Why the 2026 Jaguars Have Found Their New Backup QB of the Future
The Jacksonville Jaguars are not a team that needed a quarterback change entering 2026. Led by 2022 Pro Bowl quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville had a 13-win season and a division title in 2025. Lawrence, who ended the season with over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, had one of the best campaigns of his young professional career and is expected to continue that growth into an intriguing 2026. Behind the leader from Clemson, the team has a few options at the backup position. These include veteran and former San Francisco 49ers backup Nick Mullens, South Alabama alum Carter Bradley, and recent undrafted signee out of Tennessee, Joey Aguilar.
However, one stands out above the rest. While Mullens has proven he can provide quality play at the NFL level, Aguilar brings a new sense of excitement to the quarterback room in Duval County. His best season came in 2023 at Appalachian State, where the former Diablo Valley quarterback threw for 3,757 passing yards with 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In 2025, Aguilar transferred to Tennessee for his final year of eligibility. In 13 games with the Volunteers, he went 8-5 with 3,565 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. After signing with the Jaguars, he became one of the highest-paid undrafted free agents, with $247,500 in guaranteed money. It is obvious that the team sees something in the young kid to warrant paying that much money.
Despite Aguilar jumping up in the level of competition from the Sun Belt to the SEC, the quarterback saw his completion rate increase significantly, from 55.8% in 2024 to 67.3% in 2025. General manager James Gladstone made a similar comment towards Jaguars linebacker Jalen McLeod after the 2025 NFL Draft, who was impressed with McLeod’s increase in production despite also jumping from the Sun Belt to the SEC. If anything, Gladstone could have the same mindset towards Aguilar and lean towards keeping him on the roster entering the 2026 season. In 2025, head coach Liam Coen only kept two quarterbacks on the active roster, with the third remaining on the practice squad. Depending on how Aguilar performs in camp, it is likely that he could push for the third position and find himself on the practice squad, and even have a chance to overtake for the second string position and backup Lawrence.
