Undrafted free agent Quindarius Dunnigan is already fighting an uphill battle for a spot on the 53-man roster, despite showing some serious flashes in his final college season. Wearing number 59, the 6-4, 257-pound defensive end out of Michigan State signed with the Jaguars after the 2026 NFL Draft, joining the league as a 24-year-old rookie. He’s got the raw physical tools and some intriguing college tape, but the road ahead is incredibly tough.
That Jump in Production? It Was REAL.
Let’s talk about what Dunnigan *did* show. After four seasons at Middle Tennessee State, he spent his last two years at Michigan State. And get this: in his most recent season, Dunnigan saw a ridiculous uptick in production. He absolutely exploded, racking up an eye-popping 21 pressures and five sacks. Why is that a big deal? Because the year before, in 2024, he only managed six pressures and a single sack. The wild part? He did all that with just 65 additional pass-rush snaps between those two seasons. That’s some serious efficiency right there. Plus, PFF’s metrics consistently graded him out well as a run defender, and he proved to be a sound tackler in 2025. Across his career at both schools, Dunnigan recorded 26 tackles for loss on 104 tackle attempts. The dude can make plays behind the line.
The Uphill Climb to the 53-Man Roster
Here’s where it gets dicey for Dunnigan. The depth chart in front of him is stacked, and he’s going to have to outwork everyone just to get noticed. We know established vets like Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker are locked in. But even beyond them, Dunnigan has Wesley Williams, Danny Striggow, BJ Green, and Zach Durfee ahead of him. That’s six players listed before him, and some teams only keep five defensive ends on their final roster. While the Jaguars did keep six last year, it’s still a brutally competitive room. To make things even tougher, fellow undrafted free agent Bryan Thomas Jr. has also managed to stand out during offseason programs. Right now, the ceiling for Dunnigan in Year 1 is likely the practice squad.
So what’s next for Dunnigan? He’s got to prove that his production surge wasn’t a fluke and that he can translate that efficiency to the pro game. With training camp on the horizon, every single rep, every single tackle, and every single pressure will be scrutinized. Can he overcome the odds and snag a spot, or at least solidify his place on the practice squad? That’s the battle he’s fighting right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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