JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Wes from Ponte Vedra, FL
James Gladstone seems like a pretty sly guy. What are the chances that he is working his connections with the other 31 general managers, cozying up to them to find one that is willing to sell the farm for a young WR1 but is juuuuust inattentive enough to details that he might sign off on said blockbuster trade for wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.?
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone is sly. And savvy. He, like all NFL general managers, constantly communicates with other general managers while seeking to improve the roster however possible. Has Thomas been mentioned in discussions between Gladstone and other general managers this offseason? Perhaps. Could the Jaguars trade Thomas this offseason? Perhaps. Could they trade other players for the right deal? Perhaps. Is Gladstone actively trying to "cozy up" to general managers with the goal to bilk the "inattentive" among them into trading for Thomas? That's a bit extreme, though NFL reality few players are truly "unavailable" for the right price in the right circumstance. Remember: The Jaguars have a season to play in a few months and they were to trade Thomas now – and I'm not remotely saying they will do so – they immediately will be looking for a wide receiver to play his role at his level. That's not the easiest task.
Daryl from Jacksonville
Any chance Jaguars bring back Dawuane Smoot?
The Jaguars last offseason signed veteran and fan favorite Dawuane Smoot as a "third" defensive end as the regular season approached. I haven't spoken to Smoot, who would enter his 10th NFL season in 2026, this offseason so I don't know his interest in playing this season versus retiring. I don't sense signing Smoot is something the Jaguars will do again this offseason, but that's a sense and not a fact. Either way, here's hoping the best for Smoot. He's one of the good guys.
Brittany from Duuuval
Hi, this is Brittany. I am 34 years old. Trevor Lawrence is my guy. I wore his shirt at bowling. Got strikes. My good luck shirt. Go Jags. Hope to meet him at fantasy camp soon.
One fer Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. And one fer shirts, strikes and fantasy camps. And other stuff.
Richard from Jacksonville
You had to say that "B" yesterday, I couldn't force myself to do it. I still stick with the BOAT never being a wrong answer. C has a couple of Campbells that are nice players and a few more honorable mentions, but I believe you have to put Cooke here.
We are on the "Cs" in this O-Zone thread of best Jaguars player ever whose last name starts with a specific letter. Good on us, I guess – though the thought here is Pro Football Hall of Fame left tackle Tony Boselli – now the team's executive vice president of football operations – is a pretty clear choice for "B." Possibilities for "C" include defensive lineman Calais Campbell. Once you list Campbell someone must be really good to get this nod. It's Campbell.
Daniel
Calais Campbell, followed by punter Logan Cooke. I lost track of what number we are on …
We're on No. 38.
Jordan from Lincoln, NE
No. 38 doesn't have any runaway winners, but safety Andre Cisco is probably the top choice with a shoutout to the former Husker, Dan Alexander!
We are suddenly up to No. 38 in our discussion about the best players in Jaguars history to wear specific numbers. Possibilities here include safety Mike Dumas (1995), safety Andre Cisco (2021-2022), safety Blaine McElmurry (1998-1999) and running back Dan Alexander (2002). You are correct that Cisco is the top selection. On to No. 39, I suppose. Woo-hoo.
Van from St. Augustine, FL
Heading to Wembley for the Houston Texans game with the wifey. Do the Brits tailgate? Any pregame or postgame considerations?
I haven't seen that much tailgating among Jaguars fans outside Wembley Stadium before the Jaguars' annual home game there. To be fair (to be faaaaaair), I do not spend enough time outside Jaguars games anywhere to see tailgating and I therefore am a poor source for this information. Perhaps the loyal O-Zone UK readers (he knows who he is) can help. The Union Jax – the Jaguars' official UK fan club – typically hosts a gathering the night before UK home games. Shadrick is well-known in these parts. Details usually get finalized as the games approach.
Ed from Danvers, MA
John, I went to the dentist yesterday and wore an old Buffalo Bills T-shirt and today, yada yada yada, my mouth really hurts.
Sounds right.
David from The Island
Am I the only one that thinks Cleveland got the better deal in Garrett trade? Especially if the Rams don't win the Super Bowl. Verse is a really good player and Cleveland is getting a lot more good picks.
The Cleveland Browns this past week traded defensive end Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for defensive end Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round selection, a 2028 second-round selection and a 2029 third-round selection. The Browns absolutely received a lot. The Rams also received a lot. One thing that gets lost sometimes in the mad rush by media and observers to declare "winners" and "losers" in trades is that you must give up a lot to get a lot – and the best trades are the ones that benefit both teams. Both sides got a lot in this one, and it's absolutely possible the Browns will be as happy about the deal as the Rams moving forward.
Brad from The Avenues
In response to Russ from Calhoun, GA's submission about outside commentators missing on cultural fit, I find that they also miss a great deal on things like system fit and even need. These people do, however, serve a valuable purpose. Reading their articles is a great way to wake up my brain in the morning. First sip of coffee, basically just random words strung together. Half a cup, words beginning to form actual sentences. One cup in, I am starting to ask myself things like "What the hell is this guy talking about" or "where is he getting this from?"' It's at this point I pour myself another cup and turn to the more well-informed local guys, eventually finishing with the leading expert on our home team, yourself. It's a great system that has served me well for some years now.
Not all "outside commentators" are created equal, with some undoubtedly more well-informed than others. Precious few fall into the former category and the reality is many less-informed do not misinform intentionally maliciously as much as they are just doing the best they can. How to figure what is or isn't real in what admittedly is an interweb full of regurgitation, pontification and speculation? Focus on that third cup of coffee and click on the king of all funk. He may be right. He may be crazy. But he just may be the lunatic you're looking for.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
Joe Montana, John Elway, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers were all masters of the two-minute offense and played in around 100 playoff games. They combined for 14-game winning drives in playoff games. This is the same total Tom Brady had in around 50 playoff games. Mind -lowing stat to me. Comments or perhaps you would like to talk more about how the fans love the prowler uniforms?
Sounds as if Montana, Elway, Manning and Rodgers all got their teams in a lot of playoff games over a lot of seasons – which is, after all, the first job of an NFL quarterback. It also sounds as if Brady got his team in lot of playoff games and led a few more comebacks than the other guys. And fans do love them prowlers.
JAY from THE BURG, FL
One area we came up short last season was the fifth man, the extra man we send on a blitz. Although we created pressure at times, linebacker Devin Lloyd and safety Andrew Wingard just didn't show a true feel for blitzing and getting to the quarterback when given the opportunity. Linebacker Ventrell Miller, safety Antonio Johnson, safety Caleb Ransaw and others … it's their time now. Who will perfect that craft, stand out and reach that higher level? To become a great defense, we really need that "Sly Dog" as a fifth man that strikes fear in an offence and keeps them off balance.
Getting pressure without blitzing always trumps getting it with blitzing, but could the Jaguars use a "sly dog?" Hell, who couldn't?
Rich from Saint Johns, FL
I never even noticed the comment section. Bad eye!
Good eye on the bad eye. Or something like that.
Brad from The Avenues
Love the new question box.
The Jaguars.com digital team recently revamped the O-Zone question submission box, making it bigger and presumably more user-friendly. Kudos to the Jaguars.com digital team. Kudos to them. God bless us everyone.
