The NFL combine begins soon, running from Feb. 23 to March 2. To preview this important pre-draft event, we will be taking a position-by-position look at which prospects were invited and the level of need that the Jacksonville Jaguars have at each spot.
The NFL combine is held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and is an opportunity for the top NFL draft prospects in this year’s class to go through measurements and various on-field drills, some of which are specific to their position group, and others measure the player’s overall athleticism.
For NFL teams, this event is another data point for them as they build out their draft profiles and big boards. However, it’s a significant data point, with players potentially flying up and down draft boards depending on how they perform.
In addition to the on-field drills, teams also get the opportunity to meet with players one-on-one as well, which is another important part of the evaluation process as they get to know them both on and off the field.
Up next are the defensive backs.
Jaguars' defensive backs under contract in 2026 before free agency
- CB Travis Hunter
- CB Jarrian Jones
- CB Jourdan Lewis
- CB Jabbar Muhammad
- CB Trevian Thomas
- CB Keith Taylor
- CB Christian Braswell
- S Rayuan Lane
- S Eric Murray
- S Antonio Johnson
- S Caleb Ransaw
- S Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig
What is the need at defensive back for the Jaguars this offseason?
Still under contract at cornerback are Jourdan Lewis, Jarrian Jones, and Travis Hunter, who will reportedly be a full-time cornerback in 2026, but with Montaric Brown and Greg Newsome set to be free agents, that starting outside cornerback role opposite of Hunter is open at the moment.
Perhaps there isn't much mystery to who will end up filling that role. According to the NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe, it's "expected" that at least one of Brown and/or Newsome won't return. If the Jaguars are deciding between Brown and Newsome, the choice seems to be clear.
However, even if Brown or Newsome are back, the depth at cornerback could still be added to -- although, admittedly, in this instance, the Jaguars likely won't be breaking the salary cap bank to do so. The draft, where Jacksonville has 11 picks, could be the better alternative as well.
Then at safety, Andrew Wingard is set to be a free agent this offseason. Still on the roster, however, are Eric Murray and Antonio Johnson. As the season progressed, Johnson's playing time continued to expand as he put up impressive ball production, logging five interceptions and three pass breakups.
So the Jaguars don't need to look outside of the building to replace Wingard -- Johnson can do that.
But this is a defense under Anthony Campanile that utilized its fair share of three-safety looks. So the extent to which the Jaguars feel the need to address this position will likely be dependent upon how they feel about second-year players Rayuan Lane and Caleb Ransaw.
Defensive backs invited to 2026 NFL combine
- Keith Abney II, Arizona State
- Marcus Allen, North Carolina
- Jadon Canady, Oregon
- Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
- Bud Clark, TCU
- Tacario Davis, Washington
- Mansoor Delane, LSU
- Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
- Thaddeus Dixon, North Carolina
- Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- Daylen Everette, Georgia
- Bishop Fitzgerald, USC
- Andre Fuller, Toledo
- Jaylon Guilbeau, Texas
- TJ Hall, Iowa
- Ahmari Harvey, Georgia Tech
- A.J. Haulcy, LSU
- Colton Hood, Tennessee
- Jalen Huskey, Maryland
- Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
- Domani Jackson, Alabama
- Chris Johnson, San Diego State
- Dalton Johnson, Arizona
- Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
- Will Lee III, Texas A&M
- Hezekiah Masses, Cal
- Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
- Latrell McCutchin Sr., Houston
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
- Devin Moore, Florida
- Louis Moore, Indiana
- Ahmaad Moses, SMU
- Malik Muhammad, Texas
- Julian Neal, Arkansas
- Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
- VJ Payne, Kansas State
- D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana
- Toriano Pride Jr., Missouri
- Ephesians Prysock, Washington
- Kamari Ramsey, USC
- Chandler Rivers, Duke
- Keionte Scott, Miami
- DeShon Singleton, Nebraska
- Avery Smith, Toledo
- Genesis Smith, Arizona
- Robert Spears-Jennings, Oklahoma
- Treydan Stukes, Arizona
- Lorenzo Styles Jr., Ohio State
- Michael Taaffe, Texas
- Avieon Terrell, Clemson
- Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
- Jakobe Thomas, Miami
- Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
- Collin Wright, Stanford
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL combine: Which defensive backs were invited?