Moeller: Jags' GM Gladstone Shaping Roster Toward Another Banner Season
By Jeff Moeller
JACKSONVILLE (www.jaxsportsnews.com) - Jacksonville Jaguars’ GM James Gladstone made some last-minute eye-popping moves to his team’s final 53-man roster in preparation for their season opener against Cleveland Sept. 13.
Trust in Gladstone, Jaguars’ fans.
Just when you thought veteran Nick Mullens was going to be the backup to Trevor Lawrence, he wasn’t.
Gladstone acquired Miami quarterback and former Texas’ star Quinn Ewers to serve the role for a 2028 sixth-round pick, and Mullens eventually ended up on the practice squad.
This one was a stumper.
Ewers played in four games and threw for 622 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in between the Tua Tagovailoa saga. He didn’t exactly overwhelm the Dolphins’ brass last season.
Gladstone must have seen something in him. Mullens is still within arm’s reach as well as rookie Joey Aguilar.
The GM also sent veteran tight end Hunter Long to the Cardinals for a 2028 seventh-round pick. The Jags opened the season with four tight ends: incumbent Brenton Strange, top -pick Nate Boerkircher, and Tanner Koziol and Quinton Morris.
In reality, Gladstone broke even with his draft picks in both deals. Underneath the surface, Gladstone is building for the future.
Gladstone has six regular picks and three compensatory ones in 2027 and eight picks in 2028.
In his two years at the helm, Gladstone has shown that he isn’t afraid to pull the trigger. He moved up to number two a year ago to get Travis Hunter.
His 2026 roster has some twists and turns with four running backs, six wide receivers (Hunter also will see time here), and nine offensive linemen.
On the other side, the Jags have 11 defensive linemen, five linebackers, five cornerbacks, and five safeties.
The ever-reliable, long-range boomer Cam Little can be count on again for plenty of field goals, and Logan Cooke has established himself among the league's best punters.
It seems like a pretty balanced roster with a little heavy on the linemen on both sides of the ball. It also looks like a roster that can challenge for the AFC South crown and also double-digit wins.
But, Gladstone likely isn’t done wheeling and dealing. With roughly 10 days before the opener, he’s bound to make some changes. In the past few days, Gladstone has continued to build his practice squad.
Those who excelled in camp on the squad are receivers Austin Trammell and Trebor Pena, running back J’Mari Taylor, and return specialist Michael Wortham.
Will Levis, Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Johnson, and Joe Milton are potential back quarterbacks available if Gladstone changes his mind about Ewers.
In the meantime, you have to trust in Gladstone.
