The Jaguars drafted elite Oregon lineman Emmanuel Pregnon in the third round, surprised by his unexpected availability. He immediately bolsters their trenches with size and talent.
The Jacksonville Jaguars beefed up their offensive line with the 88th pick, selecting Oregon's Emmanuel Pregnon, and they were surprised he was available in the third round.
Pregnon earned a second-round projection as a result of his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine and consistent production wearing the green and yellow Oregon colors.
Despite his high projection, he fell, and it was the unpredictability of the draft. The Denver, Colorado native recorded impressive combine scores, ranking in the top 10 in production score (79), athleticism score (78) and total score (80).
Coach Liam Coen said he was happy to have the opportunity to select Pregnon with the 88th pick because Jacksonville projected him to go earlier in the draft.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 314 pounds, Coen highlighted that the former Duck adds size to the Jaguars' offensive line, which is something they wanted to do.
"Obviously, a first-team All-American type of player that adds mass inside, right?" Coen told reporters after Day 2 on Friday. "I mean, that's something that we've been continuously evaluating is getting bigger, faster, stronger and tougher."
Pregnon was one of the best offensive linemen in college football, protecting his quarterback, Dante Moore.
He started 14 games at left guard and one at right guard, playing 849 of his total 910 snaps on the left side. In 445 pass-blocking opportunities, he allowed five pressures and one sack.
His elite protection earned him an 86.7 offensive grade (second-best) from Pro Football Focus (PFF), an 85.8 run-blocking grade (third-best) and an 88.1 pass-blocking grade (seventh-best).
The Jaguars have spent two picks on Day 2 to bolster the offensive line — Pregnon (2026) and Wyatt Milum (2025). Milum is two inches taller and three pounds heavier, signifying a shift to adding mass inside the trenches.
Pregnon and Milum add depth and versatility to an offensive line that allowed 41 sacks last season, and Coen values depth and the competition it brings.
"We're never going to put ourselves in a position to not have depth up front and not have great competition depth," Coen said. "What it does for Wyatt, I'm not sure. I mean, Wyatt's got a ton of flexibility for him to be able to go out, kick out at tackle and play on the inside at guard."
The trending pattern for Jacksonville regarding offensive linemen under Coen and general manager James Gladstone is adding size and toughness.
The Jaguars were surprised Pregnon was available when the clock started ticking with the 88th pick, and they added one of the better offensive lineman in the draft to their roster.
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