James Gladstone explains reasoning behind Jaguars' 6 Day 3 draft picks

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James Gladstone explains reasoning behind Jaguars' 6 Day 3 draft picks

Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire · Jaguars Wire

Sun, Apr 26, 2026 ·

3 min read

LB Parker Hughes

What Gladstone had to say:"Oh man, there's a ton to point to. The fact that he's somebody who can run very fast, find the football, track it down, and get ball carriers on the ground is going to be really helpful to our cause."

Hughes' fit with Jaguars:Early on, his role may primarily come on special teams, but it sounds like Gladstone is bullish on Hughes' upside to help in the run game.

WR CJ Williams and WR Josh Cameron

What Gladstone had to say:"He fits the bill for a lot of the things that I've long appreciated in wide receiver play, with both the guys that we drafted at the position. They are extremely tough, extremely good blockers. They are extremely good at attacking the football. So really excited about both him and Josh (Cameron) entering the fray. He is an impressive human being."

Williams' and Cameron's fit with the Jaguars:The top of the receiver depth chart is set, but the two bolster the depth, providing competition on the back end. Both possess the big-bodied frames the Jaguars covet and are willing blockers.

TE Tanner Koziol

What Gladstone had to say:"I think very clearly he's got a superpower that he offers in a real way and that's catching the football. Obviously, his production over the course of his college tenure speaks volumes. Being one of, if not the most productive pass catcher in college history, depending on how you look at things, and I think for how we operate, for how Tanner best operates, having a big target like that isn't a bad thing, especially when it comes to red zone play."

Koziol's fit with the Jaguars:As Gladstone describes, he brings another pass-catching presence to the position. He will push Hunter Long for his role and roster spot.

DE Zach Durfee

What Gladstone had to say:"Certainly excited to bring him into the into the organization knowing that he's got really a cool background, and one that is not all that different han some of the others that we drafted and overcoming the odds and earning their place. And he was really, really effective in rushing the passer or creating disruption this past season."

Durfee's fit with the Jaguars:He provides needed depth at this position. His production from 2024 to 2025 took a huge jump, as Durfee showcased his ability to win his matchups often.

DE Wesley Williams

What Gladstone had to say:"I mean, that dude gets after it. He's got the makeup that aligns with everything that we covet. And the fact that he's able to disrupt both the run and the pass is really a helpful piece to our cause because we don't want to be too one-dimensional defensively and in particular we want to stop the run and knowing that he can do his part to disrupt while at the same time maintain fundamentals and techniques."

Williams' fit with the Jaguars:He will have the opportunity to earn snaps as one of the top options behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. His well-rounded skill set can make Williams a three-down defender.