Following the 2022 season, it looked like the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to dominate the AFC South for years to come. After all, they experienced a turnaround in Doug Pederson's first season as the head coach, and Trevor Lawrence had just played like a top-10 quarterback. On top of that, there was a talented defensive nucleus in place. Unfortunately, that wasn't how things played out.
Poised to win the division for the second straight year in 2023, the Jags got knocked out of playoff contention and ceded the division to the Houston Texans. Things didn't get much better the following year, as they finished 4-13 and Pederson was fired after the season ended. The silver lining is that Jacksonville's failure to qualify for the postseason prompted owner Shad Khan to clean house and hire Liam Coen and James Gladstone as the head coach and general manager, respectively.
Together, the duo of Coen Glasdtone proceeded to give the roster an offseason overhaul. An NFL voice took a look at the end result and gave the Jags an encouraging grade for it.
Frank Schawb of Yahoo! Sports did a preview of Jacksonville ahead of the 2025 season and gave them a B for their offseason haul, pointing out that Travis Hunter was the highlight of what were otherwise safe additions.
"The Travis Hunter trade will be debated for a long time," Schawb wrote. "Hunter has a Hall of Fame ceiling in the NFL and he might have to hit that to justify what the Jaguars gave up to get him. But the Jaguars had conviction. While that move was daring, the rest of the offseason wasn't too crazy. Offensive linemen Patrick Mekari and Robert Hainsey, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, safety Eric Murray and receiver Dyami Brown were the main free agent additions, and none of them cost more than $12.5 million per season."
Schwab continued, "The big loss was tight end Evan Engram, but the team should feel that Brenton Strange can replace most of his production. The rest of the Jaguars draft was solid, and keep an eye on running back Bhaysul Tuten, a fourth-round pick who could be a big factor by season's end. Overall, the Jaguars seemed to get better."
Hunter is on track to play two ways for the Jags next season. So far, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner has had an encouraging offseason and should make an impact even if he doesn't start as a rookie due to the team's surplus at receiver and cornerback.
Wide receiver Dyami Brown, for his part, has been a revelation, making plays and taking on a leadership role throughout the offseason. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he will start opposite Brian Thomas Jr. in Week 1, which is precisely why Hunter may take on a complementary role, at least early on.
On the other hand, Patrick Mekari and Robert Hainsay will give the line of scrimmage a much-needed boost. Together with rookie Wyatt Milum, the interior offensive line will no longer be a liability. Regarding Bhayshul Tuten, he joins a backfield that includes Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne. He may or may not earn a role, but most definitely adds an element of speed at running back.
On defense, Eric Murray and Jourdan Lewis will complement what was already a promising core. Aside from bringing ample experience to the defensive backfield, they'll provide depth, something Jacksonville lacked last year. When you add everything up, it's easy to see why Schwab gave the Jaguars a B.
Why the Jaguars can challenge the Texans for the AFC South crown
While the Jacksonville Jaguars are undergoing a rebuild, the cupboard wasn't bare when Lian Coen and James Galdstone took over. On offense, they had Trevor Lawrence, and budding star Brian Thomas Jr. If the latter bounces back and avoids the injury bug, noting his impeding him from joining the top-10 quarterback conversation again. Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile will have many ingredients to cook with.
Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen give Campanile a pair of dominant pass rushers. Add the enticing Maason Smith and Arik Armstead at defensive tackle, and Jacksonville will have a stout front four next season. Don't forget that long-time mainstays Foyesade Oluokun and Tyson Campbell are still around. If the latter, like Lawrence, stays healthy, he should be one of the best cornerbacks in the league. This takes us to the Houston Texans.
C.J. Stroud is expected to rebound following a sophomore slump, and the Houston defense is loaded with game-changers such as Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson, and Derek Stingley. However, star running back Joe Mixon was spotted with a walking boot during the offseason program. Similarly, wide receiver Tank Dell is recovering from an ACL injury. Couple that with the fact that the Texans may not have properly bolstered their offensive line, and the Jags might just have a chance.
Ultimately, many things would have to go the Jaguars' way to reclaim the AFC South, but the fact that there's a legitimate chance is most definitely encouraging after a pair of disappointing seasons.
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