Since selecting Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars have made one thing crystal clear: the quarterback position belongs to Trevor. In the five drafts since, Jacksonville has not used a single pick on a quarterback:
- 2025: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2023: 0
- 2022: 0
- 2021: 0
That level of commitment is pretty rare in today’s NFL, where even teams with established starters often take late-round swings on developmental passers. The last quarterbacks drafted by Jacksonville not named Trevor Lawrence were
Jake Luton (6th round, 2020) and Gardner Minshew (6th round, 2019). Since then, the Jaguars have relied entirely on veteran signings and undrafted options to fill out the depth chart, whether under the GM leadership of Dave Caldwell, Trent Baalke, or one year of James Gladstone.
Why This Year Could Be Different
After multiple seasons disrupted by injuries at the quarterback position, including Lawrence’s 2024 offseason labrum surgery on his non-throwing arm, 2025 finally brought something Jaguars fans had been waiting for: a fully healthy Trevor Lawrence from start to finish. Stability returned. The offense found rhythm. And for the first time in a while, the conversation isn’t about surviving at quarterback, it’s about sustaining success.
Which makes this the perfect time to ask, is 2026 the year Jacksonville finally drafts and develops a true backup quarterback? Not because Lawrence is in question. Quite the opposite. When your franchise quarterback is healthy and locked in, that’s when you can afford to think long-term. That’s when you invest in infrastructure.
Current Depth Chart Reality
Jacksonville currently has Nick Mullens and UDFA Carter Bradley under contract for 2026. Mullens is entering the final season of his two-year, $6.5 million deal, a reliable veteran presence, but not necessarily a long-term, high ceiling option. Bradley remains more of a projection than a proven commodity. So while the room is stable, it’s not necessarily future-proof. If Mullens departs after 2026, the Jaguars could once again find themselves scrambling for a veteran backup on the open market, unless they get ahead of it now.
The Rams Blueprint: A Possible Clue?
To understand how Jacksonville might approach this, it helps to look at the background of general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen, both of whom come from the Los Angeles Rams system.
After drafting Jared Goff in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Los Angeles didn’t invest draft capital in quarterbacks. Even after trading Goff to Detroit for Matthew Stafford, the Rams largely avoided drafting the position. In fact, since 2016, the Rams have used a draft pick on a quarterback just once: selecting Stetson Bennett in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. But the context matters here.
At the time of Bennett’s selection, Los Angeles did not have a clearly established heir-apparent backup. Brett Rypien was signed five days after the draft to compete for the role. That 2023 draft was Gladstone’s third as the Rams’ Director of Scouting. In his first two years in that role (2021 and 2022), future Jags’ practice squad quarterback John Wolford held down the backup job, with the Rams making no efforts to draft an upgrade.
The pattern seems telling:
- If the backup situation is reasonably stable and trusted, they won’t normally force a pick.
- If there’s uncertainty or a long-term need, they may be willing to invest mid-round capital for a developmental prospect they fall in love with.
So What Does That Mean for Jacksonville?
If the Jaguars follow a similar philosophy, they likely won’t force a quarterback pick in the middle rounds. With Lawrence entrenched and Mullens capable, the urgency isn’t high enough to justify premium capital. However, a mid-Day 3 selection, particularly in the fifth or sixth round, would align almost perfectly with the Rams’ previous approach. A developmental quarterback with traits, arm talent, and upside who can sit for two seasons makes sense. The depth chart could use someone who can grow within Coen’s system without the pressure of immediate expectations.
For Jacksonville fans, this isn’t about replacing Trevor. It’s about protecting the investment. For years, the Jaguars were searching for “the guy.” Now that they have him, roster construction shifts from desperation to sustainability. Smart franchises draft quarterbacks not because they’re unsure, but because they’re prepared. And if 2026 is the year they quietly add one, it won’t be reactionary. It won’t be panic. It will be planned, a controlled build.
Notable Mid-round NFL Draft Options
- Cole Payton (North Dakota State) – A dual-threat FCS QB who is projected to be drafted in the fifth to seventh rounds. Per PFF, “The top player on the list is North Dakota State‘s Cole Payton, with a 95.8 PFF overall grade. When sorting by PFF passing grade, we see that Payton’s 94.5 mark is also No. 1 among FCS quarterbacks. He completed 161 of 226 passes for 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in 2025, and he posted an impressive 78.3% adjusted completion rate. While those numbers are impressive enough, his rushing output equally stood out, headlined by a 90.0 PFF rushing grade — the top figure among FCS quarterbacks. Payton’s rushing numbers — 894 yards, 13 touchdowns and 39 forced missed tackles — make it clear that he is a true dual-threat quarterback. He was a one-year starter, but his production makes him an intriguing late-round quarterback prospect.” A true dual-threat playmaker who graded extremely high in overall and passing production among FCS QBs this season, completing over 78% of his passes with strong rushing upside. This combination of traits makes him intriguing as a late-round developmental option with athletic upside.
- Behren Morton (Texas Tech) – Morton is projected to be drafted in the fifth to sixth rounds and primarily wins using his short area accuracy and quick game. Courtesy of the Draft Network, “Morton won’t be a fit for every NFL offense, but he has enough to his game to develop into a solid backup in a spread offense. He’s good at taking what the defense gives him underneath and has the short accuracy and velocity to zip throws into his receiver’s hands at or underneath the sticks.” Not a “flashiest” prospect, but Morton has shown enough accuracy and velocity on underneath throws to intrigue scouts as a system-fit developmental backup, particularly in offense where rhythm and timing matter.
- Joe Fagnano (Connecticut) – Often labeled as a “safe and steady pick for Day 3 QB options, Fagnano is is projected to be drafted in the fifth round to possibly even going undrafted. Via Fox Sports, ”After working with former NFL head coach Jim Mora Jr. (who recently took over at Colorado State), however, Fagnano has emerged as one of the most intriguing hidden gems in this year’s class (regardless of position), tossing 48 touchdowns against just five interceptions over the past two seasons. While it is true that Fagnano was aided by a shotgun-heavy offense that minimized his pre-snap reads, Fagnano has both size and legitimate arm talent. He also has a snappy release and can drive the ball to the sideline, as well as loft the ball with impressive touch. Fagnano hasn’t created much buzz nationally, but a strong showing at the East-West Shrine Bowl could change that quickly.“ A fundamentally sound quarterback with a clean game tape and low mistake rate. He’s older and doesn’t have elite traits, but could be a practical, late pick for a team looking for a reliable backup.
- Joey Aguilar (Tennessee) – A quarterback with major system upside, Aguilar is projected to be a sixth round to undrafted quarterback prospect. In his only season at Tennessee, Aguilar threw for 3,656 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, completing 67.3% of his passes. Per CBS Sports, “Aguilar screams Josh Heupel QB: tempo, vertical shots, and stat sheets that pop. The App State transfer has 13 TDs on 65% passing, pushing nine yards per attempt. At 6-3, 225, he’s got the frame, though he’s not much of a runner. The big question: is it him, or is it the system? Scouts have been burned on the veer-and-shoot archetype before, most recently in Hendon Hooker. Right now, Aguilar looks like a backup who’s worth a late pick. Maybe you stash and see if he can function outside the scheme on the practice squad.” Aguilar has tape that pops in a tempo-heavy system. He’s a late Day 3 or UDFA gamble with potential, if he lands in the right place.
- Sawyer Robertson (Baylor) – The fifth-year senior with big arm upside. scouts also like his ability to extend plays and his mobility. is projected to be a sixth round to undrafted quarterback prospect. Via Steelers Depot, “Robertson has starting caliber traits, but much of his game has been limited by the Baylor offense’s simplification. With the right coaching, he has the potential to become a starter after a couple of years of sitting and learning.”
In a league built on contingency plans, standing still at quarterback may quietly become Jacksonville’s biggest risk. This isn’t about replacing Trevor. It’s about making sure the Jaguars never have to panic again. The Rams waited until the timing and value made sense. Jacksonville could soon be approaching that same moment.
So what do you think, Big Cat Country? Should the Jaguars finally invest in a developmental quarterback behind Trevor, or are there more pressing holes that deserve that capital (and that roster spot)? Let us know below in the comments!
