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The Jacksonville Jaguars have had their 2026 draft class picked apart and criticized for months.
The consensus was that the Jaguars "reached" for a number of their selections. Without a first round pick due to last year's trade up for Travis Hunter, fans were hoping on getting a first-round-type of talent who would fall to them in Round 2.
That is not what happened. The team used its first pick, number 56 overall, to select Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher. The pick shocked everyone, as Boerkircher was seen by most as a Day 3 pick. However, Jacksonville fell in love with him during the draft process and took him in the second round.
The selection of Boerkircher was possibly the most criticized pick of the entire draft and helped the Jaguars earn one of the lowest draft-value rankings in the league.
Adding more insult to the pick, Moe Moton of Bleacher Report, who released an article picking each NFL team's "biggest bust" for 2026, chose Boerkircher for the Jaguars.
In Moton's reasoning for choosing Boerkircher as the Jaguars' biggest bust, it seems he was just not a fan of the pick, not that he thinks the rookie will fall short of expectations.
"At 6'5", 245 pounds, Nate Boerkircher is primarily a blocking tight end who only caught 38 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns in five collegiate terms. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him as their first draft pick, in the second round.
"Perhaps the Jaguars plan to employ a run-heavy game plan in 2026 and cut down on pass-catching tight end Brenton Strange's 75 percent snap count from the previous season.
"Still, under head coach Liam Coen, the Jaguars tied for 25th across the league in fielding multiple tight-end sets last season, per Sharp Football Stats.
"After losing running back Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency, it would be a surprise if Boerkircher is featured in a ground attack led by Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and LeQuint Allen Jr."
While the criticism of the pick itself is fair, especially considering that Boerkircher was drafted three rounds earlier than expected, it seems unfair to label Boerkircher a "bust" in his rookie year.
Being a bust means you fell way short of high expectations. It would appear that Moton's expectations for Boerkircher in 2026 aren't very high.
Out of all the players in the NFL this season, Boerkircher may have the biggest chip on his shoulder. The amount of criticism the Jags have received for drafting him so high has been staggering.
However, the pressure to perform will be weighing heavily on Boerkircher. Being picked in the second round means your team has confidence that you will earn a major role and succeed.
Boerkircher may have to succeed more than most second-round picks if he wants to justify his draft slot.
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The consensus was that the Jaguars "reached" for a number of their selections. Without a first round pick due to last year's trade up for Travis Hunter, fans were hoping on getting a first-round-type of talent who would fall to them in Round 2.
That is not what happened. The team used its first pick, number 56 overall, to select Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher. The pick shocked everyone, as Boerkircher was seen by most as a Day 3 pick. However, Jacksonville fell in love with him during the draft process and took him in the second round.
The selection of Boerkircher was possibly the most criticized pick of the entire draft and helped the Jaguars earn one of the lowest draft-value rankings in the league.
Adding more insult to the pick, Moe Moton of Bleacher Report, who released an article picking each NFL team's "biggest bust" for 2026, chose Boerkircher for the Jaguars.
Moton's Reasoning
In Moton's reasoning for choosing Boerkircher as the Jaguars' biggest bust, it seems he was just not a fan of the pick, not that he thinks the rookie will fall short of expectations.
"At 6'5", 245 pounds, Nate Boerkircher is primarily a blocking tight end who only caught 38 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns in five collegiate terms. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him as their first draft pick, in the second round.
"Perhaps the Jaguars plan to employ a run-heavy game plan in 2026 and cut down on pass-catching tight end Brenton Strange's 75 percent snap count from the previous season.
"Still, under head coach Liam Coen, the Jaguars tied for 25th across the league in fielding multiple tight-end sets last season, per Sharp Football Stats.
"After losing running back Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency, it would be a surprise if Boerkircher is featured in a ground attack led by Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and LeQuint Allen Jr."
Is Moton Being Unfair?
While the criticism of the pick itself is fair, especially considering that Boerkircher was drafted three rounds earlier than expected, it seems unfair to label Boerkircher a "bust" in his rookie year.
Being a bust means you fell way short of high expectations. It would appear that Moton's expectations for Boerkircher in 2026 aren't very high.
Final Thoughts
Out of all the players in the NFL this season, Boerkircher may have the biggest chip on his shoulder. The amount of criticism the Jags have received for drafting him so high has been staggering.
However, the pressure to perform will be weighing heavily on Boerkircher. Being picked in the second round means your team has confidence that you will earn a major role and succeed.
Boerkircher may have to succeed more than most second-round picks if he wants to justify his draft slot.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
