JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Stokes from Orange Park, FL
So, with the schedule being frontloaded difficult, obviously you want to win as many as you can ... but I also think that it can be a good thing in the long haul for a new regime to face top-tier talent early on and get settled in by midseason to potentially start stringing some Ws together.
I've always figured a schedule's a schedule in the NFL – and because you can't change or control it, you may as well accept it and play it. While the Jaguars' 2025 schedule does seem frontloaded if you believe last season's leaguewide results will be this season's leaguewide results, they also play five of their first seven games before a Week 8 bye at home. A contending team expects to take advantage of that sort of schedule and have at least a solid start. Remember, too: The Jaguars expect to be a different -- and better – team in 2025. If they're indeed a better team, then that frontloaded schedule suddenly just looks like a regular schedule. The reality is that all NFL schedules are potentially difficult because professional football is difficult – and all the schedule analyzing we do in May is very quickly rendered meaningless and obsolete once games begin in September. Can a difficult schedule benefit a young team such as this? Sure, if you can squeeze a couple of victories or a .500 record (ish) from that schedule. If not, then you're suddenly up against it and the rest of the season can look very daunting.
Gabe from Washington, DC
Oze, as excited as I am for rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter, Head Coach Liam Coen, and General Manager James Gladstone – and as much as I think Trevor Lawrence is an extremely good quarterback despite injuries and the circumstances around him – I can't help but feel like it's going to take a lot longer than fans think for this team to perennially make the postseason and win playoff games. We have a first-time head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. Not only does that mean that they will have some growing pains, but the players will be learning new schemes on both sides of the ball. And on the personnel side, Gladstone is still building the scouting department. And - after the first round at least - doesn't it usually take rookies a few years of development to become truly impact players? So my question is this: Where do you think I stand on a scale of "Debbie Downer" to "good eye?"
I expect you stand somewhere in the middle. The Jaguars realistically will – and should – be better in 2026 or 2027 or 2028 than they will be in 2025. They expect to draft well, develop well and build a stronger team/roster moving forward than currently is the case. Such is the nature of a new regime. But that in no way means the Jaguars don't believe they can compete for a division title and more in 2025. They're trying to be as good as they can be and win as many games as possible immediately, and they hope to steadily improve from there. How that looks and what that means in terms of 2025 record remain to be seen.
Biff from Somewhere in Jax or CLT
Your patience with fans fanning is admirable. I meditate on this David Hume quote to keep me sane when fans fan about what a team "is" without evidence and without respecting the future human variable: "The identity that we ascribe to things is only a fictitious one, established by the mind, not a peculiar nature belonging to what we're talking about." Do you have a soothing song, quote, drink or some physical outlet with the inane becomes aggrieving?
"God is silent. Now if only man would shut up." – Woody Allen
Bradley from Sparks, NV
I probably missed it but why is Wyatt Milum moving to guard? Easier? Better chance to earn the start? Size? And which penciled in starting guard is more vulnerable, Cleveland or Mekari?
Wyatt Milum, who played offensive tackle at West Virginia before being selected in Round 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Jaguars, is beginning his NFL career at guard because the Jaguars believe his skill set/body type is perhaps best suited there. I expect Patrick Mekari to start at right guard entering next season and for Milum to significantly challenge Ezra Cleveland at left guard. Remember, though: There may be no Jaguars position group less certain entering training camp than offensive line. The competition at all positions will be real.
Mike from Jacksonville
Do you think they will try to add more weight to Hunter before the season starts? It seems like he's too small to take NFL hits. fro
I don't expect the Jaguars to try to "add more weight" to rookie Hunter – at least not immediately. You don't want to take an elite athlete such as Hunter and blindly add weight for the sake of adding weight. I do expect Hunter will gain strength and size over time, as people tend to do shortly after the age of 20 or 21-ish.
Brad from the Avenues
Hey John, I was watching the behind-the-scenes video of minicamp, and even though it didn't really show much of anything, what stood out to me were the smiles on Tony Boselli's and James Gladstone's faces while they watched. I've got a good feeling about this.
As do they.
Gavin from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the sovereign country Canada
Hey, John. Is it possible for a player to play on two contracts with the same team? In TH's case, could the team offer a wideout contract for offense based on performance and then a separate contract based on performance for defense? I don't know if that makes sense, but for two-way players, could this be an option?
No. A player would play for one contract no matter how many positions he plays.
Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL
John: In your recent article about Travis Hunter, you mentioned that he would spend time in the next minicamp on defense learning technique and communication. Last season the defense was putrid and left waaay to many receivers to run free for big gains and touchdowns. I know it is always coaching, but were these lapses technique, poor play or poor communication? If it is communication, how can we expect a part time rookie to help given the sophistication of today's passing offenses?
Last season's Jaguars defense found many, many many ways to struggle. I wouldn't base anything regarding the future of Hunter on what happened to the Jaguars defensively last season.
Yolanda from Jacksonville
Are the Jacksonville Jaguars going win all their games this year?
I don't expect the Jaguars to win all their games in 2025.
J.Hooks from Orange Park, FL
I was watching some of Tuten's highlights. That cat can fly. No one can even grab a piece of him. Trevor's going to need to work with him a lot for passing situations to make sure he puts the ball where Tuten's going to be. That's some serious calculus.
Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any running back at the NFL Scouting Combine. Liam Coen believes Tuten is one of several reasons the Jaguars have added to their quick-strike ability this offseason. He's fast. Really fast.
KOAF. Understanding it is not a topic you like to discuss much, I have to say I hope to heaven that they don't unveil the ugly throwbacks as their "new" uniform with the unveiling of the Stadium of the Future. To have a jersey from thirty years ago be part of the stadium of the future seems dumb. As a longtime fan, season-ticket holder, purchaser of anything with a Jaguars logo I have to hope they only make us deal with the throwbacks one game a year at most.
I indeed don't feel all that passionately about this topic either way. Many Jaguars fans really like the Prowler Throwbacks and I expect the next permanent uniform – whenever that is designed and unveiled – could at least have significant elements from that look. I wouldn't mind if it were precisely the Throwback Prowlers. I sense this would be popular. We'll see.
DuvalJag95 from J-ville
Mr. KOAF can you take us to Funky town and being the KOAF, does that make you the King of Funk-a-Tron? Asking for a friend. And how do you feel about Big Bo EVP stating he would like to see the Prowler unis permanent? Thanks
It's his world at this point. We're just living in it.
Pete from Jax Beach, FL
Wait, Chiefs on Monday night and you received ZERO Taylor Swift e-mails? C'mon John a shout out to the "Swiftys" I can't remember being this excited. Will the Jags be offering any sparkle on Nike gear for that game? Anxiously waiting your response.
Taylor Swift knows where to find me.