The Jacksonville Jaguars general manager says they are taking a long-term view as they build their roster for the 2026 season and beyond.
Early in NFL free agency, the Jaguars made more news about the players they lost than they did adding. All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Carolina Panthers, and running back Travis Etienne signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the New Orleans Saints.
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However, general manager James Gladstone told reporters that taking no action at this time is part of the plan.
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“We’re at a stage now where we’re looking for more draft capital and compensatory picks,” Gladstone said, via The 33rd’s Ali Melov. “When you think about our high-priced free agents ending up signing elsewhere … in return, by not signing any outside free agents, we recoup our draft capital in 2027.”
Gladstone added that these drafts are about more than just adding players in 2027. Those picks could be used in trades to move up in the 2026 draft, helping to find players for this year’s team in training camp or at the NFL trade deadline.
Under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, the league awards at least 32 additional draft picks to teams that lose certain players, coaches and executives. Teams that lose more unrestricted free agents (or players who are considered more valuable) will be drafted in the third through seventh rounds of the following year’s draft.
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According to Over the Cap, the value of a compensatory pick depends on the average annual salary of the contract signed by the free agent, as well as the percentage of snaps the player participated in on offense or defense and whether they earned postseason honors such as being named to the All-Pro team.
Following that formula, the Jaguars are expected to receive a fourth-round pick in 2027 for losing Lloyd, a fifth-round pick for Etienne, who signed elsewhere, and a sixth-round pick for Greg Newsome II, who is headed to the New York Giants in 2027.
Jacksonville eventually hit the market by re-signing cornerback Montalik Brown to a three-year, $33 million deal, linebacker Dennis Gardeck to a two-year, $6.5 million deal, and running back Chris Rodriguez to a two-year, $10 million deal.