Full Breakdown
Jaguars and Colts Rookies Target Starting Roles in 2026 Training Camps
7/8/2026, 8:47:48 AM
Core Event: Rookies Poised to Earn Starting Jobs
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts have identified two rookies—guard Emmanuel Pregnon and safety A.J. Haulcy, respectively—who could secure starting positions during the 2026 training camps that begin in mid-July. Both players are highlighted by preseason analyses as immediate challengers to incumbent veterans.
Background & Context
Jacksonville entered the draft seeking to reinforce a struggling interior offensive line. Starting guards Ezra Cleveland and Patrick Mekari posted below-average Pro Football Focus grades in 2025, prompting the team to consider a rookie replacement. Indianapolis, meanwhile, faced extensive defensive turnover, losing defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, defensive ends Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam, linebackers Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt, cornerback Kenny Moore, and safeties Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas. The departures created a vacancy at safety that the team expects Haulcy to fill.
Key Prospects
- Emmanuel Pregnon (Jaguars, 3rd-round, OG) – 6-ft-4, 314-lb lineman who started at Oregon, USC, and Wyoming.
- A.J. Haulcy (Colts, 3rd-round, S) – 222-lb former LSU, Houston, and New Mexico safety noted for ball-hawking ability.
- C.J. Allen (Colts, 2nd-round, LB) – Projected as a possible replacement for former linebacker Zaire Franklin.
Data & Statistics
- Pregnon allowed three sacks in his entire college career and never more than 18 pressures in a season; his final year at Oregon recorded one sack and five pressures.
- PFF graded Cleveland as slightly above average and Mekari as below average in 2025.
- Haulcy logged 406 coverage snaps (second-most for LSU), surrendered one touchdown with a 59.0 passer rating, recorded 10 interceptions, 19 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery over four collegiate seasons.
- Sharp’s analysis notes Haulcy missed 17 % of tackles in his most recent season, the highest miss rate among his safety cohort.
Official Statements & Responses
- James Gladstone, GM, Jacksonville Jaguars: “The selection was part of a desire to use more heavy formations next season, implying that Boerkircher was favored for his blocking skills.”
- The Colts organization has not issued a formal comment on Haulcy’s projected role, but the draft narrative emphasizes immediate defensive reinforcement.
Criticism & Opposition
- Analyst Warren Sharp described Gladstone’s draft approach as “downright arrogant,” labeling several picks as “substantial reaches” that could hinder depth development.
- Sharp also cautioned that Haulcy’s 17 % tackle miss rate raises “a red flag” for a player expected to start at strong safety.
- While Newsweek suggests Pregnon could win a starting guard job now, Sharp predicts he will likely assume the role in 2027 after Ezra Cleveland’s contract expires.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Starting-job timeline: Newsweek projects Pregnon as a current starter; Sharp projects a delayed start in 2027.
- Safety evaluation: Newsweek highlights Haulcy’s low touchdown allowance and high interception totals; Sharp emphasizes his high missed-tackle percentage.
- No direct coaching comments on either rookie’s readiness have been published, leaving the final roster decisions uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Gladstone explained the selection as part of a desire to use more heavy formations next season, implying that Boerkircher was favored for his blocking skills.” — James Gladstone, GM, Jacksonville Jaguars
- “He is expected to immediately take over for middle linebacker Zaire Franklin, who was traded to Green Bay.” — Warren Sharp, analyst
- “His 406 coverage snaps were second-most for the Tigers, and he surrendered just one touchdown with a 59 passer rating against last season, according to Pro Football Focus.” — Newsweek analysis
- “Pregnon allowed just three sacks during his college career, and he never allowed more than 18 pressures in any season.” — Newsweek analysis
- “Gladstone’s approach to this draft was downright arrogant, selecting players far earlier than they were expected to come off the board.” — Warren Sharp
- “Despite his size, Haulcy missed 17% of his tackles last year, one of the worst rates among this year’s class of safeties, which clearly raises a red flag given his expected role.” — Warren Sharp
What’s Next
Training camps open in mid-July, with preseason games slated for August. Roster cuts will determine whether Pregnon and Haulcy secure starting assignments, shaping the Jaguars’ offensive-line scheme and the Colts’ secondary composition for the 2026 season.
