A look at the Jaguars’ best sixth-round picks, highlighting the players who made the biggest impact in franchise history.
As the Jacksonville Jaguars prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft next week, they will be without a first-round pick, meaning they will have to add to their roster solely from the later rounds. Last year, the Jaguars traded their first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns, allowing them to select two-way star Travis Hunter.This year's draft class is strong, with lots of talent likely to be available even in the later rounds, where the Jaguars have found some success over the years. Parker Washington and Cam Little are two recent sixth-round picks who could end up on this list once their careers are done.
Here are the top three players taken in the sixth round, chosen for their production, longevity, and overall impact on the franchise.#3: Deji KarimSelected in the sixth round in 2010, Karim contributed in multiple roles during his time in Jacksonville, though he primarily served as a running back. Karim also made an impact on special teams as a return specialist, with 77 kick return attempts as a member of the Jaguars, averaging nearly 25 yards per return. Karim's tenure was relatively short, but his versatility still allowed him to carve out a productive role.#2: Josh EvansEvans was drafted in 2013, and despite being selected in the sixth round, he was able to develop into a contributor in the Jaguars’ secondary.
Over multiple seasons, Evans played a meaningful role on defense, recording 201 total tackles and five pass deflections while seeing time as both a rotational player and starter.#1: Gardner MinshewAfter being selected in the sixth round in 2019, Minshew became one of Jacksonville's most surprising success stories. After competing for QB2 behind Nick Foles, Minshew was forced into a starting role in Week 1 of his rookie season when Foles was injured, and never looked back. He repeatedly gave strong, standout performances and was held back only due to poor coaching decisions.
Minshew was sidelined after Foles returned from injured reserve, only for Foles to struggle. Minshew was named the starter in his sophomore season, but injuries led to some difficulties in the first half of the season. Though he recovered, that brought a quick end to Minshew's Jacksonville career, as he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. But Minshew proved to be a talented QB who is by far the best sixth-round pick the Jaguars ever selected.This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Top Jaguars sixth-round picks in franchise history