Jaguars Reacts Survey: Grade Jacksonville’s 2026 Draft Class

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Jaguars Reacts Survey: Grade Jacksonville’s 2026 Draft Class

James Gladstone’s second NFL Draft was quite different than his first.

Jaguars Reacts Survey: Grade Jacksonville’s 2026 Draft Class

James Gladstone’s second NFL Draft was quite different than his first.

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Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jaguars fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Jaguars fans — how would you grade the team’s 2026 NFL Draft?

Jacksonville came away with 10 new players, headlined by a pair of former Aggies.

Round 2, Pick 56: Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M

Round 3, Pick 81: Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M

Round 4, Pick 119: Wesley Williams, EDGE, Duke

Round 7, Pick 233: Zach Durfee, EDGE, Washington

Round 7, Pick 240: Parker Hughes, LB, Middle Tennessee State

While draft grades shouldn’t be taken too seriously, it is important to evaluate team process, rather than just waiting around for the results of each draftee’s playing career.

I do like a handful of the names the Jaguars came away with, with Cameron being my early favorite, but the reach on Boerkircher can’t be ignored. It isn’t a very good process to select a prospect nearly three full rounds before he was expected to be picked.

Jacksonville was prepared for “a volume play,” entering this weekend, general manager James Gladstone said after Round 1. “That gives you a lot more chances to hit, a lot more chances to miss. But we’ll take the chances at this stage knowing that we feel good about our process.”

For better or worse, the Jaguars feel really good about their process. So good that they don’t care about where prospects are listed on other teams’ draft boards. This mindset, which can easily be perceived as arrogant or hubristic, is comparable to that of Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead and Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes. Holmes, like Gladstone, previously worked for Snead’s staff.

Even beyond the Boerkircher pick, Regis, Huskey, Wesley Williams, and CJ Williams were all considerable reaches relative to the consensus board.

Jacksonville ended up “reaching” more than any other club in 2026.

Best value vs. biggest reaches (Rounds 1–6)1. CAR -33%2. WAS -22%3. BUF -22%…29. SF +32%30. HOU +34%31. PIT +38%32. JAX +42% pic.twitter.com/wXZ1GT7ELO

Jacksonville deserves credit for thinking proactively about this year’s talent pool and trading its 2026 first-round pick for Travis Hunter. They also made two trade-ups during Day 3 that didn’t hurt at all. So, they deserve more of a C- than a D+, in my book.

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