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Duke Rookie Edge Gets Mixed Analysis on Roster Status With Jaguars in NFL
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- Duke Rookie Edge Gets Mixed Analysis on Roster Status With Jaguars in NFL
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Three players were drafted from the Duke Blue Devils during the 2026 NFL Draft, and the earliest one selected went in the fourth round to the Jacksonville Jaguars .
This rookie edge rusher, Wesley Williams, was the highest-drafted player coming out of Duke in the 2026 draft class, and it's fair to wonder what his roster status will be as a fourth-round pick.
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ESPN's Michael DiRocco revealed that Williams is a bit of a mixed bag for the Jaguars. While he's set to make the 53-man roster, he might not actually be active on gamedays for the Jaguars.
"Williams will make the roster, but he might have a hard time being active on game day," DiRocco reports on the Duke rookie edge rusher.
The Jaguars took Williams at No. 119 overall, giving the Duke edge rusher a chance to earn playing time on a defense with some good edge rushers like Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker .
He was always going to be a backup in his rookie season, but unfortunately for Williams and Duke fans as well, it's looking like Williams won't see much NFL action in his rookie season.
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DiRocco doesn't believe Williams has as clear a path to playing time, let alone being active on game day. The 6-foot-3, 256-pound edge rusher is likely to ride the bench to begin the season.
In three seasons at Duke, Williams recorded 130 total tackles, 53 being solo. He had four passes defended and 11.5 sacks, with just two in 2025, but eight in 2024.
The 21-year-old edge rusher isn't going to make an NFL impact right away, at least based on DiRocco's report.
But there's not really a question about Williams making the Jaguars' 53-man roster, which is at least something.
The Duke Blue Devils' highest-drafted rookie from the 2026 class is going to be on the Jaguars' roster, but there is a serious question about what his role will be at the start of the year.
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It might be a long season for the Duke rookie edge rusher, but if nothing else, Williams is at least making the NFL roster in his rookie season and could still earn plenty of playing time by the end of the 2026 season.
