JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Reggie from Jacksonville

Maxx Crosby?

This will take more than a one-paragraph answer – and it may take more than a day. The NFL world/Twitterverse was stunned Tuesday night when the Baltimore Ravens reportedly pulled out of an agreed-upon traded for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, a deal in which the Ravens would have sent two first-round draft selections – one in 2026 and one in 2027 – to the Raiders. Reports and speculation about all aspects and ramifications of this ruled Twitter Tuesday night, with most reports being that Crosby – one of the NFL's best pass-rushers – failed a physical with the Ravens because of a knee injury sustained late in the 2025 season. I don't pretend to know enough about the Ravens or Raiders to know real details on this one, but the reason it matters to Jaguars observers is the Jaguars reportedly were among the teams interested in dealing for Crosby before the Ravens/Raiders trade. A move like this has ripple effects throughout the league. This Jaguars regime certainly is not beyond bold, aggressive moves. This would be bold and aggressive. That's not to say the Jaguars will pursue it. But it would be bold. And aggressive. Stay tuned.

Al from Orange Park, FL

Maxx. Don't you just love a fiasco which has a ripple effect through half of the NFL? It's not funny, but wow ...

It's a little funny.

Jimsure from DBS

It certainly appears that the Houston Texans are going to be the favorites in our division next season. They have been signing free agents one after another while we just re-sign our own players. What gives, oh wonderous one?

It is a common NFL perception that signing free agents "one after the other" makes you better, and it's therefore understandable why Jaguars fans might get anxious or even irritated watching division rivals do this while the Jaguars mostly sign their own players. This "common perception" is in this case a misperception. What "gives" is the Jaguars are now a good, stable team that approaches free agency and the salary cap in measured fashion. Insider tip: Instead of panicking when the Jaguars don't spend wildly in free agency, relax and realize they're doing things right. Good teams win in December and January, not in March. Enjoy this. It's a good thing. At long last.

JT from Palm Coast, FL

I know fans always expect us to go after everyone available. This year it was known that we didn't have a lot of cap space. I am glad to see us re-sign some of our guys. Sometimes, those are the biggest free agency moves you should make. Smart moves in my opinion.

Yep.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

I'm a little concerned that – if it has correctly been reported – Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone pursued Crosby and now is pursuing Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Crosby didn't make much sense to me, but Carter does. We no longer have a 2026 first-round pick though. The only thing you could do to entice them then is package a player with a 2027 first-rounder. And you'd only have to do that because you traded the 2026 first rounder away. Does that not have the feel of cascading decision making?

It has the feel of the Jaguars believing last offseason that trading their 2027 first-round selection was the best way to improve the roster and add a dynamic – possibly generational – playmaker in wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. The Jaguars were aggressive then. Did it cost them some capital? Sure. Was it symbolic of anything or an example of Gladstone looking at the NFL wrong? That seems like a bit of a reach.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

Look at the Raiders Monday. Is that how you cripple yourself or is that thinking you're a year away with a top overall quarterback? What a ridiculous spending spree. Egregious, and glad it's not our front office (half our base probably fanning we should have done the same).

(We talk a lot here in the O-Zone about the importance of being nice. This was decidedly not nice.)

Fred from Naples, FL

It looks like Devin Lloyd got less than market value. Are we going to believe the Jaguars couldn't have at least made an offer to keep him? In this day and age of endless Twitter, podcasts and blogs I didn't see anything that states the Jags tried to keep him. Is Ventrell Miller really the answer? Dennis Gardeck? Pleeeeeeease.

Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers worth $45 million with $25 million guaranteed. That's it. The contract is Lloyd's value. He tested the market. That's how it works. The Jaguars had a price at which they would have re-signed Lloyd. What Lloyd signed exceeded it. Sometimes, teams and players know the market – and sometimes, all parties know the deal. This was one of those times.

Scott from Jax in Rehoboth Beach, DE

I'm sure you don't need it, but good luck these next couple days, O-Man. We all wanted these players to stay, but we all know this league is a business and we have to respect players' decisions. Fans are gonna fan. So I say, "Good luck to you, kind sir, on sifting through the hundreds, if not thousands of the bewildered questions and comments on this topic."

I am the king of all funk.

Ron from Orlando, FL

When Lloyd's value was dropping, why not re-sign him at the $15 million/year range instead of the $18-to-$20 million/year expected? This is a huge loss for us and I really don't understand why teams draft and develop young talent, but let them walk in free agency after they prove valuable?

Too high is too high. When you draft and develop well, you have to make choices about which good players you retain. Losing Lloyd is a loss. How big remains to be seen.

Dan from Madrid

Hi, John. I was hoping that Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. would sign with a contender and be the leading back on his new team. The New Orleans Saints don't provide any of that, but hey, it's professional sport, after all. $$$$.

Indeed it i$.

Chuck from Sad but understanding

I know we did not pick up Lloyd's option year for next year, but I don't remember if it was the current regime that made that decision or the previous one. I understand why it was not picked up because Lloyd had been an OK player, but not a great one – and the price for the option year would have been too high, I guess, for an average player. Do you think after the year he had, the current regime wishes they would have had him locked up for one more year to see if he had evolved into a really good player?

The current decision-making regime of Head Coach Liam Coen, Gladstone and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli was in place in the 2025 offseason when the Jaguars opted to not exercise the fifth-year option on Lloyd's contract. This was not a remotely difficult decision at the time. I sense the Jaguars would have felt fine had they exercised the option and had Lloyd for another year. I don't sense anything close to franchise-wide panic that they did not.

Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL

I think Jags fans are a bit too used to winning the offseason, meaning free-agency acquisitions. The reality is teams rarely win the offseason. Draft and replace well is what will make 13-4 type seasons sustainable, not high-dollar free agency acquisitions. The team still needs cap room for rookies (quite a few of them I might add) and let's focus on paying defensive end Travon Walker, wide receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange. It might feel empty now, but when the lights come on it will be a lot more fun.

Yup.

Mike from ST AUGUSTINE

I think that maybe this is what winning the offseason is supposed to feel like. Not the past 15 years' version. What do you think?

Loyal O-Zone readers – and he knows who he is – know I'm a believer that teams often improve from within as much as they improve signing big-name free agents. Less is often much, much more when it comes to free agency. While fans tend to panic if their team isn't on free agency's front lines, no news this time of year is often the sign of a stable franchise. NFL front offices can avoid a lot of expensive, hard-to-reverse mistakes by turning the lights off and taking a few days off in mid-March.

Darren from Jax

Why does it seem like the Jaguars are so willing to trade wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr? Do they not like his work ethic or something? Seems weird because he seemed like a very important piece of the puzzle last year.

Thomas is an important part of the Jaguars' wide receiver corps. There's often a difference between what is reported and what is real. This is one of those instances.

Mark from Orange Park, FL

Sure is boring around here.

Ain't it beautiful?