JACKSONVILLE – The idea is to create freedom.

General Manager James Gladstone late last week said the Jaguars did just that in the early days of the 2026 NFL League Year, which bodes well for success late next month.

The depth chart is sound, which could be a positive come draft weekend.

“I’m excited about that,” he said.

Gladstone, speaking last week shortly after the start of the 2026 NFL League Year, discussed multiple Jaguars-related issues – including the recent re-signing of cornerback Montaric “Buster” Brown – and also said he believes the Jaguars’ roster is structured well to be ready for the April 2026 NFL Draft.

“The best way to think about that is right now we’ve structured it so we don’t have to pick based off of need necessarily at any specific spot,” Gladstone said. “That’s a luxury.”

Gladstone, in his second season as the Jaguars’ general manager, spent nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He said too often during that time the Rams at times “felt pressed to take a specific position” to fill a need in the draft.

“There were instances where it worked out fine for us,” Gladstone said. “There were instances where it didn’t and that may just be the draft. It may just be the way that those specific situations unfolded.”

The Jaguars currently hold 11 selections in the ’25 draft, with their first selection the No. 24 selection of Round 2 – the No. 56 overall selection. The Jaguars traded their ’26 first-round selection to Cleveland Browns as part of the deal acquiring wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Jaguars have three ’26 third-round selections – Nos. 81, 88 and 100 overall – meaning they have four selections on Day 2’s Rounds 2 and 3.

“I think walking into the door on Day 2, as it stands right now, we’re not saying that we need this position at this spot, which is a luxury,” he said. “It means that we can really take somebody that we understand that we have a clear vision for, alignment on and it doesn’t have to be dependent on it’s got to be at this specific spot or this side of ball.”