🏈 Jaguars NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
Coming off a 13-4 season and without a first-round pick after trading it to Cleveland in the 2025 Travis Hunter deal, the Jacksonville Jaguars are picking at No. 56 in Round 2 and looking to supplement a roster that's already built to contend.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Jaguars' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player Jacksonville will draft with their first pick ahead of the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Jaguars draft picks 2026
See where the Jaguars rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No pick (traded to CLE in 2025 draft) |
| 2 | No. 56 |
| 3 | No. 81, 88, 100 |
| 4 | No. 124 |
| 5 | No. 164, 166 |
| 6 | No. 203, 205 |
| 7 | No. 233, 240, 245 |
🆘 Jaguars team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: LB, DL, OL, S, RB
- Key additions: Maason Smith (DT, via trade)
- Key departures: Travis Etienne (RB, Saints), Devin Lloyd (LB, Panthers), Greg Newsome II (CB, Giants), Dawuane Smoot (EDGE)
Jacksonville's roster is largely intact after a 13-4 campaign, but the loss of Lloyd at linebacker leaves a clear hole behind an otherwise strong front seven led by Josh Hines-Allen. The interior defensive line could use reinforcement alongside Maason Smith, and the offensive line depth deserves attention. Running back becomes a question if the Jaguars don't trust the depth behind Tank Bigsby. With the roster this strong, GM James Gladstone can afford to take the best player available at No. 56.
🏈 Jaguars draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Jaguars' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick:
| Pick type | No. 56 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M | 7.05 | It seems increasingly unlikely that Bisontis will slip out of the top 40, but if he does, the Jaguars will have a tough time passing on a physical run blocker with the highest upside in the class among interior linemen |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri | 6.95 | With Devin Lloyd gone, the Jaguars will have plenty of opportunities to find a replacement in this deep linebacker class, but Trotter is one of the most ready-made at the position thanks to his instincts and violent style of play |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Caleb Banks, IDL, Florida | 7.0 | If Jacksonville were to keep Banks in-state, he would be a potential replacement down the line for Arik Armstead, with the Florida defensive tackle having a scary combo of length and athleticism |
More scouting reports & player profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jeremiyah Love draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Jaguars mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Jaguars' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Because Jacksonville does not have a first-round pick, these projections come from the four expert mocks that extend into Round 2:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Jaishawn Barham, EDGE, Michigan |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Gracen Halton, DL, Oklahoma |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa |
The experts are split on the Jaguars' first pick in Round 2, with each of the four mocks we surveyed projecting a different position. Three lean toward the front seven with Michigan's Jaishawn Barham, Texas' Anthony Hill Jr., or Oklahoma's Gracen Halton - as does Paul in his latest mock draft - while Dane Brugler of The Athletic expects Iowa guard Gennings Dunker to be the pick at No. 56.
🔮 Jaguars draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 56: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
- Pro comparison: Jordyn Brooks
- Measurables: 6'2" | 237 lbs | 21 years old | RAS: N/A
To keep the momentum going in Jacksonville after head coach Liam Cohen and GM James Gladstone's first season with the Jaguars, the franchise could eye an instant impact player like Josiah Trotter. The son of Jeremiah Trotter Sr., the younger Trotter plays a lot like his father as a middle linebacker who lives for fitting the run. Trotter does an impressive job reading keys and putting himself in position to stop the run. He would be a strong replacement for Devin Lloyd.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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