Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference as general manager James Gladstone looks on at the Miller Electric Center, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Jaguars Placed on Troubling Offseason List

Originally posted on Jacksonville Jaguars on SI
By John Shipley | Last updated Feb 8, 2026 1:00 PM ET

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to build off a special 2025, but it won't come without making some serious decisions first.

The Jaguars have some of their top players set to hit free agency a month from now in linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne, and it remains to be seen how the Jaguars plan to address each situation.

As a result, the Jaguars have landed on one list that is not exactly an ideal group to belong to, but one they can also survive being a part of.

Free Agency Impact

The Jaguars were recently listed by NFL.com's Matt Okada as one of the seven teams set to be hit the hardest by free agency in 2026. It is not a shock considering the level of free agents that Lloyd and Etienne are, but it also is not welcomed to be included on a list alongside the likes of the Cleveland Browns or alongside as rough of a cap situation as the Chiefs.

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"The Jaguars had an exciting season, winning the AFC South under new head coach Liam Coen and with a late-year surge from Trevor Lawrence. And there’s good news for the front office heading into 2026: Jacksonville only has 18 impending free agents, tied for the second-fewest," Okada said.

"The trouble, however, comes with its wallet -- $11.4 million over the cap -- and with the names on their free agent list."

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This, of course, is a fair point to make. The Jaguars are returning more players next season than most teams, but they are not in the financial position to exactly be aggressive at retaining either free agent. And for that reason alone, the Jaguars are set to be hit hard by free agency in the next month or so.

"First-round running back Travis Etienne has reached the end of his rookie contract after logging his third season with 1,400-plus scrimmage yards and his second with 12-plus touchdowns. He could demand top-five RB money in free agency, and if Jacksonville doesn’t pay up, it'll be down a key contributor on offense," Okada said.

Travis Register-Imagn Images

"And while its defense is safe up front with Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker and Arik Armstead all signed through at least 2026, things get messy at the next two levels. Linebacker Devin Lloyd, safety Andrew Wingard and corners Greg Newsome II and Montaric Brown (among others) will all hit free agency in March. If 35-year-old GM James Gladstone can manage to keep his core, this roster will compete for the division title again in 2026 -- but there’s a chance they take two steps back after 2025's big step forward."