Jaguars selected Middle Tennessee LB Parker Hughes with the No. 240 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Hughes (6'1/228) redshirted as a freshman before taking on a part-time role in 2022. He became a primary starter in each of the next three seasons. He’s a sound run defender who tallied 100 combined tackles in 2025. He also improved as a pass defender, notching his first and second career interceptions. Hughes blazed a 4.39 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, giving him 99.9th-percentile straight-line speed. He struggled in most of the other drills, dropping his RAS to 7.59. Hughes was a reliable off-ball player in college, but he’s facing a steep jump in competition and doesn’t have a signature trait that will earn him playing time out of the gate. He projects as a special teamer early in his career.
