NFL draft lacked Round 1 thrills; what’s in store for Jaguars?
The first round of the NFL Draft did not include the Jaguars (for the first time in their franchise history) and also didn’t include much drama.
After not holding a selection in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars finally made an appearance, selecting Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher with the 56th-overall pick in the second round.
The Jaguars entered this year’s draft with 11 selections, including four within the first 100 picks of the event. The team held a second-round pick in addition to three third-rounders, two acquired via past trades.
After the first round, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone indicated that the team wasn’t necessarily in the running to trade up to acquire a first-round pick.
“Nothing came to fruition, obviously. Nothing sort of transpired in real time that would’ve been worth even flagging,” Gladstone said.
Now, the team has finally landed their selection without making a move.
Nate Boerkircher scouting report
Played four years at Nebraska, appearing in 39 games (17 starts), catching 19 passes for 219 yards and one score. Transferred to Texas A&M in 2026, playing in 13 games, catching 19 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns.
How Nate Boerkircher fits with Jaguars
The Jaguars deploy a run-heavy offense, emphasizing perimeter blocking and multiple players on offense. Boerkircher gives Jacksonville another threat in the pass game, while also adding run blocking alongside Brenton Strange, who enjoyed a breakout season last year.
Boerkircher replaces TE Johnny Mundt, who was released earlier this year.
Nate Boerkircher highlights
Earned academic All-Big Ten member all four seasons while at Nebraska.
Here are some highlights from Boerkircher’s season with the Aggies:
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky at Demetrius.
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