It Might Be Time to Temper Expectations for One Top Jaguars Draft Pick

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Top draft picks have always held a special place in Jacksonville. For years the Jaguars and their base would put their hopes in rookies to not just improve the team, but even to carry it.

Times have changed since then, with only one such Jaguars draft pick (Travis Hunter) under the new regime having those kind of early expectations. And even Hunter's expectations have now shifted after the Jaguars finished 13-4 with Hunter missing 10 games as a result of a knee-ending injury.

The Jaguars' roster has grown and matured, and the days of rookie draft picks needing to play superheroes are gone. As a result, there are some Jaguars draft picks who deserve tempered expectations: including third-round defensive tackle Albert Regis.

Regis' Expectations

Selected at No. 81 overall in April's draft, Regis was the second-highest draft pick the Jaguars made this year, behind only rookie tight end Nate Boerkircher. Any top-100 pick is going to be expected to play early as long as they are available, and Regis has had some good days in camp such as on Tuesday when Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said he showed improvement.

But it is where Regis had to improve from that makes it clear Regis is still very early in his career, and he should not be expected to shoulder the weight of the run defense right off the bat as a rookie. First, he needs reps and consistency, just like any other young defensive lineman.

albert regis — Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive End Travon Walker (44) and Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Tackle Albert Regis (98) takes a breather between drills during the Jacksonville Jaguars 10th day of NFL Training Camp at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, August 9, 2026. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

“I thought today was a better outing. I think maybe the previous few weren't up to his or our standard. Look, it's a work in progress for any of these young guys," Coen said about Regis' performance on Tuesday.

"I think DL, especially IDL, is one of the most difficult positions in the NFL to play young. To play early. I think it's extremely difficult. You're 23 years old playing against a lot of grown men and savvy. O-linemen are typically smart, savvy, tough, strong, those things. And so, you can get exposed a little bit in there, not just because of getting moved, but little details of technique and fundamentals that I think takes time."

In short ... the Jaguars really like Regis, but he still has a ways to go. He will still play as a rookie of course, but it would be fair to say out of the five interior defensive linemen on our latest projected 53-man roster, Regis would be No. 5 in the pecking order and behind Matt Dickerson and Ruke Orhorhoro for total snaps.

But that isn't something that would concern the Jaguars, nor should it concern anyone else. That is the standard developmental track for a Day 2 rookie on a playoff team without many holes. The Jaguars will develop him because they will need him eventually, but they will not need him to be DaVon Hamilton in Week 1, and nobody else should expect it either.

"You look at D-Ham [DT DaVon Hamilton]. How old's D-Ham? 28? 29? Right? And he's what? At this point in his career, he's probably at one of the peaks in terms of the way he played. And so, that does take time, D-Linemen in general, but especially IDL," Coen said.

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