4 veteran free agent options for Jaguars after 2026 NFL draft

The compensatory free agent window has closed following the 2026 NFL draft. This very much could be of interest to James Gladstone and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It was a quiet free agency period for the Jaguars this offseason. The only outside addition made was running back Chris Rodriguez, who has a non-tendered restricted free agent with Washington, didn't count against the compensatory pick formula.

The 2027 draft capital that the Jaguars are projected to receive with Devin Lloyd, Travis Etienne, and others departing in free agency played an important factor in the Jaguars' free agency approach this offseason.

"We're at a stage now where a higher volume of draft capital is what we're hunting up, and those compensatory picks," Gladstone said earlier this offseason, "When you think about high-priced free agents of ours who ended up signing elsewhere, well-deserved contracts. ... They did their part to put themselves in sound positions to earn that. Excited for all those guys. In return, by not signing any outside free agents, we recoup 2027 draft capital."

Gladstone continued, ""On the surface, you would think, 'okay, you're going to make picks in 2027,' whereas in reality, those draft picks, having more of them actually allows you the luxury of remaining in the hunt at different intervals throughout the entire calendar year for acquiring players."

However, now past the NFL draft, free agent signings won't impact the compensatory draft pick formula, perhaps making the Jaguars more willing to make a veteran addition.

We saw Gladstone make a few signings post-draft veteran additions last offseason, including Emmanuel Ogbah and . The Jaguars do not have an abundance of salary cap space, with only in operating room, but it's not as if any signings at this stage of the offseason will break the bank either.