Gladstone sought players with undeniable grit and a ferocious mindset, aligning with the Jaguars' core identity beyond the stats.
The Jacksonville Jaguars had a balanced draft, selecting five offensive and defensive players, and general manager James Gladstone prioritized player intangibles.
Gladstone said he ensured that every player drafted matched and aligned with the Jaguars' culture, fitting the "Jaguar DNA." These are traits that don't show on the stat sheet. Instead, they show themselves in interactions with teammates and how they approach the sport.
Offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon's mindset toward protecting the quarterback is what Gladstone sought in players.
"My mindset is... I'll die for my quarterback, nobody's going to touch him with a 10-foot pole," Pregnon told Jaguars' reporter Kainani Stevens. "I'll give him all the time he needs. If he wants to sit on that toilet, he's going to sit on that toilet."
Pregnon allowed five pressures and one sack in 445 pass-blocking opportunities in his senior season with the Ducks, as part of one of the more outstanding offensive linemen units in the nation.
Prioritizing a player's intangibles in the draft led to some unusual selections for Jacksonville, some of which many mock drafts did not project.
The Jaguars drafted Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher with their 56th pick, a position and player who was projected as a fourth-round pick, but taken in the second round.
Although taken two rounds earlier than projected, coach Liam Coen's comments about Boerkircher continue to hammer Jacksonville's approach in prioritizing intangibles.
"We definitely got tougher tonight," Coen told reporters after Day 2 of the NFL draft. "The type of player, type of person that we're trying to hunt up here. Attitude, toughness. You know, mentally and physically tough. I think he has a lot more in his body than was probably displayed throughout the season."
Gladstone had the same comments for Maryland defensive back Jalen Huskey, whose physicality and toughness "captured" the attention and hearts of Jacksonville.
Coming off a 13-4 season, including Jacksonville's first AFC South title since 2022, Coen and Gladstone want to build off their success by integrating more toughness and hunger into the team.
Some of the Jaguars' selections may not be the most splashy picks, but they're cementing a strong identity. They are utilizing the same approach with their undrafted free agents, too.
Jacksonville signed 18 undrafted free agents hours after the draft and bleeding into Sunday.
While more players will develop in the Jaguars' schemes, Gladstone said he is looking forward to seeing his draft picks and signed undrafted free agents compete and raise the competition.
"I feel good about these guys we've selected or have in fact agreed to terms with, and undrafted college free agency [players] competing for spots and doing their part to level up our play and the competition across the roster," Gladstone said.
Prioritizing player intangibles may have led to some surprising selections, but for Gladstone and Jacksonville, these picks are continuing to cement an identity of toughness and physicality.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!