Jan. 28, 2026, 10:43 a.m. ET
How does the talent at the top of the 2026 NFL draft align with what the Jacksonville Jaguars’ needs are this offseason?
Daniel Jeremiah recently put together his initial top 50 prospect rankings, providing us with some insight into which position groups are loaded with talent.
Now, the tricky part for the Jaguars when assessing this big board is that they do not own a first-round pick this year after trading it last April to move up and select Travis Hunter.
However, these rankings help us identify the strengths of this year’s draft class.
Here is a positional breakdown of Jeremiah’s top 50 prospects:
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Quarterback: 2Running back: 2Wide receiver: 11Tight end: 1Interior offensive line: 2Offensive tackle: 7Defensive tackle: 5Defensive end: 8Linebacker: 4Cornerback: 5Safety: 3
As we look at the current state of the Jaguars’ roster, this looks like it could be an offseason where GM James Gladstone invests fairly heavily into the defensive side of the ball.
Cornerback is arguably a top need with Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown both set to be free agents. At safety, Andrew Wingard is going to be a free agent as well.
Along the defensive front, depth and a more consistent pass-rush presence, particularly from the interior, are boxes that must be checked.
Linebacker could become a larger need as well, depending on what happens with Devin Lloyd in free agency.
On offense, adding to the offensive line and tight end positions could be on Gladstone’s radar as well.
After trading up in the first round of last year’s draft to select Travis Hunter, the Jaguars do not have a first-round pick in 2026. Their first selection won’t come until Day 2.
However, GM James Gladstone still maintains quite a bit of flexibility with 11 total picks and four selections in the top 100.