A former AFC front office member predicts the Jacksonville Jaguars will not make their selection at No. 56 in the upcoming NFL Draft, suggesting they will likely trade either up or down. This strategy could allow them to gain an additional top 100 pick.
As the Jacksonville Jaguars prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft, rumors and speculation have been flying among fans and analysts alike. Yet there is one thing that has been certain: the Jaguars will be making their first selection in the second round, at No. 56. Or will they?
There have been plenty of predictions surrounding what Jacksonville will do on draft day, or debates about what needs to be addressed the most. But one former AFC front office member doesn't expect the Jaguars to be selecting at pick No. 56.
"I do not think they pick No. 56. Not at all," a former AFC front office staff member told Jaguars On SI. "They will trade up or down. I bet down."
Trading down could be a bit of a gamble for the Jaguars, considering they already aren't picking until the second round. But it also fits with James Gladstone's now-infamous aggressive decision-making. By agreeing to a later pick, Jacksonville could walk away with an additional top 100 selection, which they already have four of.
This is especially relevant for this year's draft class, where there is depth at several positions of need for the Jaguars. The strength of this class may be in that Day 2 to early Day 3 range.
More picks in that range could give the Jags additional opportunities to address roster holes with more immediate impact help and increase Jacksonville's overall flexibility ā something Gladstone clearly values. While some have speculated that the Jaguars are looking to move up in the draft and not down, it's worth remembering how talent-rich this year's draft class is, and that the Jacksonville roster is, overall, strong.
A potential trade partner is the Los Angeles Rams; not only did Gladstone hail from the team, but Liam Coen also has strong ties to Los Angeles, and the Rams' influence on the Jaguars over the last year has been obvious. The Rams don't have fourth or fifth round picks and are coming in a little bit behind the Jags at No. 61, so they might feel a little more pressure to move up a few rounds and grab what they can while it's still available.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Could Jaguars trade down in Round 2?
The former AFC front office member believes the Jaguars will trade either up or down instead of selecting at No. 56, indicating a strategic shift in their draft approach.
If the Jaguars trade down, they could acquire an additional top 100 selection, enhancing their chances to address team needs with more valuable picks.
The Jaguars currently have four top 100 selections for the upcoming NFL Draft.
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