Jaguars Roster Ranks 16th in NFL, 2nd in AFC South

The Jacksonville Jaguars remain underrated heading into the 2026 season, as ESPN ranked their roster the 16th-best in the NFL and second-best in the AFC South.

ESPN writers Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder ranked all 32 teams by their best projected starting lineups. The trio analyzed Jacksonville's biggest strength, weakness, X factor and non-starter to watch.

Appearing at 16th, the Jaguars are below the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers. As for who's ahead of them in their division, it's the Houston Texans, the other team competing with Jacksonville for division titles.

Clay wrote that the edge rushers are the team's biggest strength. Lining up on opposite edges of one another are Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.

The Walker and Hines-Allen duo provides the Jaguars with a potent pass rush. They totaled 137 pressures last season, including sacking the quarterback 11.5 times.

Jacksonville locked up Walker on a four-year, $110 million extension, and Hines-Allen also signed an extension in April 2024. The duo is the core of the Jaguars' defense, and when they perform well, the team does, too.

As for the biggest weakness, Clay mentioned the running back position. The Jaguars lost a consistent 1,000-yard rusher in Travis Etienne Jr. to the New Orleans Saints in free agency.

Losing such a dynamic running back has been a significant blow to the running back room and puts pressure on Bhayshul Tuten to become the next lead rusher. Jacksonville also signed former Washington Commander Chris Washington Jr. and former Indianapolis Colt Ameer Abdullah.

No splash signings in free agency were a detriment to a team with little cap space. The team is taking a by-committee approach to replace Etienne's production and mitigate the loss of his skill set.

Walder's X-factor for Jacksonville is none other than its 2025 second overall pick, Travis Hunter. Coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone have emphasized the significance of allowing Hunter to play both sides of the ball, but are prioritizing his elite cornerback skills more next season.

Hunter is coming off a season-ending torn LCL in his right knee that required surgery. He had limited participation in OTAs throughout the summer, but will likely participate at full capacity during training camp.

Schatz highlighted safety Caleb Ransaw as the non-starter to know for Jacksonville. Ransaw missed his rookie season due to a foot injury, but he has thoroughly impressed during OTAs.

He played outside and slot cornerback at Tulane, but the Jaguars moved him to safety during his rookie year. Although Ransaw is a non-starter to know, he could win the starting job over Eric Murray if he continues to impress.

A weak offseason for Jacksonville has highlighted the roster's weaknesses that hamper its potential. However, the team is heading into Year 2 under Coen, and the strengthened chemistry could lead the Jaguars farther than they finished last season, surprising the entire NFL world.

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