With Thursday night kicking off the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars are currently expected to add somewhere between 15 and 18 undrafted free agents (UDFAs) following this weekend’s action in Pittsburgh, per OverTheCap. Of course, this figure depends on post-draft veteran signings, potential draft day trades, and unforeseen offseason cuts shaping the 2026 roster. With GM James Gladstone executing three draft day trades in 2025, it would be reasonable to expect Jacksonville may not use every
2026 draft pick on a selection.
For context, the Jaguars signed a league-leading 22 undrafted free agents following the 2025 draft, in James Gladstone’s opening offseason with the team. That aggressive approach to the post-draft market is clearly no accident.
No Stone Left Unturned
The Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, both lead by Sean McVay former coaches, currently land top three in the NFL in estimated post-draft UDFAs, which seems systematic. The Vikings signed 21 in 2025, tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the second highest total in the NFL. For a front office that has demonstrated a clear commitment to allowing open runways for roster depth and the draft-and-develop model, the UDFA pool of players represent a final opportunity to add competitive bodies. Those can often be the kind of hungry, overlooked players who have just a little more to prove from day one of training camp.
With 11 picks already in hand heading into Pittsburgh, Jacksonville already enters draft weekend in a position to truly load up in gaining an early jump on opponent’s preferred UDFAs, with the team notably having three seventh round picks:
- Round 2: No. 56 overall
- Round 3: No. 81 (from Detroit)
- Round 3: No. 88
- Round 3: No. 100 (from Detroit)
- Round 4: No. 124
- Round 5: No. 164
- Round 5: No. 166 (from Philadelphia)
- Round 6: No. 203 (from Philadelphia)
- Round 7: No. 233 (from Detroit)
- Round 7: No. 240
- Round 7: No. 245 (from LA Rams)
Recent UDFA Successes
Defensive linemen Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II became the most notable success stories of Jacksonville’s 2025 UDFA class, as they both provided the Jaguars a much needed special teams and pass rush spark.
Striggow played in 10 games, with two starts, posting 15 tackles, three quarterback hits, a half-sack, and a fumble recovery. Meanwhile, Green saw action in 14 games, with 12 tackles, including two for loss, 2.0 sacks, and a fumble recovery. Additionally, he provided one of the season’s biggest hits, where the referees inexplicably took away an additional sack.
The hours immediately following the draft, when phones are ringing, deals are being made, and rosters are being quietly assembled, have become nearly as important a part of the Gladstone blueprint as any selection made under the bright lights in Pittsburgh.
UDFA Prospects
As expected UDFAs, I have my eye on a few guys late in the seventh round, such as:
- Behren Morton, QB, Texas Tech
- Jamal Haynes, RB, Georgia Tech
- Caden Fordham, LB, North Carolina State
- Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria/IPP
Who are your favorite underdog prospects you expect to be late round or undrafted that you’d love to see wearing teal in 2026? Let us know in the comments!
