2025 NFL Offseason Primer: Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars

Projected Cap Space: $30.6 million

Draft Picks: 10

• 1st (No. 5)
• 2nd (No. 36)
• 3rd (No. 70)
• 3rd (No. 88, MIN)
• 4th (No. 106)
• 4th (No. 125, MIN)
• 5th (No. 143)
• 6th (No. 183)
• 6th (No. 195, SEA)
• 7th (No. 223)

Notable Free Agents: 

• G Brandon Scherff
• S Andre Cisco
• QB Mac Jones
• TE Luke Farrell
• DT Jeremiah Ledbetter
• OT Cole Van Lanen (RFA)

Top Three Needs

1 – Cornerback

The Jaguars got shredded on defense in 2024, ranking 31st in the NFL with over 6,600 yards conceded. They were especially bad against the pass, ranking last in the NFL in passing yards. For a variety of reasons, DC Ryan Nielsen‘s scheme with its heavy reliance on man coverage wasn’t a fit, but it certainly didn’t help that Nielsen didn’t have the cornerbacks to effectively run his system. 

New Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile is a bit more of a blank slate but probably will be more flexible than Nielsen was. Still, the Jaguars need help in the secondary. Tyson Campbell should have one starting job locked down after being extended last year, and 2024 third-round CB Jarrian Jones is the frontrunner to start in the nickel. The other spot is a major question mark, especially if veteran CB Ronald Darby is cut to save money. 

Safety’s worth mentioning as a need as well with Cisco set for free agency and the overall struggles of the secondary. 

2 – Wide Receiver

The Jaguars look to have landed a star in 2024 first-round WR Brian Thomas Jr. after a dominant rookie season. The rest of the room around him has some major question marks. Jacksonville signed WR Gabriel Davis in free agency last year and he’s locked onto the roster with a guaranteed salary in 2025. Unfortunately, he had just 20 catches in 10 games last year. Veteran WR Christian Kirk is a potential cap cut, as well as TE Evan Engram who essentially plays receiver.

The Jaguars could work out solutions to keep everyone and lessen the need here, but if not they need to continue to surround QB Trevor Lawrence with weapons. 

3 – Interior Offensive Line

Scherff is slated for free agency and the Jaguars probably will be content to get younger and cheaper at guard. Starting C Mitch Morse is also well past the age of 30 and former Day 2 pick Luke Fortner‘s struggles led to Jacksonville targeting Morse as a free agent last year. A big part of new Jaguars HC Liam Coen‘s success with the Buccaneers last year was the improvement Tampa Bay made up front, so it’s easy to see that being a priority for the Jaguars. 

One Big Question

Is this the year Trevor Lawrence breaks out?

The Jaguars had high expectations coming into last season, with owner Shad Khan going so far as to say just before the season started that he thought this was the best team assembled under his watch. Most of the key players and coaches who made the playoffs in 2022 and started 8-3 in 2023 were still in place, including Lawrence, HC Doug Pederson, OLBs Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, the skill players on offense and more. Jacksonville even added players like Thomas and DL Arik Armstead. 

So that made the flop even more stark. It was clear Pederson had to go, and the Jaguars hope a new voice and perspective with Coen coming in will help spark better results from a team that on paper doesn’t look that shabby. 

The theme of underperforming extends to the quarterback. So far in four years, Lawrence hasn’t exactly lived up to the potential he was billed with when he entered the league as a generational prospect and consensus No. 1 selection. It didn’t stop the Jaguars from signing him to a monster contract last summer, as Lawrence’s talent and potential remain obvious, but the results haven’t been there. He has one good season out of four and the Jaguars were struggling even with Lawrence in the lineup last year, winning two games before he got hurt and two games after. 

But Lawrence was a big factor in drawing Coen to Jacksonville, and vice versa. All of Lawrence’s inconsistencies aside, if the Jaguars made him available via trade there would be a bidding frenzy. He has the potential to be a top-ten quarterback, and Coen’s biggest priority is helping him reach that level. If he’s successful, a lot of other issues in Jacksonville will take care of themselves.