PFF identifies surprising top need for Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a strong roster as they head into the NFL Draft, but like any team, there are still holes needing to be addressed. Arguably, the most pressing need for the Jaguars is on defense, with Jacksonville expected to look for a defensive tackle or edge rusher with their first pick.

However, some analysts have pointed to a different position: running back.

The Jags lost their star running back, Travis Etienne, in free agency as expected, paving the way for Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen to step into larger roles. The Jaguars also signed Chris Rodriguez, who can help shoulder the workload out of the backfield, and there are still two more running backs — Ja'Quinden Jackson and DeeJay Dallas — on the roster as depth. Yet strangely, analysts continue to insist that Jacksonville is hurting at this position.

Daire Carragher at Pro Football Focus (PFF) is the latest example, stating that the Jaguars have the biggest need at running back... above every other team in the NFL.

"The Jaguars are currently relying on Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. to lead the charge. The former ranked 47th out of 52 eligible running backs in PFF grade last season, while Rodriguez had the fewest receiving yards (30) of any running back to run 80-plus routes," he wrote. "Liam Coen’s offenses usually tick through the air, so this shouldn’t be a major stopping block for Jacksonville’s success, but they also don’t have the deepest running back class to find relief from — not great news for a team too far down the draft board to get their hands on Jeremiyah Love."

Yet there is a lot of potential to be found between Tuten, Rodriguez, and Allen, making the situation far less dire than Carragher describes it to be. And while it is true that the Jags won't be able to get Jeremiyah Love, there are also still plenty of good options to be taken in later rounds. Remember, Jacksonville has 11 picks to work with, tied for the second-most in the NFL.

Ultimately, while the Jaguars can keep an eye out for a good running back to select, it's not an urgent enough need that they're the most running back-desperate team in the league.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL draft: PFF names running back as Jaguars’ biggest need