It's time for the Jacksonville Jaguars to pay the piper for the Travis Hunter trade. And with four starters leaving in free agency last month, plus five more scheduled for free agency next year, they have a lot of needs going into the 2026 NFL Draft.
The good news, though, is even without a first-round pick, Jacksonville still has four picks in the top-100 of the draft, and 11 picks overall.
Round 1 Pick 24 Overall: Traded for Travis Hunter
The Jacksonville Jaguars traded this pick to the Cleveland Browns in last year's draft for Hunter. And although some are "concerned" over the news of Hunter primarily playing cornerback in 2026, the Jaguars still used this pick to acquire a player with All-Pro potential at a premium position.
Round 2 Pick 56 Overall: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnatti
Linebacker Devin Lloyd left Jacksonville to sign with the Carolina Panthers in free agency, and Jake Golday could potentially fill Lloyd's spot in year one.
Golday is a big linebacker at over 6'4 with good athleticism, and the Bearcats used him in a number of ways. Golday was often split out into almost a nickel corner/dime backer playing out in space. This allowed him to use his size and speed to impact all parts of the field
While his instincts out in coverage aren't the best, he is tremendous going sideline-to-sideline chasing after the ball. With starting linebacker Foyesade Oluokun next to Golday wearing the green dot and pointing things out, Golday could slide right in and play fast while Oluokun sends him in the right direction.
Round 3 Pick 81 Overall: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
Arik Armstead and Davon Hamilton both have void years on their contracts starting in 2027, so replenishing the defensive tackle room ahead of time is a must for the Jaguars.
Gracen Halton is a very stout and athletic defensive lineman who has the strength to play over the nose, but the athleticism to move around a bit. He's undersized, but tested in the 92nd percentile or better in the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, vertical jump, and broad jump.
That athleticism is on display against the run when he shoots the gap and is on the ball carrier in the backfield. He can also get pressure on the quarterback with a second gear he gets to after breaking through the line of scrimmage.
Halton would be a good infusion of youth and talent to a room with multiple veterans.
Round 3 Pick 88 Overall: Jalen Farmer, OG, Kentucky
To continue the theme of planning ahead, left guard Ezra Miller also has a void year in his contract in 2027, and Jacksonville could save an additional $13 million in cap space in 2027 by moving on from right guard Patrick Mekari.
To protect themselves from either scenario, Jacksonville should look at guards in the draft. Jalen Farmer from Kentucky would be a good option, especially as a right guard, his sole position played in college.
Farmer has good size and length (6'5, 312 pounds, 34 and 1/4" arms), plus he's good on his feet. Kentucky asked him to be able to pull to either side, plus climb to the second level. He was especially effective on combo blocks as he moved around during the play.
Overall, Farmer needs to get a bit stronger. There's not a lot of pop in his game when he collides with a defender, and he doesn't have the best anchor in pass protection. But with a year to get a little bigger and stronger, Farmer could turn into a legitimate starter for Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence.
Round 3 Pick 100 Overall: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
And finally, with Brenton Strange entering the final year of his rookie contract this season, Jacksonville backfills the position with Oscar Delp out of Georgia..
Delp has the potential to take on a bigger role in the NFL than he did at Georgia. Here's what Dane Brugler, who has Delp as the fourth-ranked tight end in the draft, had to say about him:
"Delp is a good-sized athlete who is still figuring out how to reach his football ceiling. He has above-average speed and body control for his frame, which shows in his route running and when he has a runway after the catch (he models his game after AJ Barner). He plays with physicality in all areas of his game, although his catch-point focus tends to decline when he’s challenged."
Whether the Jaguars are able to bring Strange back or not, Delp is good insurance at the position as a piece that could develop into a starter.