NFL News — 2026-07-05#
Read First#
The Jacksonville Jaguars are undergoing a massive roster recalibration after a stellar 13-4 season under head coach Liam Coen, losing cornerstone pieces like Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd while banking on the two-way development of Travis Hunter. How Jacksonville navigates this talent drain around MVP-candidate Trevor Lawrence will be the defining storyline of the AFC South.
Highlights by Theme#
Draft & Prospects#
The Jaguars used Days 1 and 2 of the draft to replenish their depth in the trenches and secondary, detailed in the Steelers 2026 opponent preview: Jacksonville Jaguars. In the third round, they added 295-pound run-stuffing DT Albert Regis and explosive Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon, a first-team All-American who boasts a 35-inch vertical and could immediately challenge Ezra Cleveland for the starting left guard spot. Jacksonville also looked to offset the loss of free safety Andrew Wingard by drafting Maryland’s Jalen Huskey, who pulled down 11 career interceptions in college, while adding blocking specialist Nate Boerkircher at tight end in the second round.
Roster Moves & Free Agency#
Jacksonville’s roster was raided during the first week of free agency, losing offensive engine Travis Etienne to the Saints on a four-year blockbuster deal and Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd to the Panthers on a three-year contract. According to the Steelers 2026 opponent preview: Jacksonville Jaguars, the Jaguars also watched free safety Andrew Wingard sign a one-year deal with the Cardinals and corner Greg Newsome II ink a one-year pact with the Giants. To stop the bleeding, Jacksonville traded Maason Smith to the Falcons in exchange for defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro and signed former Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. to a two-year deal to compete in the backfield.
Team Beats#
In New Orleans, tight end Juwan Johnson is finally earning national praise after a career year, drawing recognition from Bleacher Report as one of the NFL’s five most underrated players, noted in Morning Break: Juwan Johnson lands among the NFL’s most underrated. Over in Jacksonville, a massive scheme shift is underway for two-way star Travis Hunter, who is expected to transition to a full-time cornerback and part-time wide receiver this season to fill the void left by Greg Newsome II. Meanwhile, the Steelers are leaning into their development staff, with assistant strength and conditioning coach Justus Galac emphasizing a player-first philosophy of mutual respect and adaptability as he enters his third season in his current stint with the team, highlighted in Get to Know: Justus Galac.
League News & Culture#
The NFL’s international push continues to rely on grassroots player involvement, with German-born Steelers linebacker Julius Welschof acting as an ambassador for the NFL’s Global Markets Program by hosting flag football clinics in his home country, detailed in Five Fast Facts: Julius Welschof. In off-field news, Saints legend Steve Gleason publicly showed support for former running back Chris Johnson, who recently revealed he was diagnosed with ALS in 2025.
Storylines to Watch#
The pressure is squarely on Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ supporting cast. Following a quiet offseason where they lost their feature back and defensive captain, Jacksonville is leaning heavily on young players, in-house replacements, and Hunter’s ability to lock down the boundary. It will be fascinating to see if Coen’s offensive system can keep Jacksonville atop the division without Etienne to balance the attack.