One Year In: Grading Jacksonville’s 2025 Rookie Class

As the NFL offseason shifts into high gear ahead of April’s draft, and with Jacksonville coming off a resurgent 2025 season, now feels like the perfect moment to take a quick look back at what James Gladstone’s inaugural draft class delivered in year one.

Round 1 (Pick 2): WR/CB Travis Hunter

Let’s start with the crown jewel of the class. Jacksonville traded up to second overall to land Heisman winner Travis Hunter, a true dual-position threat at wide receiver and cornerback, in what was easily the biggest swing of the draft. The move itself was both unexpected and remarkably well-concealed for a top-two selection, with Gladstone surrendering a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 first-rounder to the Cleveland Browns to get it done.

On the field, Hunter flashed week by week as one of the best players in any given game, but a consistent breakthrough never fully materialized across weeks one through seven. His season came to an abrupt end after seven games, with a non-contact LCL injury that required surgery in December.

Offense:

28 receptions on 45 targets

Defense:

Notable Moments:
Hunter rcorded 8 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown in his final 2025 game against the Los Angeles Rams before before suffering a season-ending knee injury following Jacksonville’s Week 8 bye week.

When Hunter is on the field, whether shadowing an opponent’s top receiver or running routes himself, he presents a genuine matchup nightmare week in and week out. The cost of acquiring him, however, will likely fuel debate for years. Tetairoa McMillan’s breakout 2025 season in Carolina ensures the comparison between the two picks won’t be going away anytime soon. Jacksonville also, essentially, passed over the opportunity to draft cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Will Johnson in the process, as both defenders were still on the board at the time the second pick was sent to Cleveland.

Injuries alone won’t define the final grade on this trade. The lasting verdict will hinge on the overall impact Hunter produces in year two, whether the deal was the right call in the first year of a roster build, and ultimately how both Hunter and the players Jacksonville passed on develop over time.

Grade: B-

Round 3 (Pick 88): DB Caleb Ransaw

The Ransaw selection flew largely under the radar nationally, though Jaguars fans greeted the pick with a mix of genuine excitement and curiosity. Not everyone was sold, however, some were left scratching their heads after hearing Ransaw’s name called with fan mock draft favorite Xavier Watts, now with the Atlanta Falcons, still sitting on the board.

Any on-field evaluation was quickly shelved when Ransaw suffered a season-ending foot injury before Week 1, leaving Jacksonville fans and media with little more to go on than pre-draft evaluations and comments from the coaching staff. The stable presence of Eric Murray and the ascending play of Antonio Johnson should afford Ransaw the time he needs to return healthy and acclimate to the NFL level before turning his attention to competing for a starting role. Year two will go a long way toward determining how this pick is ultimately judged.

Grade: C- (incomplete)

Round 3 (Pick 89): OL Wyatt Milum

Immediately following the Ransaw selection, Jacksonville landed what looked like a solid value pick in offensive lineman Wyatt Milum. Line play has never been lost on Jaguars fans, particularly when it comes to protecting Trevor Lawrence, and Milum arrived with legitimate size and production from a top college program.

In 2025, Milum appeared in 10 games on special teams before seeing action in three late-season contests on offense. Across 96 offensive snaps, Pro Football Focus graded him at 77.5 overall, with a 75.8 pass blocking grade and a 72.1 in run blocking. He surrendered just one pressure on 31 pass blocking snaps, an encouraging sign for a rookie making his first NFL appearances.

It’s still early, and the development curve seemed to be complicated by an offseason knee injury that appeared to slow his initial progress, with the same knee resurfacing on the Week 11 injury report. That said, the foundation appears to be in place for a young interior lineman at a position that historically demands patience. After flashing in the preseason and performing capably in limited 2025 action, Milum enters 2026 with a legitimate path to starting time at right guard.

Grade: B

Round 4 (Pick 104): RB Bhayshul Tuten

The Tuten selection was a fan favorite from the moment his name was called. Bhayshul’s college tape was electric, explosive quickness, a natural instinct for finding seams, and a playmaking ability that translated immediately at the next level. As a rookie, he delivered on that promise in flashes, even in limited touches.

In 2025, Tuten rushed for 307 yards on 83 attempts, while also, scoring five touchdowns, serving as the team’s primary goal line back.

Per PFF:

He forced 18 missed tackles as a runner. He averaged 3.2 yards after contact per attempt, showcasing his power between the tackles. As a receiver, he caught 10 passes on 13 targets for 79 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.

Consistency in breaking tackles at the second level remains a work in progress, but the bursts he showed as a rookie were hard to ignore. With Travis Etienne now in New Orleans, the opportunity in front of Tuten has never been greater, provided he can break free of one last defender, newly signed Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez.

Grade: B

Round 4 (Pick 107): LB Jack Kiser

A gritty linebacker with a natural nose for contact, Kiser arrived with a clear role in mind, stepping into the backup spot vacated by Chad Muma behind Foye Oluokun while contributing on special teams. Early in camp, coaches were quick to praise his relentless motor and his ability to diagnose plays and close fast.

The regular season told a more modest story. With both Devin Lloyd and Oluokun playing at a high level in front of him, Kiser’s path to meaningful defensive reps was largely blocked. He appeared in 14 games, finishing with 10 tackles, five solo, across 43 defensive snaps. Special teams was where Kiser made his biggest mark in 2025, logging 193 snaps in that role across the season.

Grade: D+

Round 6 (Pick 194): LB Jalen McLeod

Jacksonville doubled down in the sixth round, selecting both Jalen McLeod and Rayuan Lane. McLeod arrived with intriguing edge rush upside, a projection that never got the chance to materialize after a season-ending ankle injury in the preseason landed him on injured reserve. With the team since re-signing Dennis Gardeck to a two-year deal, McLeod faces a steep climb in 2026, needing to work past both Yasir Abdullah and the returning Gardeck to carve out a role at Sam linebacker.

Grade: C- (incomplete)

Round 6 (Pick 200): S Rayuan Lane III

Lane made his name in 2025 as a core special teamer before injuries pushed him into a defensive role in three-safety sets later in the season. He logged 339 special teams snaps in 2025 and led the team with 15 special teams tackles, eight solo, a total that tied for fourth among all NFL rookies. With Andrew Wingard now in Arizona, Lane enters 2026 with a legitimate shot at Jacksonville’s top reserve role in the defensive backfield.

Grade: B+

Round 7 (Pick 221): OL Jonah Monheim

In the late rounds, Jacksonville added a versatile piece in Jonah Monheim, an offensive lineman with starting experience at multiple positions who provided immediate depth up front. While his offensive action was limited early, Monheim made enough of an impression across the season to earn a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team. He appeared in 17 games, contributing primarily on special teams before stepping into two late-season starts at center.

According to Pro Football Focus, Monheim finished 2025 with an overall grade of 59.2 across 205 offensive snaps, posting a 61.7 pass blocking grade. In 119 pass blocking snaps, he allowed eight total pressures, including one sack, while committing zero penalties throughout the season.

Grade: B

Round 7 (Pick 236): RB LeQuint Allen Jr.

LeQuint Allen Jr. may have been Jacksonville’s final pick of the 2025 draft, but he was arguably one of the better selections in the entire class. A dominant blocker and reliable pass catcher out of the backfield, Allen appeared in all 17 games as a third-down back, finishing the season with 23 rushes for 94 yards and 10 receptions for 54 yards.

Allen also emerged as one of Jacksonville’s primary kickoff returners, leading the team with 24 returns for 617 yards, a 25.7 yard average that ranked fifth among NFL rookies with at least 15 returns. He added two forced turnovers on special teams in notable moments, both of which required impressive, diving efforts to execute.

Notable Moments: