Jalen Huskey just got ultimate vote of confidence before Jaguars training camp

Even though the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't hold a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, they managed to come away with a promising haul. Sure, their rookie class hasn't drawn too many rave reviews, but the Jags are confident that the players they selected will make an impact at some point. Some of them, though, may need to wait a while for their chance. Safety Jalen Huskey is probably one of them.

A third-round pick, Huskey is stuck behind Antonio Johnson, Eric Murray, and Caleb Ransaw heading into the 2026 season. However, he's too talented to stay on the sidelines for too long, so it may be a matter of time before he gets his chance.

For the time being, the Jaguars rookie has enough upside that he made an unexpected appearance on an intriguing list.

Jaguars rookie Jalen Huskey popped up on ESPN's All-Backup Team

Bill Barnwell of ESPN put together a team of the best NFL backups at their respective positions. He included Jalen Huskey despite the fact that he's a rookie because of the ballhawk skills he showcased on the Terrapins defense at the collegiate level.

"Huskey, a third-round pick out of Maryland, had 11 interceptions at the school and should compete for time as a box safety," Barnwell wrote.

The fact that Huskey made the cut as a rookie goes on to show just how talented he is. Then again, there's a reason he slid to Round 3. Although the Maryland product excels at creating turnovers, he lacks top-end athleticism, and his tackling skills could use some work. The good news is that Jacksonville doesn't have to press him into action.

Antonio Johnson and Eric Murray will tentatively be the starters for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns. Caleb Ransaw is No. 3 on the depth chart but could see ample playing time because defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile likes to run three-safety packages often. That leaves Huskey as the No. 4 on the depth chart, maybe even No. 5 if you include Rayuan Lane.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, as Huskey can keep honing his skills while he waits for this chance, which could come next season if injuries hit the Jacksonville safety group, or next year if either Johnson or Murray leaves. Either way, the Jags picked Huskey knowing that they can afford to develop Huskey without rushing his development.

Jaguars sophomore Caleb Ransaw didn't make ESPN's All-Backup Team

One undertone of the All-Backup Team was that Jalen Huskey got the nod over Caleb Ransaw, even though the latter is poised to have a breakout season and is the next in line in case either Antonio Johnson or Eric Murray missed them.

Then again, it's entirely possible that Bill Barnwell doesn't see Ransaw as a backup but rather a potential starter come Week 1. Either way, it was odd not to see him make the cut. The Jags probably don't care as long as they have no shortage of talent at the safety position.

And that's the thing, the team's brass done a good job of building depth across the roster. The downside is that some of their rookies may not get to showcase their skills righ away. Jaken Huskey may be the best example.

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This article was originally published on blackandteal.com as Jalen Huskey just got ultimate vote of confidence before Jaguars training camp.