The Jacksonville Jaguars’ magical 2025 season has come to an end after the team fell 27-24 to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

While the loss will sting for a little while, the future in Jacksonville has never looked brighter. Head coach Liam Coen is firmly in the discussion for NFL Coach of the Year, Trevor Lawrence had the best season of his career, the defense has playmakers all over the place — and all of that while missing their star draft pick, Travis Hunter, for their entire hot streak down the stretch.

Getting Hunter back into the mix legitimately makes this Jacksonville roster one of the league’s best entering the 2026 season, but there are some areas the team could upgrade. However, the trade up for Hunter last year did cost them their first-rounder this year, so GM James Gladstone will have to (barring another trade) find contributors to a hopeful AFC contender on Day 2 in Pittsburgh.

That said, Gladstone did net two additional third-round picks in a draft-day trade last season, which leaves him with four total picks to play with this go-around.

Let’s dive into a few players I believe could be in play for the Jacksonville Jaguars in this three-round 2026 mock draft.

Round 2, Pick 56: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

The Jacksonville defense had a great year under first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, but it struggled in one vital area that will need to improve in 2026. The Jaguars had just 32 sacks on the season (27th) and had just two players finish the season with at least 4 sacks (Hines-Allen: 8, Armstead: 5.5).

The Jags need to prioritize players that can consistently get after the quarterback in the 2026 draft, and one name that could be an interesting target is the Canes’ Akheem Mesidor.

Mesidor had 10.5 sacks as a senior in 2025 and totaled 33.5 sacks in his career between his stays at West Virginia and Miami. However, his career sack total is so high because this was Mesidor’s sixth year of collegiate football, and he will be 25 years of age on draft night. That is a pretty significant red flag for most teams as it really expedites the timeline on a player’s development and caps their potential extension since he will be 29 by the time that comes.

That said, a team that expects to contend over the next few years makes sense for this scenario because they can afford the potential short-term impact while in a “win now” window. Not only does Jacksonville fit that category, but GM James Gladstone has already proven he will prioritize players who raise the team’s floor over all else, and Mesidor will do that. He’s a first-round talent that could absolutely be available when the Jags are on the clock at 56.

Round 3, Pick 81: Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati

On paper, the Jags’ biggest need on the roster is on the interior of the defensive line, as they got very little push from the inside this season. Quarterbacks were consistently able to step up into the pocket to avoid the talented edge duo of Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, which is a major reason the sack numbers and pass defense ranked in the bottom third of the league.

Adding Mesidor and allowing Walker to kick inside on third down is a great start, but to double up on guys that can push the pocket with someone like Cincinnati defensive tackle Dontay Corleone would be a home run for Gladstone.

Once thought of as a fringe first-round pick early in his career, Corleone dealt with injury woes the last two seasons that likely pushed his stock into this mid to late Day 2 territory, and he would be a great fit for what this Jacksonville team needs on the inside. He’s a guy who can actually create pressure from the A-gap and was featured in Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List” three times due to his reputation in the weight room. That physical presence and motor would be a great get at a huge position of need this late in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Round 3, Pick 88: Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia

The Jaguars have some decisions to make when it comes to their cornerback room this offseason. Montaric Brown, Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown are all in need of new contracts, and there is a world where none of them return in 2026. That leaves just Jourdan Lewis, Jarrian Jones and Travis Hunter in that corner room going into next year. Even if they bring back Brown (which I think they will), the team needs more depth, particularly someone who can play on the boundary.

This is a really deep corner class, so there will be talent to be had on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and Georgia’s Daylen Everette could be in play depending on how the board falls. Everette has prototype size and long arms, and he has some coverage versatility. Tackling in space could use some cleaning up but he is very willing in run support so some coaching up in the pros will go a long way. Everette played a lot of football in the SEC and has made big plays in big moments for the Bulldogs throughout his career. He would be a great rotational piece to add at this stage of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Round 3, Pick 100: Keylan Rutledge, Guard, Georgia Tech

The offensive line for Jacksonville performed well in 2025, all things considered, but the guard position could use a depth upgrade going into 2026. The team’s acquisition of Patrick Mekari last offseason resulted in mixed results from the veteran at right guard, while left guard Ezra Cleveland will be playing on the final year of his contract in 2026. The depth behind them this season was also rough, as the team used Walker Little as their emergency right guard when Mekari went down, a position he had never played before.

The Jaguars would be smart to add an experienced guard in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Georgia Tech’s Keylan Rutledge could be a great get. Rutledge was a three-year starter with the Yellowjackets and the leader of an offensive line that ranked seventh in rushing yards amongst power five teams. He was just announced as a 2025 ESPN All-American. His physical style of play would be a welcome addition to an interior in Jacksonville that is more finesse than power.

Who do you want the Jacksonville Jaguars to draft come April?

Let us know in the comments below!