The Jacksonville Jaguars found a massive steal in the 2026 NFL Draft class, and they managed to get him after the three-day event ended.
Nov 15, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Virginia Cavaliers running back J’Mari Taylor (3) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images
The Jacksonville Jaguars and general manager James Gladstone just put together one of the more bizarre hauls in the 2026 NFL Draft. While several selections seemed to make little sense and had a questionable overall ideology, there is always value to be found, even for the weirdest drafting teams. That is true of any group.
One of the better 2026 NFL Draft pickups for the Jaguars actually came after the draft concluded. The team managed to sign former Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor, who did have some dratable feedback across the league. For whatever reason, Taylor wasn’t selected, but the Jaguars aren’t going to complain about it.
Virginia RB J’Mari Taylor runs a lot bigger than you’d expect at 205 pounds. Impressive contact balance and rugged style to create hidden yardage.
The former NC Central transfer is an older prospect (turns 24 on March 15) and a modest athlete… but this an NFL contributor. pic.twitter.com/QdzcrmZMIk
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) February 7, 2026
Taylor now joins a Jaguars running back room that has some major question marks after Travis Etienne left this offseason. As of today, a combination of Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen Jr., and Chris Rodriguez Jr. appears to be the top group in the backfield. Taylor will have to beat out a group of DeeJay Dallas and Ja’Quinden Jackson to make the roster.
That is not a daunting group to compete against. I would not be shocked to see Taylor fight and win a roster spot. If he does, special teams will most likely be how he does so. From there, it’ll depend on what type of impact he can have in limited reps at running back.
J’Mari Taylor’s scouting report
From a raw talent perspective, there is nothing overly dynamic about Taylor’s game. He wins based on his contact balance and effort as a runner. Taylor is never going to be a home run hitter, but he has enough spatial awareness and vision to consistently hit singles and doubles. Add in solid instincts as a pass receiver, and Taylor brings a solid all-around profile to become a solid member of a running back room.
J’Mari Taylor’s career background
Coming out of Charlotte (NC) West Mecklenburg in the 2020 recruiting class, Taylor was not rated by any of the major recruiting platforms. Without any offers to his name, Taylor decided to join the North Carolina Central program as a walk-on. That is a decision that obviously ended up working out tremendously for him.
After not playing a ton during his first couple of years with North Carolina Central, Taylor ended up being one of the better backs on the FCS level during the 2024 season. In 11 games during that year, he managed to rush for 1,146 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Taylor also hauled in 30 receptions for 271 yards and two scores as a pass receiver.
With one season of eligibility remaining, Taylor managed to put together a tremendous season for Virginia in 2025 and was named First-Team All-ACC for his efforts. He rushed for 1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also making 43 receptions for 253 yards and another score through the air. This next journey on the NFL level won’t be the first time that Taylor has been underrated and needed to prove his worth.
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