Who is Jaguars' true 'best-kept secret' heading into 2026 NFL season?

In 2025, there's no denying that Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington had a breakout year. He began his career in 2023 and 2024 as more of a rotational receiver, and while he played well whenever he was on the field, Washington still had to work his way up the Jaguars' wide receiver depth chart.

But when Christian Kirk got traded last offseason, more snaps became available, and Washington took full advantage of the opportunity that fell into his lap. He had a monster season in 2025, finishing just short of the 1,000-yard season mark with 954 yards, including the postseason. He also surpassed 100 yards in three of the Jaguars' last four games.

So it may not be entirely surprising that Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski chose Washington as Jacksonville's best-kept secret, claiming that Washington would be among the last names mentioned among the Jags' wide receiver corps. Presumably, Sobleski is thinking that Travis Hunter, Brian Thomas, Jr., and Jakobi Meyers would all be mentioned first. Yet Sobleski argued that Washington should get more attention:

Washington was a menace during Jacksonville's final four games of the 2025 campaign. The 2023 sixth-round pick caught 26 passes for 454 yards and three touchdowns during that stretch. Granted, Hunter was hurt, Thomas wasn't playing well and defenses were keying on Meyers.

Washington delivered when Jacksonville needed him and should see his overall usage and target rates increase significantly this fall.

If Sobleski were speaking only of the wide receiver position, then he might have a good point. But the reality is that Washington is likely already on the radars of many after his performance last season. So a better choice for Jacksonville's best-kept secret would be safety Antonio Johnson.

Johnson is a versatile safety who had a big year in 2025, but still has managed to fly under the radar. He was the highest-graded player at his position by PFF's metrics, and particularly excelled in pass coverage, allowing just 202 yards in total the entire season. He kept pass-catchers to 9.0 yards or less, and recorded five interceptions, nine passes defensed, and two sacks. He is also good at stopping the run. Overall, his physicality and versatility is exactly what Anthony Campanile is looking for in his players.

Despite that, he's continued to be underrated. His breakout performance was overshadowed by numerous other players on the roster, including Washington, Trevor Lawrence, Devin Lloyd, and Montaric Brown, just to name a few. Johnson deserves to be a bigger name. Although he started behind Eric Murray and Andrew Wingard, he managed to have a better season than both as his opportunities increased. If anyone could be called Jacksonville's best-kept secret, it's him.

If Johnson plays as well in 2026 as he did in 2025, though, his name may not remain a secret for much longer.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Antonio Johnson may be the Jaguars’ true ‘best-kept secret’