Updated Feb. 23, 2026, 7:55 p.m. ET

The NFL combine begins soon, running from Feb. 23 to March 2. To preview this important pre-draft event, we will be taking a position-by-position look at which prospects were invited and the level of need that the Jacksonville Jaguars have at each spot.

The NFL combine is held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and is an opportunity for the top NFL draft prospects in this year’s class to go through measurements and various on-field drills, some of which are specific to their position group, and others measure the player’s overall athleticism.

For NFL teams, this event is another data point for them as they build out their draft profiles and big boards. However, it’s a significant data point, with players potentially flying up and down draft boards depending on how they perform.

In addition to the on-field drills, teams also get the opportunity to meet with players one-on-one as well, which is another important part of the evaluation process as they get to know them both on and off the field.

Up next is the defensive line.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Jaguars defensive linemen under contract in 2026 before free agencyJosh Hines-AllenTravon WalkerBJ GreenDanny StriggowArik ArmsteadDaVon HamiltonMaason SmithKeivie RoseWhat is the need on the defensive line for the Jaguars this offseason?

As you can see from the above roster, depth at both defensive end and defensive tackle are needs.

The Jaguars are obviously positioned well at defensive end with Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, and while both Danny Striggow and BJ Green impressed as UDFAs, bringing in additional competition for playing time should be on James Gladstone’s to-do list.

Then, at tackle, down the stretch last season, the Jaguars struggled to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback from the defensive tackle position.

More pass rush production from the rotational members of these two positions can help take the entire Jaguars’ defense to a new level in 2026.

“We’ve got to continue to limit the explosives in the air in the pass game on third down especailly,” Liam Coen said earlier this offseason on where the Jaguars can improve defensively, “and continue to find ways to affect and impact the quarterback in the pass rush. So those are some areas we’re looking to improve.”

Defensive linemen invited to 2026 NFL combineVincent Anthony Jr., DukeDavid Bailey, Texas TechRueben Bain Jr., MiamiCameron Ball, ArkansasCaleb Banks, FloridaJaishawn Barham, MichiganNick Barrett, South CarolinaRayshaun Benny, MichiganDeMonte Capehart, ClemsonBrandon Cleveland, N.C. StateDontay Corleone, CincinnatiKeyron Crawford, AuburnCaden Curry, Ohio StateDani Dennis-Sutton, Penn StateZane Durant, Penn StateBryson Eason, TennesseeDeven Eastern, MinnesotaLogan Fano, UtahKeldric Faulk, AuburnSkyler Gill-Howard, Texas TechGeorge Gumbs Jr., FloridaDavid Gusta, KentuckyGracen Halton, OklahomaZxavian Harris, MississippiRomello Height, Texas TechCashius Howell, Texas A&MAidan Hubbard, NorthwesternLee Hunter, Texas TechQuintayvious Hutchins, Boston CollegeGabe Jacas, IllinoisDarrell Jackson Jr., Florida StateBobby Jamison-Travis, AuburnMarvin Jones Jr., OklahomaJoshua Josephs, TennesseeTim Keenan III, AlabamaNyjalik Kelly, UCFMalachi Lawrence, UCFMax Llewellyn, IowaAnthony Lucas, USCJackie Marshall, BaylorChris McClellan, MissouriKayden McDonald, Ohio StateAkheem Mesidor, MiamiChristen Miller, GeorgiaDerrick Moore, MichiganTrey Moore, TexasTyler Onyedim, Texas A&MDomonique Orange, Iowa StateLT Overton, AlabamaT.J. Parker, ClemsonPatrick Payton, LSUKaleb Proctor, Southeastern LouisianaJack Pyburn, LSUAlbert Regis, Texas A&MMason Reiger, WisconsinTyreak Sapp, FloridaGary Smith III, UCLAR Mason Thomas, OklahomaNadame Tucker, Western MichiganDamonic Williams, OklahomaWesley Williams, DukePeter Woods, ClemsonZion Young, Missouri

(This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.)