The Jaguars made a quiet but meaningful addition to their secondary on Saturday, signing undrafted free agent cornerback Preston Hodge out of Colorado. The move reunites Hodge with his former Buffaloes teammate Travis Hunter, the Jaguars' first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and strengthens the team's growing pipeline from Boulder to Jacksonville.
Hodge, who spent two seasons at Colorado after transferring from Liberty, projects as a depth corner with special-teams value. He started 14 games for the Buffaloes over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, logging 68 tackles, three interceptions, and 11 pass breakups. While he was not among the 257 players selected in last week's draft, the Jaguars moved quickly to secure him as a priority free agent, offering a signing bonus and a guaranteed base salary that reflected their interest.
The signing is notable for two reasons. First, it continues the Jaguars' deliberate effort to build around Hunter, whom they selected with the No. 5 overall pick in 2025. Hunter is expected to play primarily cornerback in Jacksonville, though the team has also experimented with him on offense in limited packages. Adding a familiar face like Hodge, who practiced against Hunter daily in Colorado's defensive backfield, could help ease Hunter's transition to the NFL while providing the Jaguars with a player who already understands the communication and chemistry required in a secondary.
Second, the move addresses a depth need. The Jaguars' cornerback room is headlined by Hunter and veteran Tyson Campbell, but beyond that duo, the picture is less settled. Campbell missed six games in 2025 due to a hamstring injury, and the Jaguars used a mix of Darnell Savage, Montaric Brown, and rookie fifth-round pick Deantre Prince in his absence. Prince, selected out of Ole Miss, is expected to compete for the nickel role, but the Jaguars lacked a clear fourth cornerback with starting experience. Hodge, at 6-foot-0 and 195 pounds, has the size and ball skills to play outside or in the slot, and he should have a legitimate chance to make the 53-man roster if he performs well in training camp.
From a scheme standpoint, Hodge fits the Jaguars' preference for press-man coverage under defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. Colorado used a similar philosophy under head coach Deion Sanders, asking its corners to play aggressive, physical football at the line of scrimmage. Hodge's tape at Colorado shows a player who is willing to challenge receivers early in the route and has the recovery speed to stay in phase downfield. His three interceptions in 2025 included a pick-six against Arizona State and a game-sealing interception against Utah, both of which showcased his instincts and ball-tracking ability.
The contract details have not been disclosed, but standard undrafted free-agent deals typically include a three-year contract with a modest signing bonus -- often in the $10,000 to $20,000 range -- and a base salary near the league minimum. The Jaguars also guaranteed a portion of Hodge's 2026 salary, a sign that they view him as more than a camp body. Teams typically guarantee only a few thousand dollars to undrafted rookies, so the fact that the Jaguars locked in a larger guarantee suggests they had him rated highly on their board.
For Hodge, the opportunity is significant. He will enter a competition that includes Prince, Brown, and veteran special-teamer Tevaughn Campbell for the final cornerback spots. The Jaguars typically keep five or six cornerbacks on the active roster, and with Hunter, Campbell, and Savage (who can also play safety) all but locked in, Hodge will need to beat out at least one of the other candidates to secure a job. His special-teams experience -- he played 287 coverage snaps at Colorado over the past two seasons -- could be the deciding factor. Special-teams coordinator Heath Farwell values versatility, and Hodge's ability to contribute on punt coverage and kickoff return units gives him a path to the roster even if he is not immediately ready to play significant defensive snaps.
The Jaguars' schedule in 2026 does not make Hodge's path any easier. Jacksonville opens the season against the Texans, Chiefs, and Bills in the first four weeks, a stretch that will test the entire secondary against C.J. Stroud, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen. Injuries happen, and depth will be tested. If Campbell misses time again, the Jaguars could need a fourth cornerback to play meaningful snaps as early as September. Hodge will have to prove he can handle that responsibility in training camp and the preseason.
The Colorado connection is a nice storyline, but the Jaguars did not sign Hodge simply because he was Hunter's teammate. They signed him because they believe he can play. The reunion in the secondary is a bonus. For a team that has struggled to find consistent play at cornerback behind its top two options, adding a player with starting experience at a Power Four program and a year of high-level practice reps against a top-five pick is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move. Whether Hodge makes the roster or lands on the practice squad, the Jaguars have added another piece to a secondary that is still taking shape.
