The Jacksonville Jaguars prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft without a first-round pick, focusing on later rounds. Historically, they have found success in the sixth round, with notable players like Deji Karim.
Mentioned in this story
As the Jacksonville Jaguars prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft next week, they will be without a first-round pick, meaning they will have to add to their roster solely from the later rounds. Last year, the Jaguars traded their first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns, allowing them to select two-way star Travis Hunter.
This year's draft class is strong, with lots of talent likely to be available even in the later rounds, where the Jaguars have found some success over the years. Parker Washington and Cam Little are two recent sixth-round picks who could end up on this list once their careers are done.
Here are the top three players taken in the sixth round, chosen for their production, longevity, and overall impact on the franchise.
Selected in the sixth round in 2010, Karim contributed in multiple roles during his time in Jacksonville, though he primarily served as a running back. Karim also made an impact on special teams as a return specialist, with 77 kick return attempts as a member of the Jaguars, averaging nearly 25 yards per return. Karim's tenure was relatively short, but his versatility still allowed him to carve out a productive role.
Evans was drafted in 2013, and despite being selected in the sixth round, he was able to develop into a contributor in the Jaguars’ secondary. Over multiple seasons, Evans played a meaningful role on defense, recording 201 total tackles and five pass deflections while seeing time as both a rotational player and starter.
After being selected in the sixth round in 2019, Minshew became one of Jacksonville's most surprising success stories. After competing for QB2 behind Nick Foles, Minshew was forced into a starting role in Week 1 of his rookie season when Foles was injured, and never looked back. He repeatedly gave strong, standout performances and was held back only due to poor coaching decisions. Minshew was sidelined after Foles returned from injured reserve, only for Foles to struggle. Minshew was named the starter in his sophomore season, but injuries led to some difficulties in the first half of the season. Though he recovered, that brought a quick end to Minshew's Jacksonville career, as he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. But Minshew proved to be a talented QB who is by far the best sixth-round pick the Jaguars ever selected.
The top sixth-round picks in Jaguars history include players chosen for their production, longevity, and impact on the franchise.
The Jaguars traded their first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns, which affects their strategy in the upcoming draft, relying on later-round selections.
Recent sixth-round picks Parker Washington and Cam Little have the potential to become significant contributors for the Jaguars in the future.
Jamal Murray scored 30 points and set a franchise record by making all 16 free throw attempts in the Nuggets' 116-105 win over the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the playoffs. The victory gives Denver a 1-0 lead in the series.
Pat McAfee exits WrestleMania 42 on a stretcher after a wild match!
Giants trade Dexter Lawrence to Bengals for the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Giants trade Dexter Lawrence to Bengals, securing 10th pick in NFL Draft
Bengals acquire Dexter Lawrence, giving up No. 10 draft pick to Giants
Dallas Stars fall 6-1 to Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of playoffs
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Top Jaguars sixth-round picks in franchise history