Feb. 23, 2026, 10:13 a.m. ET
The Jacksonville Jaguars bolster the linebacker position in a recent 2026 NFL mock draft.
Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated put together his latest first-round projections for the 2026 draft, and he also included those teams without a first-round pick.
Since the Jaguars traded that pick last April to move up to select Travis Hunter, James Gladstone’s first pick won’t come until 56th overall on Day 2.
So who did the Jaguars pick? Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. with Devin Lloyd set to be a free agent.
The Jacksonville Jaguars appear primed to lose starting linebacker Devin Lloyd to free agency,” Melo wrote. “James Gladstone could use his first selection to draft Lloyd’s replacement. Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is long and athletic with high-level instincts and a fierce ability to trigger downhill.”
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Hill Jr. has played nearly 2,000 defensive snaps over the last three seasons. During that span, he has generated 60 quarterback pressures and logged 227 total tackles, according to PFF.
In coverage, he’s allowed 8.3 yards per reception with three interceptions and two pass breakups. While mostly playing from the box, Hill Jr. has experience in the slot and lining up along the defensive front.
If Lloyd ends up elsewhere, addressing the linebacker position becomes a much bigger priority.
When and how Gladstone addresses linebacker in this instance may depend on how confident he is in Ventrell Miller, Jack Kiser, or Jalen McLeod stepping into a starting role next to Foye Oluokun. For what it’s worth, Miller did see time with the starters last training camp.