A former fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Bhayshul Tuten is expected to be the Jaguars’ starting running back this season. Coming off a promising rookie year, he rushed for 307 yards and five touchdowns on 83 attempts, while adding 10 receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

Jacksonville let former first-round running back and 1,000-plus-yard rusher Travis Etienne Jr. walk in free agency, where he signed with the New Orleans Saints. That leaves Tuten with the opportunity to establish himself as the team’s feature back. 

Tuten possesses all the traits you look for in a running back in today’s game. At the combine, he ran a 4.32 in the 40-yard dash at 206 pounds and showed reliable hands. In his senior season at Virginia Tech, he recorded 1,240 scrimmage yards, rushing for 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns on 183 attempts.  

Tuten showed flashes as a rookie of the home-run speed head coach Liam Coen wants to utilize in Jacksonville’s offense. Entering his second year, he and the Jaguars’ running back room have faced huge question marks. The team feels confident in the group, and Tuten will take a huge step forward in the offense. 

Emmanuel Pregnon

Jacksonville got a steal in the third round with Emmanuel Pregnon in the 2026 NFL Draft. Projected as a top-50 pick out of Oregon, Pregnon fell to the team at No. 88.

At 6-foot-4 and 318 pounds, some viewed Pregnon as the best interior lineman in the draft. His college career began at Wyoming in 2021-22, where he earned Freshman All-American honors. 

After transferring to USC, Pregnon played there in 2023 and 2024. He earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors before transferring to Oregon for his final season in 2025. There, he was named First-Team All-American, First-Team All-BigTen, PFF’s top-rated guard and a Joe Moore Award finalist. 

Jacksonville released its opening-day depth chart with Pregnon listed as the starting left guard, the only rookie listed as a starter on the ‘26 depth chart.

Travis Hunter

Last year’s No. 2 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter, missed the entire second half of the season after sustaining a torn LCL ahead of Week 9. He entered the NFL with huge expectations, looking to become the first full-time two-way player.

​In his rookie season, Hunter played in seven games with 324 snaps on offense at wide receiver and 162 on defense at cornerback. He finished with 28 receptions for 298 yards, one touchdown, along with 11 tackles and three passes defended.

​Hunter tore his LCL just days after his best game of the season against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8. He recorded eight receptions for 101 yards, a touchdown and a pass breakup.

During the offseason, Hunter gained 10-13 pounds of muscle and reached a career-best 22.6 miles per hour. With the hybrid player still slated to play both ways, he will primarily play defense while seeing offensive packages. He is set to be the Jaguars’ opening-day starter at cornerback.

End Of My Jacksonville Jaguars Rant

Jacksonville will be counting heavily on these three players, but I’ll be watching Travis Hunter closely. The Jaguars traded a king’s ransom to move up in the draft and acquire the former Heisman Trophy winner.

General Manager James Gladstone said Hunter’s two-way ability was meant to challenge the boundaries of football when Jacksonville drafted him.

“[Travis Hunter] is a rare player, but he’s also a reminder that the boundaries of the game of football were built to be challenged.”

Now, I want to see if he was really worth moving up in the draft to get. Coming out of college, we heard that he was going to change the game of football and dominate at the NFL level with his ability to play both ways.