JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Josh from Atlanta, GA
Outside of Travis Hunter, too obvious, which picks do you think have the best chance to become regular starters by Week 1? I don't want to say start in general, because injuries throughout the year always come into play. Just based on our depth chart and your knowledge of their profiles, who ya got? In my opinion, which means nothing, it really looks like a phenomenal draft.
The Jaguars' 2025 NFL Draft class is in a relatively unusual position in the sense that training camp competition – which is often "competition" in name only – will in fact be very real competition at many positions. It actually may be more accurate to say it will be very real competition at most positions. This is the nature of this offseason's regime change – that there are few preconceived thoughts about returning players and that there is little connection to the past. The Jaguars would have no problem with multiple rookies winning starting jobs in 2025 – with the caveat that they must legitimately win those jobs. Rookies from this view that have a very real chance to win starting jobs include wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, safety Caleb Ransaw, guard Wyatt Milum and perhaps running back Bhayshul Tuten. Those players aren't remotely guaranteed starting positions. But the veterans playing those positions aren't guaranteed to start, either. Not even close.
Greg from Boise, ID
Where does this draft/free agency leave Andrew Wingard?
Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard remains on the roster with a very real chance to be a very important player on defense and special teams – so pretty much where he was before the draft and free agency.
Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter
With all the references lately to "Jags to Riches: The Cinderella Season of the Jacksonville Jaguars" I decided to buy a copy of the e-book and was surprised at the things I had forgotten about that time. Your account of the day the franchise was awarded brought a tear as I relived it and recalled being among the very first to buy our season tickets as soon as they became available. That really was an enchanted season.
Damn right.
John from Cape May Court House
If I was in charge, he would play every third down, two-minute situations and the entire fourth quarter. But then again, I'm not in charge. That is all, as you were.
My Scooby Sense – and not my Scobee sense – is that you're referencing Hunter's potential defensive role. My sense is his role in that area could be something like the one you desire – though perhaps not that exact role. I don't know that he will play every third down. But could be involved in most passing situations – i.e., most plays where the Jaguars feel he could have an opportunity to turn the ball over.
Pete from Queensbury, NY
Hey, John. Gladstone talked at the end-of-draft presser about Josh Scobee making the call to safety Rayuan Lane III when he was drafted; that Scobee had "banged the table" for him. Can you give any details on Josh's role in the organization? Does he have an official role? If so, I think he's a great asset to have in the building!
When Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone told this story late Saturday following the draft, he was referencing Jaguars college scout Josh Scobey. He is not the same as former Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee, which I imagine comes as a great relief to Jaguars scout Josh Scobey.
Pookie
Panda City John, you' have often said how college football is so drastically different from the NFL that it could almost be considered a different sport. If that's true, why are we supposed to believe that a guy who played at a powerhouse like Colorado [sarcasm font] is going to come in and reinvent the National Football League? I would be beyond skeptical even if Hunter played at one of the big-name universities. It stuns me that much of Jaguars fandom is accepting without reservation that he's going to come in and dominate on two sides of the football, especially given the sunshine and rainbows we have been fed so many times for at least 15 years. I feel that if someone else had drafted Hunter instead of the Jags, a lot more of us we be chuckling dismissively and thinking, "Successfully playing both sides of the ball in the NFL? That's ridiculous. Have fun with that, Other Team. Glad WE didn't give all of that up to get him."
Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss played at Marshall. Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Payton played at Jackson State. Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson played at Louisville. Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice played at Mississippi Valley State. Special is special. I don't know if Hunter is special. We won't know that until he plays. But where he played college football won't decide if he is or isn't.
Steve from Nashville, TN
In your opinion, which of the all 22 positions has the least amount of differential between an average or serviceable player to one of elite level as far as impact to the on-field product. Is it too easy to just say offensive guard?
I might put inside linebacker in the conversation based on general draft value, but you can talk all you want about position value – and difference between good and great. The reality is you want to be as good as possible everywhere because a bad player at any position can get you beat in a hurry.
Brian from ROUND ROCK, TX
From the photos, it looks like the team is practicing football. I love it! How does the team look?
The Jaguars last week held a voluntary veteran minicamp. They were allowed to do this under NFL rules because they are in the first offseason under a new head coach, Liam Coen. Because this minicamp is in Phase 2 of the offseason program, the practices are limited to individual/group instruction and drills. They cannot include live contact or team drills. Within that context, the team looks fine.
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. According to the Florida Times-Union, it appears that the new front office is building an offensive line where versatility will be key. The new guys can play guard or tackle, or they can play anywhere across the interior of the line. Am I out of touch, seems like we have always heard that linemen play best at the one position that they feel most comfortable? Pundits criticize the coaches when they make a lineman play a different position than his No. 1 preference or most experienced. Is this new approach proven elsewhere? Did it work in Tampa or LA? Or are the Jags pioneers?
Versatility matters to these Jaguars' decision-makers, and versatility is more common leaguewide on the offensive line. Offensive-line versatility is also a positive because you can move players in the event of injury – and NFL teams always have valued this. Still: Let's not misinterpret the approach. The Jaguars will play the five offensive linemen that play the best together and give them the best offensive line play. All else is secondary.
Doug from Jax Beach
IF there were actually questions about Gene, I could understand you answering them. But, they are not actual questions, they are nonsense.
Not everything in life is for everyone. Not everything in the O-Zone is for everyone. I certainly am not for everyone. Not everyone likes questions about longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnists and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette. Not everyone gets everything. The cool thing about the question-answer format on a free website is a reader can move onto another question and emerge from the experience unscathed.
Thomas from Jacksonville
Recognizing the importance of being nice, even to Queen in Texas, the coaches and management (Baalke) who won a game or two toward the end of last season were trying to save their jobs. If we get to the point that coaches, management or players don't try to win any game, that sport will lose popularity.
But of course.
Rob from St Augustine Fl
After Foye Oluokun, I feel like the second linebacker position is wide open. Is this accurate, or do you think Lloyd, Muma, Miller, or Kiser have an inside track?
I think the Jaguars essentially will play a 4-3 defense with Ventrell Miller at weakside, Oluokun in the middle and Devin Lloyd on the strongside. I expect rookie Jalen McLeod to compete with Lloyd and Kiser to work at the other two linebacker positions.
Chris from UK London
KOAF, Zone in previous years I have really enjoyed watching the phone calls made to the draft selections. This year I have only seen Travis Hunter's call. Are there plans to show the others??
A compilation of draft phone calls to members of the Jaguars' 2025 NFL Draft class can be found on the Jaguars' YouTube channel here.
