room with five, meaning former Los Angeles Ram Hunter Long may be out of a roster spot soon. Boerkircker has a high upside when it comes to run-blocking, meaning he could easily push Morris out of the second spot by the end of camp. Strange is anticipated to have a major bounce-back 2026 season and is expected to maintain the starting role. However, depending on injury concerns, that could change by the time the 2026 campaign rolls around.
