Jacksonville Jaguars
On To Duval
By: Cameron Miller
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2025 NFL Draft has come to an end, so let’s take a look at how the Jacksonville Jaguars come out of the Draft with an NFL.com grade of A-.
The Jaguars and new GM James Gladstone began the draft with a bang right out of the gate, by trading up from Round 1 Pick 5, to get Round 1 Pick 2.
The Jaguars traded the Cleveland Browns, Pick No 5 in 2025, 2025 Pick No. 36, 2025 Pick No. 126, and a 2026 1st Round Pick, and in exchange they got back 2025 Pick No. 2 (Travis Hunter), 2025 Pick No. 104 (Bhayshul Tuten), and 2025 Pick No. 200 (Rayuan Lane III).
As a Die-Hard Jaguars fan I am beyond pleased with the outcome of this year’s draft.
Starting out with the most notable selection is Round 1 Pick 2 Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter.
Hunter was the No. 1 Recruit in the Nation out of High School. In his 2024 season he was able to obtain a mountain of Awards and Accolades such as the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, winning the Biletnikoff Award (Best WR) and Chuck Bednarik Award (Top Defender), the Lott IMPACT Trophy (Top Defensive Player who exhibits Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity), being named Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, winning the Paul Hornung (Most Versatile Player), all while also being named Big 12 Player of the Year, 1st-Team All-Big 12 WR, 1st-Team All-Big 12 CB, 1st-Team Associated Press All-American All-Purpose & CB, 2nd-Team Associated Press All-American WR.
Hunter tallied up a ridiculous stat line for the 2024 season. On Offense he caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards, and 16 total touchdowns. On Defense he had 35 Tackles, 1 FF, 4 INTs, 11 PBUs, only allowed 23 Catches and 1 TD on 41 Targets.
Although he has shown if he had chosen one position in the draft he probably would have been WR1 or CB1 the Jaguars have recently announced that Hunter will start out on the offensive side of the ball and gradually work into defense.
Next is Round 3 Pick 88 Caleb Ransaw, a DB from Tulane who could potentially become a starter for the Jaguars at slot corner at some point this season. Ransaw finished his 2024 season with 34 Tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 Sack, 3 PBUs, which was enough for him to be named 2024 3rd-Team All-American Athletic Conference
With their third selection they drafted the West Virginia OT Wyatt Milum at Round 3 Pick 89. Milum was named 2024 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. He also was 1st-Team All-Big 12, and 2nd-Team Associated Press All-American. Fun fact about Wyatt is he was Originally committed to pitch as a lefty for the University of Marshall Baseball Team, before he switched and became a 4-year starter for West Virginia’s Football Team
Their next selection came in Round 4 where they drafted Virginia Tech HB Bhayshul Tuten with Pick 104. Tuten could definitely see some work early on in the season especially on special teams and maybe even see him come in on some early down formations.
In 2024 he rushed for 1,159 yards on 183 carries and punched in 15 touchdowns. That was good enough for him to make 2nd-Team All-ACC for the second year in a row.
Next pick was Round 4 Pick 107 where they selected Jack Kiser, the linebacker from Notre Dame. Throughout his time at Notre Dame, he played in 70 total games which was enough for him to set the school record for most games played.
In 2024 Kiser had 90 Tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 Sacks, 1 PBU, and 2 FFs. He was named the Notre Dame Man of the Year and was a Finalist for the William V. Campbell and Wuerffel Trophies.
In Round 6 they got one of the biggest steals of the draft, with pick 194 they drafted Auburn linebacker Jalen Mcleod.
In 2024 he had 13.5 TFLs, 8 Sacks, 2 FFs, 57 Tackles, and 1 PBU. Even though he was a late round pick, with the physicality and speed of Mcleod at the strongside linebacker position I really believe the Jags got a player who could potentially come in and have an immediate impact, especially with the consistent injury history of starter Ventrell Miller.
The Jags used their Round 6 Pick they acquired in the Browns trade to get Navy Safety Rayuan Lane III at No. 200.
In 2024 he had 3 FFs, 70 Tackles, 2 INTs (1 Returned for a TD), and 4 PBUs, and made 1st-Team All-American Athletic Conference
In Round 7 they also had 2 picks, pick 221, which they used to get USC OL Jonah Monheim.
Monheim was a very versatile Offensive Lineman throughout his tenure in college, he played 18 games at RT, 3 games at RG, 12 at LT, and 12 at C. His senior year he earned 3rd-Team All-Big Ten Honors.
Even though he is now primarily a center, it seems as if Monheim could potentially be used as a plug-n-play kind of guy on the Offensive Line.
They also had pick 236, which landed them Syracuse HB LeQuint Allen Jr.
In his final year at Syracuse, he rushed for 1,021 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Allen Jr also led all of FBS HBs with 64 Receptions (521 yards & 4 TDs). A season like that allowed him to be an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2024.
After the draft was finally completely finished Jacksonville made 20 more calls and signed a bulk of Undrafted Free Agents such as Elon WR Chandler Brayboy, Boise State WR Cam Camper, Indiana DL James Carpenter, Wake Forest LB Branson Combs, North Carolina TE John Copenhaver, Oklahoma DL Ethan Downs, Colorado DL B.J. Green II, Memphis QB Seth Henigan, Oregon TE Patrick Herbert, Arkansas RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, North Carolina WR J.J. Jones, North Dakota State DL Eli Mostaert, Oregon DB Jabbar Muhammad, Duke WR Eli Pancol, Arkansas DL Keivie Rose, Colorado S Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, Arkansas DB Doneiko Slaughter, Minnesota DL Danny Striggow, North Carolina State DB Aydan White, and Penn State OL Sal Wormley.
After all that I think it’s safe to say Jacksonville touched on all the key points that were essential to them in this year’s draft.
I believe out of all the other teams in the NFL, they definitely had one of the best overall drafts this year and I can’t wait to see them put all of these new options to work this off-season.
On The Clock
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
With the 2025 NFL Draft just days away, the Jacksonville Jaguars have the entire league guessing. Sitting at the No. 5 overall pick, they’ve become one of the hardest teams to predict, maybe even the hardest.
What once seemed like a sure thing now feels wide open, and nobody really knows what they’re going to do.
For months, the Jags were closely tied to Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham.
That talk didn’t slow down before or after the NFL Combine, or even once free agency hit.
But now? Doubts are creeping in. ESPN’s Adam Schefter, one of the most plugged-in voices in football, recently said on the Unsportsmanlike Podcast that he no longer thinks Jacksonville is going to take Graham at No. 5.
“I don’t believe Mason Graham will go No. 5,” Schefter said. “I feel pretty comfortable in saying that.” Instead, he hinted that the Jags could be looking at offense. Names like Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan have started getting thrown around as possible targets.
It’s a bit of a shock, especially considering how consistently Graham’s name had been tied to Jacksonville. But not everyone is sold on Graham’s fit, especially among analytics-driven teams. Ole Miss tackle Walter Nolen is a higher-ranked prospect, but Nolen has some character red flags to clear up.
There’s also talk that Jaguars head coach Liam Coen wants to bring in another offensive weapon to help quarterback Trevor Lawrence. That would make sense. Lawrence has had a lot on his plate, and adding a dynamic playmaker, whether it’s a running back like Jeanty or a wide receiver like McMillan, could help take some of the pressure off him and last year’s rookie sensation, wideout Brian Thomas Jr.
Other options on offense include LSU’s Will Campbell and Missouri’s Armand Membou if they’re looking to beef up the O-line instead. But no matter who it is, it’s clear that offense is on the table in a big way.
Another twist? Jacksonville might not even stay at No. 5. Some pundits see the Jags as a team that could trade down, and that’s something that starts to make a lot of sense once you look at their roster.
Right now, they’ve only got 59 players under contract, the fewest in the NFL. Even if they use all 10 of their picks, they’ll still be relying on a bunch of undrafted free agents just to fill the team out. Trading back and getting more picks could help with that.
James Gladstone, the Jags’ new GM, comes from the Rams, where he helped turn things around with a massive draft haul of 24 picks over two years.
He’s already said he wants to build through the draft, so don’t be surprised if he tries something similar in Jacksonville.
Then there’s the Travis Etienne situation. Schefter named him as one of the players who could be traded during draft week. No one’s saying the Jags are definitely shopping him, but it’s interesting that his name came up at all.
Etienne hasn’t exactly lit it up lately, averaging just 3.8 yards per carry over the last two seasons, and the O-line hasn’t helped much. Still, he’s been a big part of the passing game and could be a fit in Coen’s offense.
But if the Jaguars do take a running back early, it could mean fewer carries for Etienne, and maybe even a fresh start elsewhere for him.
The running back position is important in Coen’s system, so if they’re planning a change, they’ll have a replacement ready.
The Jaguars are a great example of what makes the NFL draft so interesting. They could really go in any direction with their current No. 5 pick by drafting for offense, for defense, by trading down, or maybe even a surprise move I haven’t even thought about yet.
One thing’s for sure though, with a new coach, a new GM, and a franchise QB still looking to fully break out, this pick has to count. And until they’re on the clock, the mystery rolls on.
New Lead Jag
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Jacksonville Jaguars recently hired Los Angeles Rams director of scouting James Gladstone as their next general manager.
Gladstone, 34, becomes the NFL’s youngest GM, and joins the Jaguars after nine seasons with the Rams.
First hired as a senior assistant in 2016, Gladstone became their player personnel coordinator, director of scouting strategy, and director of special projects before becoming director of scouting in 2021.
“It’s my honor to introduce James Gladstone as the new general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars,” Claims Jaguars owner Shad Khan.
Gladstone’s job offer is about one month after the Jag’s fired Trent Baalke after four unsuccessful seasons.
Jacksonville also enters the 2025 season with new head coach Liam Coen, and a new executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli (a franchise great) joining the front office earlier this month.
The Jaguars ended the 2024 season at 4-13 and third in the AFC South. Jacksonville has the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
In 2019, the Rams began a quiet overhaul of many of their draft and scouting processes under Les Snead and then-executive Brad Holmes.
When Holmes got the Detroit Lions job in 2021, Gladstone ascended to his top role within the department and was generally thought of as Snead’s right hand in Los Angeles.
Gladstone took on the overhaul, and he led the Rams into advanced processes by collaborating with Snead, Sean McVay, and other analysts to blend McVay’s on-field vision with the identification of middle- and late-round draft picks. At that time the Rams were dependent on these mid-to-late bloomers because they did not have first-round picks.
Gladstone ran the Rams’ scouting and draft meetings year-round but also put a scout’s eye on prospects himself and evaluated each class alongside the remote senior scouts.
Gladstone, Jake Temme and Nicole Blake evolved the Rams’ internal scouting system, called JAARS, into a blend of analytics modeling, scouting intel, reporting, filings, medical and psychological profiles (for current and prospective players), and coaching analysis and intel to connect every piece of the Rams’ building together.
After the picks-for-players model and subsequent Super Bowl-winning season in 2021, the Rams imploded from an organization standpoint in 2022. They opted to take on a record amount of dead money while shedding veteran players and high dollar contracts.
With Gladstone as scouting director, they drafted 14 rookies and brought in 26 undrafted free agents, and five of them became starters (including star receiver Puka Nacua, and Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists Kobie Turner and Byron Young).
In 2024, the first season since 2016 that the Rams had a first-round pick, the 10-member class also featured five starters including Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and finalist Braden Fiske.
The Jags start the season with a new coach, a new GM, and a new vice president of football operations.
Let’s hope this overhaul in the front office will create wins on the field.
The Combine
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s that time of year again. NFL Combine week is here!
As a long-suffering fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the end of February is when hope springs eternal. The annual scouting showcase kicks off in Indianapolis, bringing together top college prospects, NFL coaches, scouts, and media for a jam-packed week of workouts, interviews, and nonstop rumors.
While most fans tune in for the 40-yard dashes and bench press reps, this event is just as much about front-office chatter, draft strategy, and free agency buzz.
The combine runs from February 24 to March 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium, with on-field workouts starting Wednesday. Players will be split into different position groups throughout the week:
Wednesday, Feb. 26 – Kickers & Punters (Workouts) | Punters, Kickers, DL, LB (Media)
Thursday, Feb. 27 – Defensive Linemen & Linebackers (Workouts) | DBs & TEs (Media)
Friday, Feb. 28 – Defensive Backs & Tight Ends (Workouts) | RBs, WRs, QBs (Media)
Saturday, March 1 – Running Backs, Wide Receivers & Quarterbacks (Workouts) | O-Line (Media)
Sunday, March 2 – Offensive Linemen (Workouts) | No Media Availability
For Jaguars fans, this is a big week. Head coach Liam Coen and new GM James Gladstone, who spent the last nine years as the scouting director with the Los Angeles Rams, spoke to the media on Tuesday, giving us insight into their offseason plans and how they envision the new-look Jags to come together.
Executive VP Tony Boselli is due to speak to the media on Wednesday. This will be one of the first real updates from the new leadership since Coen’s introductory press conference.
While the combine is all about scouting draft prospects, there’s always free agency talk going on behind the scenes.
The official free agency period starts March 12 at 4 p.m., but teams can begin negotiating March 10.
The franchise tag deadline is March 4, so this week will be a key time for teams to decide whether to lock up their biggest free agents before they hit the market.
For Jacksonville, offensive line, defensive line, and secondary are top priorities. Running back isn’t a huge need since Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby are under contract, but with Etienne set to hit free agency in 2026 and a deep RB class in this draft, the Jags could still grab one for the future.
Jacksonville holds nine picks in the 2025 draft, including the No. 5 overall selection. They’re expected to focus on the trenches, especially the defensive line. Here are a few big name D-line prospects to keep an eye on:
Mason Graham (DT, Michigan) – He’s been one of the most popular mock draft picks for the Jags. If he puts up big numbers at the combine, he could solidify himself as the best defensive tackle in the draft.
Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan) – Another Michigan beast on the D-line. He’s huge and athletic, and if he tests as well as expected, his draft stock could explode.
Cam Jackson (DT, Florida) – The Jags love drafting Gators, and Jackson could be the next in line. He ended his college career strong and could boost his stock with a solid performance this week.
Once the combine wraps up, all eyes turn to free agency (March 12) and the NFL Draft (April 24-26).
This week will give us a better idea of what the Jaguars might do, whether it’s locking in their draft strategy or making moves in free agency.
Get ready for a week of rumors, scouting reports, and plenty of buzz around the future of the franchise. Can this long-suffering Jags fan dare to dream?!
Southern Draft
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2025 NFL Draft starts April 24, 2025 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. We are going to take a look around the AFC South and see what position each team should address in the first round.
Tennessee (3-14): The Titans are tied with Cleveland and the New York Giants for the worst record in the NFL. That earned them the first pick in the 2025 draft.
Quarterback Will Levis was drafted in the 2nd round, No. 33 by the team in 2023. He started the season opener and for a total of twelve games.
He passed for 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and he completed 63% of his passes. He showed that he takes risks and throws bad interceptions. I think Tennessee has to look at their QB of the future.
The most likely candidate to pick is Cam Ward (Miami). This year’s quarterback class is considered weak but Ward is the best in this class.
He transferred from Washington State and played great at Miami. He threw for 4,313 yards, 39 TD’s, 7 interceptions and completed 67% of his passes.
He also rushed for 204 yards and 4 scores. Ward won the Davey O’Brien Award (2024), Manning Award (2024), ACC Player of the Year (2024) and Consensus All-American (2024).
Jacksonville (4-13): The Jags need help on the defensive line or in the secondary. They have the fifth pick so I think they will draft a pass rusher.
The best pick is Abdul Carter (Penn State). He was an off-ball linebacker his first two years before he was moved to edge rusher for the 2024 season.
In 2024 he had 43 solo tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. Carter was a Unanimous All-American (2024), Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2024) and two-time first-team All-Big Ten (2023, 2024).
He’s 6’3 and 259 pounds so he has great size and speed. He’s a great athlete that could have an immediate impact like another Penn State pass rusher has recently, Micah Parsons.
Indianapolis (8-9): The Colts were only one game under .500 so they are close to becoming a playoff team. They have the No. 14 pick.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson was drafted 4th in the 2023 draft. In his two seasons he has only played in 15 games. They are really hoping he can stay healthy and make a drastic leap going into his third season.
Indy can go in a couple of different directions with this pick. They could select an offensive lineman or defensive back.
If they pick a lineman it could be inside offensive lineman Armand Membou (Mizzou). He was a tackle at Missouri but he’s 6’3 and 332 pounds so he’s not the ideal size for an NFL tackle. He will probably be moved inside to guard.
If they pick a DB safety Malaki Starks (Georgia) might be the pick. He’s very smart and athletic so he would be a great fit.
Houston (10-7): The Texans were very inconsistent but they still won the division and a playoff game. Second year QB CJ Stroud regressed and the offensive line did a bad job protecting him. They can address the offensive line, defensive line or add a weapon on offense. They are picking No. 25.
I think they might draft guard Grey Zabel (North Dakota State). He’s listed as 6’6, 305 lbs. and he’s a two-time FCS national champion. He was also named first-team FCS All-American (2024).
New Direction
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Liam Coen was recently formally introduced as the Jacksonville Jaguars newest head.
During the press conference, he addressed the whirlwind of speculation from last week; he was set to return to Tampa Bay as the Buc’s offensive coordinator — with a substantial raise to keep him put.
The next day, Coen attended a clandestine meeting with the Jaguars that ultimately led to him accepting the team’s head coach position.
“The opportunity to coach in Tampa was a phenomenal one to get my feet wet in the NFL as an offensive coordinator and I thank them so much for that opportunity,” Coen said.
“As you continue to do more research and gain more information as you go, it started to become more clear with every hour that this was an opportunity that you just can’t pass up for so many different reasons. Ultimately, you want to do what is best for you and your family. That is what this came down to.I will always love and remember those guys in Tampa — my players, those guys, love them to death — but this is an opportunity to also go do it with new guys and go reach and touch people because that’s what coaching and teaching is and that’s what this opportunity is all about. Head and eyes up and moving forward.”
From when Coen was set to return to Tampa Bay to when he accepted the Jaguars job, one major change occurred in Jacksonville. Jacksonville fired their General Manager. Coen said the Jag’s decision had nothing to do with his decision.
“This was completely about an opportunity to work for an owner and a group of people with a group of players that needed some help,” Coen said. “That is what coaching is. Coaching is all about going to help people and be around people. That (the GM dismissal) was not a factor.”
Owner Shad Khan said Coen stood out from the opening round of interviews and finding a guide for quarterback Trevor Lawrence was paramount.
“This wasn’t a moment of regret for the Jacksonville Jaguars,” Khan said of the coaching search. “This was a moment of progress, optimism and confidence that we will achieve the ultimate goal as long as we have the right man. And that man was Liam Coen. Why? Liam’s outstanding body of work speaks for itself. Quarterback development is the bedrock of modern NFL and Liam has delivered that wherever he’s coached.”
In Jacksonville, Coen inherits a team coming off a 4-13 season and is two seasons removed from winning the AFC South and reaching the divisional round of the playoffs. That playoff victory came in Doug Pederson’s first of three seasons as coach before his firing.
Coen has a roster that features QB Trevor Lawrence, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., and defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. The team also holds the Number 5 pick in this year’s Draft.
“This is not a four-win team,” Coen said. “Yes, that is the record (from last year) but this is not a four-win team. How do we go from winning games to not losing them? I think that is something we’ve got to address. That has to be in our veins, in our DNA and in our culture of winning. I’ve learned it from the Los Angeles Rams and a ton of other great organizations of how to go and win football games. That’s something we have to start as a team, as a group and show how we are going to do it.”
Coen confirmed Monday that he will call the plays as head coach.
Khan said that the next priority is to build out Coen’s staff, giving every indication that he is not in a rush to hire a new general manager. He did, however, ensure the team would have one announced by Feb. 28. Assistant general manager Ethan Waugh is serving as the team’s interim general manager.
Coen will have a strong voice in the hiring of the next general manager. His main task on the field is maximizing Lawrence’s skills.
By today’s standards, Lawrence is a below average QB. Coen’s success will depend on if he make Lawrence a high performer, or at least a solid QB.
The Fall Guy
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NFL regular season is over and coaches are starting to get fired as a result. Let’s talk about the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville fired head coach Doug Pederson after going 4-13. They have lost 18 of their past 23 games. He did go 9-8 in his first two seasons before the bottom fell out in 2024. His record in Jacksonville is 22-29.
“I had the difficult task this morning of informing Doug Pederson of my intention to hire a new head coach to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars,” owner Shad Khan said in a statement.
“Doug is an accomplished football man who will undoubtedly enjoy another chapter in his impressive NFL career, and I will be rooting for Doug and his wife Jeannie when that occasion arrives. As much as Doug and I both wish his experience here in Jacksonville would have ended better, I have an obligation first and foremost to serve the best interests of our team and especially our fans, who faithfully support our team and are overdue to be rewarded. In that spirit, the time to summon new leadership is now.”
The Jags have retained General Manager Trent Baalke who is entering the final year of his contract. I do raise an eyebrow when only the head coach is fired from a losing team but the GM keeps his job. I view them as a package deal because the GM assembled the subpar roster that could not win games.
Khan will be looking for his sixth head coach since he purchased the team in November 2011 and assumed control in 2012.
Currently the other teams searching for a new head coach are the New York Jets, Chicago, New England and New Orleans. Out of these openings I think Jacksonville is the fourth best job with New Orleans being last.
This next year will be very important because we may finally have to look at quarterback Trevor Lawrence to see if he is a franchise QB. He was considered a generational talent when he was drafted #1 in the 2021 draft.
The Jags were 1-15 the previous year and they hired Urban Meyer for his first NFL head coaching position. They were 2-11 under Meyer before he was fired December 16, 2021. We don’t hold Lawrence’s rookie season against him.
His best season was his second year when he passed for 4,113 yards, 25 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension, including $142 million guaranteed on June 14, 2024. That tied Joe Burrow as the highest paid player in NFL history at the time of the signing.
Lawrence has dealt with injuries this season, which include a significant AC joint sprain and a concussion so he only played in ten games. With that being said, he did not perform like Burrow in the games he did play.
Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was great. He had 87 receptions, 1,282 yards and 10 TD’s.
The defense is ranked 31st in yards allowed per game (389.9) and last in passing yards allowed per game (257.4). On offense they were 25th in yards per game (305.8).
The top coaching candidate is Ben Johnson, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. They just secured the top seed in the NFC so they might make a deep playoff run.
Todd Monken, the Ravens offensive coordinator is also someone to look at.
Detroit’s defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady are two more names to consider.
It will be interesting to see who the Jags hire and if they can quickly make them a contender.
Failed Expectations
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Doug Pederson’s time with the Jacksonville Jaguars has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows.
In his first season, Pederson turned things around, taking the Jaguars to the playoffs and winning the AFC South. Expectations were sky-high heading into last season, especially with Jacksonville starting strong at 8-3 and aiming for the AFC’s top playoff spot.
But things took a big turn after a Monday Night Football loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in December 2023, which kicked off a painful slump.
Since then, the Jaguars have gone 3-13, leaving them with a rough 2-8 record this season and at the bottom of the league.
Pederson’s job security is definitely under the microscope now as Jacksonville has struggled in clutch situations. He’s sitting on one of the hottest seats in the NFL, especially since the Jaguars have a frustrating 1-6 record in one-score games this season.
Ownership had touted this roster as possibly the “best Jaguars team ever,” but right now, the team’s record looks a lot like the Urban Meyer disaster, with losses piling up fast.
Their recent loss to the Minnesota Vikings kind of sums up the season.
Jacksonville got off to a good start thanks to a strong defensive showing, picking off Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold three times in the red zone and preventing Minnesota from scoring an offensive touchdown.
But the offense couldn’t get going. Backup quarterback Mac Jones, in for the injured Trevor Lawrence, put up only 143 total yards and turned the ball over three times in the last seven minutes, leading to a heartbreaking 12-7 defeat.
Historically, no team has lost a game with stats like that, where they allowed zero offensive touchdowns and forced three interceptions.
Pederson is doing his best to keep morale up, reminding the team of the chances they still have and focusing on the positives.
He’s aware of Jones’s mistakes but remains confident in the young quarterback, hoping he’ll improve with more time on the field.
At the same time, Pederson has a tough call to make: should he play Lawrence, who’s dealing with a shoulder injury, or sit him to protect his long-term health, especially in a season where the Jaguars’ playoff chances are down to just 2%?
Looking ahead, Jacksonville faces a tough road game against the 8-1 Detroit Lions before hitting their much-needed bye week.
A loss to Detroit could all but guarantee a losing season and increase speculation about Pederson’s future. Jaguars owner Shad Khan has been patient in the past, but he hasn’t hesitated to cut ties with underperforming leaders, like Gus Bradley in 2016, GM Dave Caldwell in 2020, and EVP Tom Coughlin in 2019.
This track record raises the stakes for Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke, who’s been criticized for putting together a roster that looks good on paper but isn’t translating to sustained success on the field.
Even with everything going on, Pederson insists the team hasn’t quit. He stays optimistic, pointing out that the division is still within reach and that there are chances to build momentum. The players are still fighting hard, but the team’s struggles to close out games have cast doubt over their future.
Lawrence’s possible return after the bye could be a boost, but Jacksonville’s ongoing problems are sparking questions about where the franchise is headed.
For now, Mac Jones will make his second start in place of Lawrence against Detroit.
Jones, who came over from the Patriots in a trade, will try to rebound from a rough first game. His recent struggles as a starter in New England left him with limited experience, but Pederson is hopeful he can bring some stability to the offense while Lawrence recovers.
As the Jaguars approach the back half of the season, Pederson’s tenure is at a crucial point. Once seen as the team’s savior, he’s now under heavy scrutiny.
His future—and that of Baalke and Jacksonville’s once-promising roster—are all hanging in the balance as the Jaguars try to get back on track in a season that’s been full of setbacks and missed expectations.
Changes?
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Jacksonville Jaguars are facing turbulent times, with questions swirling around their quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the overall direction of the team.
Following a brutal 47-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, head coach Doug Pederson admitted that significant changes might be necessary to reverse the Jaguars’ fortunes, which could even involve a potential shift at quarterback.
After the blowout, Pederson emphasized the need for adjustments across the board, from play design to personnel, saying, “everything’s on the table.”
Pederson, however, remained vague about whether Trevor Lawrence’s position as the starter could be affected, particularly noting the importance of considering injuries and performance as the team evaluates potential changes. While Pederson didn’t definitively commit to benching Lawrence, his noncommittal response indicated that no position is safe as the team seeks answers.
The need for change is clear. Through Week 3, the Jaguars have one of the league’s worst offenses, averaging a mere 13.3 points per game, their lowest point production since 2013.
On the defensive side, the team is giving up 361 yards per game while struggling to create turnovers and generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. With only five sacks and no forced turnovers, the defense has failed to complement an already sputtering offense.
The schedule doesn’t provide much breathing room, either. The Jaguars face the Houston Texans next on a short week, setting up the possibility of a dreaded 0-4 start, something the franchise has endured five times in its history.
The matchup against a rising division rival makes the upcoming game even more critical, as Jacksonville’s window to salvage the season narrows.
Pederson also addressed concerns about his own job security following the humiliating loss to Buffalo. While he indicated that those conversations remain private, he assured reporters that team owner Shad Khan has been “very supportive” during the team’s struggles.
Despite the looming pressure, Pederson remains focused on making the necessary adjustments to turn the season around.
Monday’s game was nothing short of a disaster for Jacksonville, as the team was thoroughly outclassed by the Bills. Buffalo scored on its first six drives, including touchdowns on all five of its first-half possessions, leaving Jacksonville in a 34-3 hole by halftime.
Despite entering the game with high hopes after two narrow losses to AFC opponents, the Jaguars found themselves overwhelmed from the start. Pederson was candid in his assessment, calling the result “shocking” and admitting, “this is who we are right now.”
While Buffalo’s offense flourished, Jacksonville’s offense floundered. Trevor Lawrence struggled mightily, going 21-of-38 for 178 yards with one touchdown, four sacks, and a costly interception.
Lawrence was replaced by backup Mac Jones late in the game after a thoroughly underwhelming performance. The offense as a whole could not find any rhythm, managing just 239 total yards and converting only two of 13 third-down attempts.
Despite a massive contract extension in the offseason, Lawrence has yet to deliver the performances expected of him, and the Jaguars’ faith in their franchise quarterback is beginning to waver.
As the Jaguars sit winless at 0-3, the optimism that surrounded the team before the season is quickly evaporating. The franchise, which has lost eight straight games dating back to last season, is spiraling out of playoff contention.
Jacksonville owner Shad Khan had declared the 2024 team as the best ever assembled under his ownership, but the early returns suggest otherwise.
Still, there’s a narrow path to redemption. Jacksonville faces back-to-back divisional matchups against the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts, both of which offer the opportunity to reset the season.
However, if the Jaguars are to capitalize on this opportunity, they must correct their numerous flaws and deliver a complete performance, something that has eluded them so far.
“No one’s going to feel sorry for us,” Pederson said. “This is who we are right now, and it’s not very good.” Lawrence echoed his coach’s sentiment, admitting that, “No one’s coming to save us.” The Jaguars will need to save themselves, starting now.
Bright Spots
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
In a thrilling Week 1 showdown, the Miami Dolphins secured a dramatic 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, thanks to a clutch 52-yard field goal by Jason Sanders as time expired.
The win, which marked Miami’s fourth consecutive season-opening triumph, was propelled by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who threw for 336 yards and a touchdown.
Tagovailoa also orchestrated a late-game, eight-play drive to set up Sanders’ game-winning field goal, showcasing his poise under pressure.
Tyreek Hill emerged as one of the game’s key players, despite chaotic hours before kickoff that included being briefly detained by the Miami-Dade Police Department as a result of a driving incident.
He finished the day with seven catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. Hill was a consistent playmaker throughout, moving the chains three times and forcing four missed tackles. His ability to gain big yards after the catch was pivotal, as he hauled in two catches of 15 yards or more, while averaging an impressive 3.58 yards per route run. Hill’s efforts were also reflected in the passer rating of 123.3 when Tagovailoa targeted him.
Despite the loss, the Jacksonville Jaguars left the game with some bright spots, particularly from young players and new additions.
Second-year running back Tank Bigsby had a standout performance, showcasing his explosiveness and decisiveness. Bigsby forced four missed tackles, more than any other Jaguars rusher, and hinted at a potential one-two punch with Travis Etienne in the backfield.
Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. also made an immediate impact in his NFL debut. The Jags rookie and first-round draft pick, who was covered by Dolphins star cornerback Jalen Ramsey for much of the game, demonstrated why he’s drawing so much attention.
Thomas caught four passes for 47 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown that gave the Jaguars a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. His ability to draw a 40-yard pass interference penalty earlier in the game helped set up Jacksonville’s first score.
On the defensive side, linebacker Devin Lloyd was another Jaguar whose stock rose after Week 1. Lloyd displayed improved decision-making and played a critical role in stopping Miami’s run game.
Meanwhile, Darnell Savage, in his first start at nickel for Jacksonville, put together a solid performance, allowing just four receiving yards on five targets while forcing two incompletions.
However, not everything went smoothly for the Jaguars. Travis Etienne, the team’s top running back, had a tough outing, particularly with a costly third-quarter fumble that significantly shifted momentum.
Although Etienne has been a major contributor to Jacksonville’s offense, Bigsby’s emergence may lead to a more shared workload in the future.
Defensive struggles also plagued the Jaguars, with Antonio Johnson missing three tackles in his first start of the season.
On the offensive line, the team’s top pass blocker from last year, Anton Harrison, gave up four pressures and showed some rust after an injury-limited preseason.
Ultimately, the Jaguars’ inability to capitalize on a 17-7 lead and their lack of offensive rhythm in the second half contributed to the loss.
After producing 162 yards and 17 points in the first half, Jacksonville failed to score after halftime and managed just six second-half first downs.
QB Trevor Lawrence, in his first regular season game since signing a five year, $275M contract extension, acknowledged the missed opportunities, citing the need for more consistent execution, particularly in critical moments.
In the end, the Dolphins’ defense stood tall in the second half and was too much for Jacksonville to overcome.
