With the brand new league 12 months kicking off March 12, NFL groups are already deep into planning for the offseason.
Listed here are 5 strikes the Jacksonville Jaguars ought to make within the coming months.
1. Tackle secondary in free company
The Jaguars had the league’s worst secondary final season, permitting 257.4 passing yards per recreation. According to NFL Pro data, Jacksonville notably struggled defending throws exterior the numbers, permitting 9.4 yards per play on these targets.
Cornerbacks take 13 of the 101 spots in NFL.com’s list of the perfect 2025 free brokers, led by Carlton Davis (No. 7), Charvarius Ward (No. 8) and D.J. Reed (No. 9). With so many veterans obtainable, the Jaguars ought to have the ability to add to a unit that desperately wants an infusion of expertise.
2. Re-sign guard Brandon Scherff
Scherff’s three-year, $49.5 million Jaguars contract he signed in the course of the 2022 offseason expired following the 2024 season. The ten-year veteran began each recreation in his three years in Jacksonville. Even with a regime change, he is the kind of participant a staff ought to need on its roster.
Per Pro Football Focus data, Scherff allowed 17 complete pressures (and 0 sacks) in 591 pass-block alternatives final season. The Jaguars fired head coach Doug Pederson and normal supervisor Trent Baalke following the staff’s disappointing 4-13 2024 marketing campaign.
First-year normal supervisor James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen will make their job tougher by permitting Scherff to go away in free company, making proper guard one other want for a staff already with loads of points.
3. Prolong tight finish Evan Engram
Since signing a one-year contract with the Jaguars in 2022, Engram has turn out to be one of many league’s most efficient tight ends. Per Stathead, over the previous three seasons, solely Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce has extra receptions (300) than Engram (234) amongst tight ends.
He is coming into the ultimate season of a three-year, $41.25 million extension he signed in July 2023. According to Over The Cap, Engram’s $19.485 million cap quantity is the second-highest on the staff for the upcoming season. Nevertheless, Jacksonville can decrease his 2025 quantity by extending him, which additionally advantages the Jaguars by conserving him with the franchise past 2025.
4. Choose up fifth-year choices
The deadline for groups to select up the fifth-year possibility on 2022 first-round picks’ rookie contracts is Could 1. The Jags should resolve on two, though each are pretty simple.
Jacksonville chosen edge-rusher Travon Walker at No. 1 total, and after a lackluster rookie season, he is blossomed right into a formidable pass-rusher. Per Stathead, he is one of many eight gamers with at the least 10 sacks in every of the previous two seasons, becoming a member of elite firm together with Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson, Danielle Hunter, Jonathan Greenard and Zach Sieler.
The Jaguars traded three 2022 draft picks to the Buccaneers to maneuver again into the primary spherical, the place they chose linebacker Devin Lloyd at No. 27. Final season, he had 113 tackles (seven for loss), 4 passes defended, two sacks, an interception and a compelled fumble.
According to PFF data, Lloyd’s 4.5 missed sort out price was the bottom amongst 53 linebackers who performed at the least 625 defensive snaps. NFL Pro credited him with 59 stops, or tackles that lead to adverse anticipated factors added (EPA) for the offense. Lloyd conceded a 65.1 p.c catch price, which NFL Professional notes is 4 proportion factors worse than anticipated.
5. Launch vast receiver Christian Kirk
Coen praised Jacksonville’s 2024 rookie vast receiver, Brian Thomas, during his introductory news conference, telling reporters, “Our move recreation will run by means of him.”
Thomas had 87 receptions, 1,282 receiving yards (14.7 yards per reception) and 10 receiving touchdowns final season.
With Thomas bursting onto the scene, Kirk, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract in 2022, is expendable. His $24.09 million 2025 cap quantity is the best in 2025 for Jacksonville, and the franchise can save $10.4 million by releasing him earlier than June 1.
