Jaguars GM says keeping compensatory draft picks is reason for lack of free-agent signings
· Yahoo Sports
The Jacksonville Jaguars are taking a long view toward roster construction for the 2026 season and beyond, according to their general manager.
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Early in the NFL’s free agency period, the Jaguars have made more news for the players they’ve lost rather than added. All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Carolina Panthers and running back Travis Etienne went to the New Orleans Saints on a four-year, $52 million deal.
However, general manager James Gladstone told reporters that not making any moves right now is part of the plan.
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#Jaguars GM James Gladstone says the team isn’t active in free agency because they want the compensatory picks for players lost (Etienne, Lloyd).
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 12, 2026
Knowing they'll get those picks allows them to be active on the trade market in training camp and during the season. pic.twitter.com/YLU2Gm5Qec
“We’re at a stage now where a higher volume of draft capital is what we’re hunting up and those compensatory picks,” Gladstone said, via The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov. “When you think about high-priced free agents of ours ended up signing elsewhere… in return, by not signing any outside free agents, we recoup 2027 draft capital.”
Gladstone added that those drafts don’t just mean adding players in 2027. The picks can be used in trades to move up in the 2026 draft, help get players for this year’s squad during training camp or at the NFL trade deadline.
Under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, the league rewards at least 32 additional draft picks to teams that have lost particular players, coaches and executives. Teams that lose more unrestricted free agents than they sign — or players considered of better value — are awarded selections in the third through seventh rounds of the following year’s draft.
The value of the compensatory picks is based on the average annual salary of the contract signed by the free agent, in addition to the percentage of snaps the player participated in on offense or defense and whether they earned postseason honors such as being named to the All-Pro team, according to Over the Cap.
By that formula, the Jaguars are projected to receive a fourth-round selection for losing Lloyd, a fifth-rounder for Etienne signing elsewhere and a sixth-round pick for Greg Newsome II going to the New York Giants, all in 2027.
Jacksonville finally got in the market by re-signing cornerback Montaric Brown at three years and $33 milliion, bringing back linebacker Dennis Gardeck at two years and $6.5 million, and adding running back Chris Rodriguez to a two-year, $10 million deal.