Should You Draft Bhayshul Tuten or Chris Rodriguez?

The Footballguys staff discusses whether they prefer incumbent Bhayshul Tuten or newcomer Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Jason Wood's Should You Draft Bhayshul Tuten or Chris Rodriguez? Jason Wood Published 04/20/2026

© Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Bhayshul Tuten Jacksonville Jaguars

We are proud to be among the first, if not the first, to publish full projections for the upcoming season, going live just days after the Super Bowl. Publishing detailed projections in early February comes with trade-offs, not the least of which is a near-total lack of clarity on how free agency, cap transactions, and the NFL draft will reshape rosters.

We've been updating our projections in near real time, including during the recent onslaught of free-agent transactions. This version will remain largely stable until we can layer in the April NFL draft, but stable projections don't mean settled debates.

We have a staff of sharp analysts with sharp takes of their own, so I thought it would be worthwhile to solicit their views on the key coin-toss situations that will shape each team's outlook in the coming months. These are important questions where reasonable, informed people can credibly land in very different places. I asked my colleagues to weigh in with one assumption: they were answering strictly through the lens of a standard 0.5-PPR redraft league.

Jacksonville Jaguars Coin-Toss Questions


The team enters the April draft with Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. atop the running back depth chart. Assuming the Jaguars don't draft a rookie capable of pushing for snaps, where do you rank each veteran?

Maurile Tremblay: Assuming no meaningful rookie addition, I'd put Chris Rodriguez Jr. at roughly RB30-36. He looks like the best bet for early-down volume and short-yardage touchdowns, and he's the cleanest fit for what Liam Coen wants. I'd put Bhayshul Tuten in the RB40-48 range. He has the more explosive upside, but right now is more of a change-of-pace back than a workhorse. LeQuint Allen Jr. is a deep bench stash only, and DeeJay Dallas is undraftable.

Andy Hicks: Tuten and Rodriguez won't be everyone's idea of a high-quality backfield, but there are certainly worse units across the NFL. Rodriguez spent much of his time buried on the depth chart in Washington, yet consistently produced when given opportunities. His 10 rushing touchdowns on 198 carries, along with a 4.6 career yards-per-carry average, suggest he could handle an expanded role. Tuten was serviceable in support of Travis Etienne Jr. but profiles more as a long-term complementary option than a true lead back. LeQuint Allen Jr. and DeeJay Dallas don't project as natural receiving threats, so the team will either need internal improvement in that area or look to add a specialist. For now, Rodriguez profiles as a top-24 option with meaningful upside, while Tuten sits closer to the RB3 range, around RB36.

Jeff Haseley: If they don't draft a running back, I rank them: 1. Bhayshul Tuten, 2. Chris Rodriguez Jr. Tuten has the explosive upside, while Rodriguez is the steady back who can move the chains.

Jason Wood's Verdict

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