With joint practices against the New Orleans Saints finally arriving Thursday and preparations underway for Saturday’s preseason opener, the Jacksonville Jaguars released their first look at the pecking order, releasing the first (unofficial) depth chart of the 2026 season on Tuesday. While the first depth chart of the year should never be treated as a final declaration of who will start in Week 1, it does provide an interesting snapshot of where several position battles currently stand.
We break
down our top takeaways from the first depth chart, including what it tells us about Jacksonville’s offensive line situation and which players may be making a serious push for starting roles.
One Consistent Theme
Perhaps the biggest theme identified throughout the initial depth chart release is fairly straightforward: the players who were already in Jacksonville in 2025 generally remain ahead of the newcomers, for now. That doesn’t mean those positions are settled. In fact, some of the most intriguing battles are just beginning. But, it does mean that much of the hoopla surrounding the initial release may not mean as much as has been made about it by the media. That’s simply the blunt truth.
Tuten OR Rodriguez
One of the more interesting, yet expected, developments comes at running back, where Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez are listed as co-starters to open the offseason. Both players have generated plenty of discussion throughout the offseason, and the Jaguars appear to be keeping the competition open rather than handing the job outright to Tuten, as has been heavily expected throughout the offseason. How the workload eventually gets divided during the preseason, and what happens when the Jaguars face the Saints in joint practices, should provide a much better indication of where this battle may be headed.
Mekari Retains Role
Patrick Mekari is still listed ahead of Wyatt Milum at right guard, and that has understandably generated some reaction considering how Milum has performed at guard, while Mekari has been load managed with a back issue. Milum has taken a significant number of snaps at guard throughout the offseason and has looked good there. His work at tackle has been more inconsistent, although I’d describe it as generally fine. Some may look at the depth chart and wonder why Mekari remains ahead despite his limited workload. Personally, I think it’s simply too early to draw any major conclusions. The biggest tests of this competition haven’t happened yet.
The last time I recall a big Mekari play from this offseason was the play that featured the long Chris Rodriguez run on the first day of padded work. If Milum is ultimately going to win this job, he’ll need to do it by demonstrating consistency in health and performance over the next several weeks. He’s going to get plenty of opportunities to make that case.
Harrison at LT
Perhaps the most fascinating development along the offensive line is Anton Harrison being listed as the starting left tackle. What initially looked like an experiment has now progressed to the point where it has to be taken seriously. The Jaguars have continued giving Harrison opportunities on the left side, and his placement atop the initial depth chart suggests this isn’t simply a temporary offseason curiosity. What started as an offseason experiment now appears to be a legitimate possibility for Jacksonville.
Hunter’s Unique Spot
Travis Hunter’s placement is another obvious headline. Hunter is listed as the starting cornerback while also appearing as the backup at wide receiver behind Brian Thomas Jr. While not a surprise, based on how Hunter has been used this offseason, it’s possible confirmation that should BTJ suffer any in-season injuries or knicks, Travis would likely be the receiver to step in as that alternative vertical threat in the offense. Meanwhile, he would continue his role as the starting corner. At least, that’s how I’m interpreting it, deciphering the unusual role Jacksonville is building for Hunter. How much he actually plays at each position during the preseason joint practices will also be something worth closely monitoring.
Miller OR Combs
At linebacker, Ventrell Miller and Branson Combs are listed with an “OR,” indicating another competition that remains open. Miller enters this offseason with plenty of experience in Jacksonville’s defense, but the team appears willing to give Combs a legitimate opportunity to challenge him. As with Tuten and Rodriguez, similar to the 2025 offseason where Miller opened the offseason as a co-starter with Devin Lloyd, the preseason and joint practices should provide more clarity than an initial depth chart ever could.
Dickerson Gets First Crack
The defensive line features one of the more intriguing surprises. 30-year old veteran defensive tackle Matt Dickerson is currently ahead of Ruke Orhorhoro as the backup at the 3-technique tackle spot behind Arik Armstead. Dickerson played a healthy 39% of defensive snaps (196) last season for Jacksonville. Following the Jaguars’ offseason trade that sent Maason Smith to Atlanta in exchange for Orhorhoro, it was reasonable to assume that Orhorhoro would have an inside track to that backup role. Apparently, that’s not a given. For now, Dickerson has been given the first opportunity on what could be described as an open runway behind Armstead.
That doesn’t mean Orhorhoro has lost the competition. It means he has to take the job. He has, notably, flashed in multiple practices over the past week while rushing the passer. The next several weeks will be important for the third-year defensive lineman as he gets the opportunity to demonstrate why Jacksonville acquired him in the first place.
Lewis Over Jarrian
At slot corner, Jourdan Lewis remains ahead of Jarrian Jones. That isn’t necessarily surprising, particularly considering Lewis’ experience and his role as a leader. However, the circumstances surrounding this battle make it worth monitoring. Lewis has been limited or out through much of training camp as he continues working his way back from the foot injury that ended his 2025 season. Meanwhile, Jones has performed well and is widely viewed as a legitimate candidate to push Lewis for the starting slot role. For now, Lewis maintains his position on the depth chart. That could change as early as this week.
Battle For CB3
Christian Braswell is currently listed as the No. 2 corner behind Montaric Brown. Jabbar Muhammad, meanwhile, is listed as the No. 2 corner behind Travis Hunter, as both players fight for potentially one spot. Those placements also offer a glimpse into how Jacksonville currently views its reasonably untested cornerback depth, particularly considering Hunter’s two-way role. However, Jarrian’s ability to play outside provides significant fluidity in how things could actually play out in case of a true injury.
The bigger picture
The most important thing to remember about this depth chart is that it’s only a snapshot, not a verdict. A consistent theme throughout Jacksonville’s initial release is that players who were already on the roster in 2025 generally remain ahead of the newer additions entering this week, which makes sense.
Returning players have familiarity with the system, terminology, and staff. New additions still have to prove that they can translate their offseason work into consistent performance against NFL competition. In other cases, competing players have to prove they can remain healthy, while providing consistent outcomes to earn a role (IE: Wyatt Milum, Caleb Ransaw, Jalen McLeod, etc).
The Jaguars are about to get their first real opportunity to evaluate several of these competitions against another team in joint practices with the Saints. Then comes the preseason opener this weekend. The initial depth chart tells us where Jacksonville stands today. The next three weeks will tell us where these players actually belong.
What, if anything, surprised you from the team’s initial depth chart? Which roster battles are you personally keeping a watchful eye on this preseason? Let us know in the comments!
