Jaguars' new leadership finds draft synergy. Deep dives into defensive prospects and strategic trade scenarios define their meticulous pre-draft approach.
The NFL draft is two weeks away, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are operating more efficiently than the organization did last year.
Jacksonville hired Liam Coen as its head coach in January 2025 and James Gladstone as its general manager a month later. Familiarizing themselves with the day-to-day routine alongside preparing for the draft was a bit wild, Gladstone said.
A year later, the Jaguars' staff are familiar with each other, which has helped them delve deeper into draft conversations behind closed doors.
"That's been very clear and concise throughout the process," Gladstone said during media availability on Thursday. "And I think it's just allowed us to maybe get to different or deeper dialogue, maybe a little bit quicker on some of the guys that we're really honing in on."
According to many mocks, Jacksonville's needs are primarily on the defensive side -- defensive tackles, edge rushers, and linebackers. Gladstone also spoke about evaluating tight ends in the draft.
On social media, the Jaguars have acknowledged the prospects NFL analysts and fans have mocked them to draft. Linebackers Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech, Jake Golday from Cincinnati, Josiah Trotter from Missouri and many more.
Gladstone said the team practices "scenarios" to determine which players are available when they're on the clock with their picks. The tactic helps Jacksonville quickly pivot when the draft's unpredictability kicks in and another team swoops in to get a prospect they had an eye on.
"Yeah, we walk through, 'Hey, if this pot of players is there, which one do we feel most comfortable targeting?'" Gladstone said. "'Knowing that at our next pick point or our next few pick points, these are the players that we feel like may be in scope."
Jacksonville's first pick is set for Day 2, with the 56th selection in Round 2. However, Jaguars Roundtable's Matthew Feldman shed light on the possibility of the team moving up into the first round.
Gladstone highlighted the defensive ends as the strongest position group in the draft. He said there's a premium when players can rush the passer, and that's going to make for an exciting first round.
The Jaguars were a bottom-10 team in generating sacks last season, with 32. Jacksonville is expected to bolster its defensive depth to improve the roster around recently resigned Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.
Gladstone, Coen and Co. are spending hours watching film to properly evaluate prospects that match what they want at their position. The organization is moving in lockstep to search for rookies who will make a positive impact when they don the Jaguars' teal and gold.
"I think in order to come to that conclusion, we've got to have a lot of back and forth," Gladstone said. "We've got to have a lot of insights being brought to the table and see where it is that we have alignment and where we don't."
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