With their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher with the 56th overall pick.
Fans are not thrilled with the pick, with most calling for general manager James Gladstone to be fired.
How the NFL World Reacted to the Jaguars Drafting Nate Boerkircher
In 2025, Boerkircher ranked as the 85th-best tight end in college football according to PFSN’s College Football Tight End Impact Metric. After catching 19 passes for 198 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 13 games, he finished with an impact score of 76.2 and a letter grade of C.
The poor production in 2025 isn’t just one bad season; Boerkircher hasn’t put up any significant stats across five college seasons. In 52 games with Nebraska and Texas A&M, he caught 38 passes for 417 receiving yards and only four touchdowns.
Dallas Cowboys podcaster Marcus Mosher posted, “Nate Boekircher was No. 148 on the expert consensus board. Gladstone. Buddy.”
Nate Boekircher was No. 148 on the expert consensus board.
Gladstone. Buddy.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 25, 2026
Underdog director Hayden Winks questioned Gladstone, saying, “I’m worried Jaguars GM James Gladstone thinks he’s actually outsmarting the entire NFL…”
I’m worried Jaguars GM James Gladstone thinks he’s actually outsmarting the entire NFL…
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) April 25, 2026
Fox Sports’ Kev Mahserejian predicts that Gladstone’s job is on the line, especially if the team’s pick from last year doesn’t work out. “James Gladstone is not making it to 2027 if Travis Hunter doesn’t pan out this year.”
James Gladstone is not making it to 2027 if Travis Hunter doesn’t pan out this year
— kev mahserejian (@RotoSurgeon) April 25, 2026
Arizona Cardinals podcaster Blake Allen Murphy shares a similar sentiment, posting, “Wow, Boerkircher is a REACH, not a top 100 player in most consensus boards. First one of the draft. Now we’re getting in the range where there will be more!”
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Wow Boerkircher is a REACH, not a top 100 player in most consensus boards. First one of the draft. Now we’re getting in the range where there will be more!
— Blake Allen Murphy (@blakemurphy7) April 25, 2026
Jaguars reporter Hays Carlyon points out another flaw of the pick: Boerkircher’s age. “Not much to get inspired about on Nate Boerkircher’s resume and he turns 25 in September. Don’t get that pick.”
Not much to get inspired about on Nate Boerkircher’s resume and he turns 25 in September. Don’t get that pick.
— Hays Carlyon (@HaysCarlyon) April 25, 2026
Finally, Sleeper College Football called out the other tight end options available, saying, “Nate Boerkircher over Klare, Joly, Endries, Delp… list goes on.”
Nate Boerkircher over Klare, Joly, Endries, Delp… list goes on pic.twitter.com/adMkSgzPgR
— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) April 25, 2026
The one thing Boerkircher can do is block, and he’s excellent at it. However, does that justify him being drafted as high as he was, or could the team have waited until the third round, or even later?
