Emmanuel Pregnon was seen as an instant impact candidate for the Jacksonville Jaguars, almost immediately after being selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. With a strong offseason performance and a potential position as a Week 1 starter on the offensive line, those predictions seem set
Throughout training camp, Pregnon steadily climbed the depth chart, and though it was initially assumed he would develop in a backup role at first, a combination of injuries on the offensive line and impressive performances from Pregnon changed that.
After spending time working with the first-team offense, head coach Liam Coen said today that Pregnon has continued to display the traits that initially attracted him to the Jaguars during the draft.
"Emmanuel
has done a nice job so far of fitting in with the group while being himself, and a lot of ways you can see that the guys are all starting to hang with them more, and have lunch together more, and just connecting," Coen said. "And we liked him a lot coming out because of his play style. He's a finisher. He finishes blocks down the field, he covers down. He cleans up the trash in the pocket. He instinctively did a lot of those things that we like and that we try to preach on a day-to-day basis. I think he's a people mover in ways like you can't teach, somewhat of the size and strength and ability to stay connected to people, whether it's at the first or second level. So he's been able to give us a little bit of that in terms of just hand strength, like he is a strong man. Being obviously a younger player that has a lot to learn and, will grow a ton throughout this season, but excited about maybe being able to run at him in ways too."
Pregnon was among Jacksonville's highest-graded players on offense during the preseason, and it is likely for this reason that Jaguars staff began seriously considering him as a Week 1 starter. He appeared in just one game, where he gave up one pressure over 18 pass-blocking snaps, and had a run-blocking grade of 70.0. He also received high praise from offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, who applauded his work ethic and his progress.
"He puts in a lot of extra work on his own time," Udinski said, via Jaguars on SI. "I see him in here at the facility. I'll take a stroll downstairs and it's 10 o'clock at night and I'm expecting it's only the cleaning crews around, but it's Emmanuel rolling around through the locker room, just finishing up his recovery work. So, I probably don't have enough good things to say about a guy like that.”
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars' Liam Coen praises Emmanuel Pregnon’s strength, rapid rise
