JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Jim from Jagsonville

Congratulations to everyone for the signing of Travon Walker! This is draft and development – and his family, the organization and the fans benefit! So, with both quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Travon signed, can we call them TnT? Add in Travis and we got TnTnT ... triple dynamite! Let's go, Jaguars!

The Jaguars and defensive end Travon Walker have agreed to terms on a contract extension, with the reported four-contract reportedly worth $110 million with $77 guaranteed. You're correct that this is beneficial for everyone involved – particularly for Walker financially and absolutely for all associated with the Jaguars. Walker, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Jaguars, is everything you want in a Top 5 selection – and everything you want in a core, foundation player. He not only is perhaps the Jaguars' toughest player, he from this view – along with defensive end Josh Hines-Allen – is the defense's most-irreplaceable player. He is, to borrow Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone's phrase, as "intangibly rich" as any player I ever have covered. He also fits perfectly into this team's identity in this sense: The Jaguars under Head Coach Liam Coen identify as a tough team and in a league of tough human beings, Walker stands out – and not just because he played through wrist and knee injuries last season when many players would not have done so. He is a consistent pass-rusher when healthy and phenomenally good against the run. He also is exactly the sort of player general managers love to sign to extensions because he figures to work as hard – and to care about the game as much – after he signs a "second contract" as before. This is a mammoth contract for the Jaguars – and indeed a good day for all involved. Cool stuff. Very cool.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

I just wanted to encourage Jaguars fans upset with the stadium-renovation-altered-home-games schedule to try and keep it in perspective. Outside of Wayne Weaver doing whatever he did to facilitate this franchise being awarded to Jacksonville, there has not been a bigger deal for the Jaguars in Jacksonville than Shad Khan. He had no contractual obligation to keep the Jaguars in Jacksonville when he became owner. He likely could have forced his way out before the new stadium deal. And he certainly - and with ease - could have made striking an agreement with the city for that new stadium deal untenable for the city to meet. That would have been a wrap for the Jaguars remaining here. There was nothing stopping him from doing that but his commitment to the city of Jacksonville.

Two people who stand above all others as reasons the Jaguars are in Jacksonville. One is Wayne Weaver, the franchise's first owner. The other is current owner Shad Khan. Without Weaver, the team never would have been in Jacksonville. And you're correct that many people who purchased the Jaguars might have moved them. That Khan did not – and that he has repeatedly shown belief in this city – should never, ever be overlooked. Ever.

George from Jacksonville

Close to Mr. Irrelevant. Here's hoping for next year.

OK, I guess.

Jeff from Grassvalley, CA

A little rant and a different perspective, Mr. O. I am tired of hearing how we traded two first-round picks for Travis Hunter. We traded a second and a fourth in 2025 and a first in 2026 for Travis Hunter. The first-round picks in 2025 were a swap. I am not concerned about not having a first-round selection this year. And I wouldn't be upset if we are winning if we only had a first-round selection every other year. If first-round selections work out, they become expensive. Gladstone is fixing our salary cap situation, so no first-round pick this year means no expensive extension in three years. Two-first round picks in 2021, two first-round picks in 2022 … I would say all were successful. Now we've lost two of those four. If we didn't have such a heavy dead cap hit, those two fan favorites might still be here. But having that many successful first-round picks so close to each other means some will be hard to resign. I for one am enjoying the early part of the dead zone. I'm not stressing on who we are taking in the first round.

Many good points here. I don't know that the Jaguars would have re-signed running back Travis Etienne Jr. or linebacker Devin Lloyd had they been in a better 2026 cap situation. I expect the long-term ramifications of big salaries at non-premium positions might have meant not re-signing them whatever the circumstance. Beyond that … yes, it's difficult to re-sign all your good players to "second" contracts. It's not just about drafting and developing well. It's also about drafting, developing and knowing what players you can't re-sign – even if those players are good and popular.

Dave from Los Angeles, CA

Australia is too far. Madness.

I get emails like this from time to time.

Mike from Neptune Beach, FL

Will the Orlando home games still be blacked out in Orlando?

The Jaguars will play home games in Orlando in 2027 because of ongoing renovations to the Stadium of the Future in downtown Jacksonville. The 2027 season is about 17 months away. Seventeen months isn't forever. But it's long enough that a lot of details and logistics are still to be determined. This is one of those details.

Jason from North Pole, AK

Do you think the Jaguars will have a difficult time attracting free agents during the 2026 offseason? Particularly the veterans on the tail end of their careers that often sign one- to two-year-type deals with contenders.

I assume you're asking if the Jaguars will have difficulty attracting free agents in the 2027 offseason. I assume this because the high-profile 2026 free-agency period is past. I think how well the Jaguars can attract free agents in 2027, particularly older veterans wanting to sign with contending teams, largely will depend on how the Jaguars fare during 2026 and how close they appear to contending for a Super Bowl. I don't expect playing home games in Orlando to influence players in this area much.

Wes from Ponte Vedra, FL

What's the skinny on the rumor that Cole Van Lanen's injury at the end of the 2025 season was a torn anterior cruciate ligament? Is that not something the team has to disclose on injury reports?

Jaguars left tackle Cole Van Lanen missed a Wild Card Playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills in January with a knee injury. My understanding is it could force him to miss the early part of training camp and preseason. I don't know the official, exact nature of the injury. The Jaguars disclosed on injury reports the week of the Buffalo game that Van Lanen had sustained a knee injury – as required by NFL rules. NFL rules do not require that teams disclose the exact nature of an injury, only the body part.

Ron from Jacksonville

Nice to see Gary finally came around and saw how valuable you are.

This references a recent email from a "Gary from St. Augustine, FL," in which said Gary praises the writer of this column. This is in stark contrast to previous emails from a "Gary from St. Augustine, FL," that point out the many flaws and shortcomings of the same writer. My sense is that one Gary from St. Augustine, FL, is not necessarily the same "Gary from St. Augustine, FL. Or something like that.

DuvalJag95 from J-ville

Can you please have someone do a wellness check on Gary? Something has to be wrong if he's saying you're awesome. Must be having a off day.

Good eye.

Larry from Chicago via Jax

O. The Jags got surprisingly effective offensive line play in 2025. We also got surprisingly ineffective defensive line play in 2025 based on sack totals, tackles for loss and win rates. In the upcoming draft, which one (can't be both) do you think we should prioritize in drafting? Offensive line would be if we think the output will regress based on talent levels versus the scheme propping them up. Defensive line would be that JHA and Walker aren't really that good.

The Jaguars' surprisingly ineffective defensive line helped the Jaguars lead the NFL in run defense in 2025. The line absolutely could use better interior pass rush moving forward. I expect they will continue to explore ways to get that. I don't know if that will mean selecting defensive line early in the 2026 NFL Draft. I think the Jaguars should prioritize selecting both lines at some point because continuously addressing in the draft is one of the best ways to ensure long-term quality and depth at the positions.

Johnny from Jax

Ok that couldn't have been the real Gary? If so it's very upsetting to see that change of heart.

I expect a return to normalcy sooner than later.