It’s a brand new period in Duval County.
The Jacksonville Jaguars lastly did the factor, totally cleansing home of the previous regime that left many followers wanting extra after a miracle playoff run in 2023. This crew wasn’t superb final yr, which is why they picked inside the highest 5, however one thing about this period simply feels totally different. There’s optimism and hope across the facility. Not solely in a primary yr that might be promising, however for a longtime future in a division the place the whole lot is in flux.
What did the Jaguars do to create a lot hope? Let’s look into it.
Teaching Workers
I might argue that the Jaguars had been a reasonably proficient crew that was undermined by teaching in 2024. That doesn’t really feel just like the case anymore after Jaguars’ proprietor Shad Khan fired former head coach Doug Pederson and cleaned out the employees. In a broadly scrutinized and chaotic course of, Khan and the Jaguars’ brass had to decide on between preserving incumbent GM Trent Baalke and threat dropping out on the promising head coach pool, or fireplace the GM who obtained you into this mess within the first place. Khan and the Jags selected the latter, firing Baalke after Liam Coen mentioned that he wouldn’t work with him and threatened to (and virtually did) take an extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to remain as their offensive coordinator. Within the middle of the evening, after not really signing the extension with the Bucs, Coen circled and took the Jaguars’ job, which is objectively one of many funniest strikes of all time.
After hiring Coen, the Jaguars obtained busy with their employees strikes. Grant Udinski comes from Minnesota to be the offensive coordinator (Coen will name performs) and Anthony Campanile comes from the Packers’ ecosystem to be the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator. On prime of that, Jacksonville employed younger upstart James Gladstone to be the GM. The collective group of Coen, Gladstone, Udinski and Campanile must be the youngest braintrust within the NFL this yr (and probably of all time). Gladstone is 34 years previous, the youngest GM within the NFL. Campanile is 42 and regarded the previous canine within the room, as Coen is available in at 39 years previous and Udinski is 29.
Jacksonville is taking a threat with all of the youth within the room, however with that youth comes alternative. There’s an opportunity all of them develop collectively and grow to be one thing particular, and for that there’s lots of optimism.
Grade: A-
Free Company
The Jaguars had a comparatively quiet free company, spending most of their time eliminating gamers that the previous regime signed to bloated offers. WR Christian Kirk obtained traded to the Texans for a 2026 seventh spherical choose, TE Evan Engram was launched, as was WR Gabe Davis. Stalwart guard Brandon Scherff was additionally launched, ensuring that this might be a brand new period for the Jaguars. Gladstone mentioned that he needed to lift the ground of the crew by free company, with much less splashy signings and extra underrated veteran strikes. The most important deal was for former Cowboys nickel nook Jourdan Lewis, who will in all probability begin on protection alongside free agent signing Eric Murray.
Together with these two, the crew signed guard Patrick Mekari, heart Robert Hainsey, broad receiver Dyami Brown and different smaller free company signings to assist fill out the depth of the crew. Nothing excellent, however all stable decisions.
Grade: B
NFL Draft
Gladstone and the Jags got here into the NFL Draft desirous to make a splash, and so they made the most important one in every of the weekend, sending the fifth general choose and a 2026 first spherical choose to the Cleveland Browns to leap to quantity 2 and take Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter. The transfer signals a brand new period for the Jaguars, being aggressive and going to get the man who was the most important ceiling raiser in your complete draft. Did it include a value? Completely, however given who they traded up for I imagine they’d do it each time. Exterior of the Hunter choose, the Jaguars’ draft class had some actually stable swings. Tulane security Caleb Ransaw has the flexibility to play security or nickel and West Virginia guard Wyatt Milum brings some wanted physicality to the group up entrance. Maybe probably the most fascinating picks are each RBs chosen on Day 3. Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten and Syracuse’s LeQuint Allen each convey totally different things to the RB room, however may see enjoying time early. Tuten is the quickest RB in your complete class and might take a play to the home at any second, and Allen caught over 60 passes final season at Syracuse.
Total, the Hunter choose carries lots of weight, however prime to backside class.
Grade: B+
Jacksonville Jaguars remaining 2025 Offseason Grade
If the Jaguars’ objective was to rise up off the mat this offseason, they did so in a giant method. The teaching employees hires had been the most effective a part of the offseason, and it mirrored in the best way that they drafted and had been aggressive for the most effective participant within the class. They wanted to get the stink from the previous regime off of them, and for probably the most half, they succeeded.
Whereas the participant acquisition didn’t have the large splashy names, I believe most of them can be efficient and assist this crew get out of the outlet they discovered themselves in final season. It’s simple to say they’ll enhance from 4-13, however simply how a lot remains to be to be seen.
Total, this was a stable offseason for the Jaguars, step one in a multi-year plan.
Grade: B+
