SI.com’s Connor Orr gave his annual list of 100 bold predictions for the 2026 season, and several involved the Jacksonville Jaguars. This includes one prediction regarding the Jaguars‘ first pick of the 2026 draft, Nate Boerkircher, that places Orr at odds with the majority of NFL analysts.
Boerkircher was the 56th overall selection in the draft, taken in the second round, and that choice was heavily criticized. Most analysts argued that he was chosen too high, and ignored that both Liam Coen and James Gladstone previously spoke about needing to add a strong blocking tight end, and Boerkircher was one of the top blocking tight ends in this year’s draft class.
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Yet Orr, in his ninth prediction, said Jacksonville will ultimately be vindicated.
The two most controversial selections of the 2026 draft, which were weaponized against young Jaguars general manager James Gladstone and hot-and-cold 49ers general manager John Lynch, will actually become important parts contributors for two teams in playoff contention. Boerkircher, who went 56th to Jacksonville, will be one of the highest-graded run-blocking tight ends by Pro Football Focus.
Since joining the Jaguars, Boerkircher has already begun to impress, starting at rookie minicamp. He continued to perform well at OTAs, and it’s assumed that he will make an instant impact on the Jaguars offense. And should Orr’s prediction come true, and Boerkircher performs far better than expected, it will only cement Gladstone’s status as one of the most promising GMs in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Conor Orr believes Jaguars’ Nate Boerkircher will prove critics wrong