Jaguars Prepare for Long Wait in 2026 NFL Draft

Team executives discuss strategies for handling late picks in upcoming draft.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 10:36am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a football game broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in teal, gold, and black, conceptually representing the Jaguars' strategic draft approach.The Jaguars' front office must employ a strategic, multi-faceted approach to the 2026 NFL Draft, with limited early picks requiring creative roster-building.Today in Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Jaguars are gearing up for the 2026 NFL Draft, where they are not scheduled to make their first selection until the 104th overall pick. Team executives James Gladstone and Liam Coen, who previously worked for the Los Angeles Rams, discuss their experience handling long waits between picks and how the Jaguars plan to approach this year's draft with a similar strategy.

Why it matters

The Jaguars' lack of early draft capital is a significant challenge, as they will have to wait nearly the entire draft before making their first selection. How the team navigates this situation could have major implications for their ability to address roster needs and build for the future.

The details

The Jaguars are currently slated to make their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft at No. 104 overall, meaning they will have to wait nearly the entire draft before making their initial selection. This is a result of previous trades and the team's performance last season. Gladstone and Coen, who worked together with the Rams during a similar situation, plan to apply lessons learned to help the Jaguars make the most of their limited early draft capital.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place from April 24-26, 2026.
  • The Jaguars are not scheduled to make their first pick until the 104th overall selection.

The players

James Gladstone

A member of the Jacksonville Jaguars' front office who previously worked for the Los Angeles Rams during a draft where the team did not pick until the 104th overall selection.

Liam Coen

Another member of the Jacksonville Jaguars' front office who also worked alongside Gladstone with the Los Angeles Rams during a draft with a late first pick.

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What they’re saying

“104 was our first pick,”

— James Gladstone, Jacksonville Jaguars Front Office

What’s next

The Jaguars will look to strategize and identify potential late-round targets in the coming weeks to make the most of their limited early draft capital.

The takeaway

The Jaguars' lack of early draft picks presents a significant challenge, but the team's front office is drawing on past experiences to develop a plan to navigate the long wait and find value in the later rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.