​The Jacksonville Jaguars head into the upcoming season with higher expectations than they have had in quite some time. Even as national media continues to overlook Jacksonville, the Jaguars come off a 13-4 campaign and still look like one of the best teams in the AFC. With Trevor Lawrence at the helm and a terrific group of wide receivers surrounding him, the offense has the potential to rank among the league’s elite. Defensively, Jacksonville was the NFL’s stingiest against the run in 2025, even while Travon Walker battled injuries throughout the year. Now the unit will add cornerback Travis Hunter, whose All-Pro potential at that position fits the team’s plan to make defense a primary focus in 2026.
Yet even with a very strong overall roster, the Jaguars enter the season with several notable question marks. The team was not particularly aggressive in adding new players this offseason, drawing widespread criticism from many media outlets. Jacksonville is banking on multiple players to elevate their performances from last season and on others to thrive in expanded roles. If those improvements occur, the Jaguars could emerge as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. If they don’t, they could slip backward and be overtaken by other conference rivals.
A key factor in their outlook is the combination of veterans they lost in free agency and the scarcity of high-profile additions, which could expose some clear weaknesses in 2026. What is their biggest weakness? Mike Clay of ESPN has highlighted both a strength and an x-factor for the team, while also identifying a single position as the Jaguars’ most significant vulnerability for the coming year. ESPN’s assessment places Jacksonville’s starting lineup 16th in the NFL, with the running back position singled out as the primary driver of that middling ranking.
Clay questions the Jaguars’ running back trio. Neither second-year backs Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. nor veteran Chris Rodriguez Jr., who was the team’s biggest free-agent addition, has ever carried the load as a featured back. All three are now counted on to replace Travis Etienne Jr., who departed for the New Orleans Saints. The highlighted weakness is “Running back.” Jacksonville’s at- or near the bottom in several other areas, including the interior defensive line, but the focus here centers on the backfield. With Etienne gone, 2025 draftees Tuten and Allen team with Rodriguez to form a three-man committee. Tuten flashed as a rookie but logged only 83 carries and 14 targets. Rodriguez has shown effectiveness as a rusher, delivering a career average of 4.6 yards per carry, yet his workload remains limited (198 carries) and he has shown limited involvement as a receiver (six career catches). Expect Allen to contribute in passing situations, though his primary role will likely come in specific packages and situations.
If that trio can deliver a balanced, productive foundation, the Jaguars’ offense could reach a higher ceiling. If they struggle to handle the backfield responsibilities or fail to emerge as a dependable three-man committee, the team could find itself facing increased pressure from opponents who stack the box and test the run game early and often. In the end, the Jaguars’ fate hinges on how the running back depth, the defense’s continued resilience against the run, and the broader roster’s ability to adapt to expanded roles align throughout the 2026 season.