Three important decisions the Jaguars must make before regular season

Following a disappointing 9-8 finish in 2023, the Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to bounce back on both sides of the ball in 2024. As training camp begins, there are still questions left unanswered.  

Here are three important decisions the Jaguars must make before the start of the regular season. 

Who will call plays for the Jaguars offense?

Last season, offensive coordinator Press Taylor held the playcalling duties with lackluster results. Entering 2024, it's still unclear whether Taylor will get another shot or head coach Doug Pederson will reassume the responsibility.

The Jaguars offense ranked 13th in the NFL in 2023, but inconsistency was commonplace. A season after earning his first Pro Bowl nod, Trevor Lawrence had an up-and-down year, finishing 21st in quarterback rating (88.5) while the unit as a whole ranked just 17th in third-down percentage (38.2).

Pederson recently told reporters he wasn't ready to decide who would fill the role. Meanwhile, in an interview with Mark Long of the Associate Press, owner Shad Khan admitted to having a preference but said he'd ultimately let the head coach make the call. 

Linebacker roles 

The Jaguars have one of the deepest linebacking corps in the NFL, but responsibilities may change in 2024. As training camp kicks off, it looks like Devin Lloyd will move to the MIKE position while Foye Oluokon will bounce to the outside.

Oluokon thrived in the role last season, leading the NFL in solo tackles for the second consecutive year, receiving a well-earned four-year, $45M extension during the offseason. But Lloyd, entering his third NFL season, recently told Demetrius Harvey of the Jaguars that his skillset fits better in the middle, believing he does "the most damage" playing inside the box.

Putting players in the best positions to succeed is paramount for any team, and switching things up at linebacker may yield positive results for Jacksonville. But this situation begs the question: Why fix what's not broken? 

Who will be the Jags No. 1 wideout?

Plenty of talented pass-catchers are on the roster, including veteran Christian Kirk, free agent signee Gabe Davis and 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. Still, no one among the group jumps out immediately as a No. 1 option to replace Calvin Ridley, who departed Jacksonville via free agency in the offseason.

Kirk is the player with the most experience and is likely the frontrunner for the role, but while versatile, he's better suited to play in the slot. Similarly, Davis showcased impressive skills over his four seasons with the Buffalo Bills, though he never emerged as the team's top target.

That leaves Thomas Jr., who has yet to play a meaningful down in the NFL. He's coming off an impressive three years at LSU, where he led the NCAA in touchdown receptions (17) last season and may have the best makeup among the group to be Lawrence's go-to receiver. However, placing those kinds of expectations on a rookie may not be in the best interest of the player or the team.