Jacksonville Jaguars safety Jalen Huskey has a grand opportunity in training camp.

The rookie, Jacksonville's third-round pick in 2026, has a chance to earn a significant role in defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile's secondary as early as this season. You can find a full training camp preview of Huskey by Casandra Chesser of Jaguars Wire.

While fellow safeties Antonio Johnson and Eric Murray are projected to be the Jaguars' starters, there are still going to be plenty of snaps up for grabs due to Campanile's heavy usage of three-safety sets.

That leaves Huskey and second-year player Caleb Ransaw to compete for Jacksonville's all-important third safety role. Ransaw will be seeing his first real action in 2026 after missing his entire rookie season due to injury.

With Murray already 32, there is always the possibility that Jacksonville could go with a youth movement in the secondary and have either Huskey or Ransaw win the starting job opposite Johnson. 

Huskey Is An Elite Playmaker

One trait that can give him a leg up during training camp is that Huskey is an elite playmaker. Over his final three collegiate seasons, he recorded 11 interceptions, including four in 2025. For comparison, Murray has a total of four interceptions across his 10 NFL seasons.

Huskey is also a versatile defender, able to line up either at free safety or in the box. The ability to line up at multiple spots is a valuable commodity in any defense, especially Campanile's.

Chip On His Shoulder

Huskey previously spoke with Jaguars.com writer John Oehser, telling him that he believes he has been overlooked his whole life and is determined to be great in the NFL.

"I play with a chip on my shoulder. I feel like my entire life I've been a little overlooked or a little overshadowed – and I can show that I can produce too," he said, adding, "At every single stop I produced, and it's not going to stop because I'm in the NFL. I plan to come here and be a great football player."

What Will Huskey's Rookie Role Be?

Heading into training camp, Huskey appears to be behind Johnson, Murray, and Ransaw on the depth chart at safety. However, his performance during camp will go a long way into determining what his role will be as a rookie.

A strong performance could see Huskey pushing Ransaw for the third safety spot, which is vital role in Campanile's defense. If both Huskey and Ransaw play to their potential in camp, Murray could be at risk of falling below one, or both, of them in the pecking order.

No matter what his defensive role will be, Huskey looks like he will be an immediate contributor on Special Teams.

Huskey was a team captain at Maryland last season, which speaks to his character and leadership qualities.

Final Thoughts

Huskey's knack for creating turnovers should earn him a meaningful role as a rookie, even if he doesn't overtake any of the three safeties above him heading into training camp.

However, if Huskey can consistently make plays during camp and the preseason, Campanile may have his hand forced and reward him with a much more significant role.

If he can show his potential as a rookie, 2027 may be the year when Huskey breaks out and enters the starting lineup.

Right now, Huskey has an opportunity to show the Jaguars that he can be a foundational piece of the defense for years to come.

Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's 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!