​We’re diving into fantasy football content this offseason with the aim of inviting a broad audience of football fans to Bucs Wire. While offensive standouts often steal the spotlight in fantasy discussions, IDP leagues continue to grow in popularity, offering fans another engaging way to enjoy the game. Our approach will begin with rookie profiles that place these newcomers within the context of the teams that drafted them. Up next is Jacksonville Jaguars safety Jalen Huskey.
Huskey arrives in Jacksonville after a productive college career at Bowling Green and Maryland. After transitioning from cornerback to safety, he capped his collegiate tenure with 67 tackles, four interceptions, and a career-best 83.6 overall defensive grade from PFF in 2025. His blend of ball skills, versatility, and football IQ helped him secure a third-round selection by the Jaguars. Projections for Huskey come from Mase Riney of Fantasy In Frames.
In his college career, Huskey’s knack for finding the football stood out. He intercepted 11 passes over his final three seasons, and he demonstrated the ability to move from outside cornerback to safety while facing stronger competition in the Big Ten. This ball-production profile is a strong selling point for NFL scouts and fantasy evaluators alike.
The challenge for fantasy managers, though, is opportunity. Jacksonville currently lists Huskey behind veteran Eric Murray at free safety, with Rayuan Lane III also providing depth behind him. That setup leaves Huskey competing for rotational defensive snaps while contributing heavily on special teams early in his rookie season. Still, his versatility offers a tangible path to on-field opportunities. His background at cornerback provides coaches with the option to shift him around the formation in sub-packages—especially against tight ends and slot receivers—creating multiple routes for him to see the field.
Huskey’s long-term outlook is more compelling than his immediate fantasy value. His instincts, versatility, and ball production suggest he could develop into a dependable NFL safety down the line, but projecting consistent IDP production in 2026 remains uncertain given his current role. With Eric Murray expected to handle the majority of the free safety duties, Huskey figures as a rotational defender whose fantasy output will likely appear in isolated games rather than on a weekly basis. Unless injuries open a larger role, his defensive snap share is unlikely to be stable enough for redraft managers to rely on.
For 2026, Huskey is best regarded as a watch-list candidate in deeper IDP leagues. Dynasty managers should stay intrigued by his long-term upside, but redraft players may opt to wait until his role becomes clearer before leaning in.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire. It provides an IDP rookie profile of Jalen Huskey to help readers understand his potential fantasy impact and long-term outlook.