JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Stephen from Sec 113 from Jacksonville via Pennsauken, NJ
John, I will save your other reader (and he knows who he is) some grief. When the schedule comes out on Thursday night, we will not have any 4 p.m. or night games at home. I took a drive by the stadium to check out the construction and they have taken down the lights. The lack of lights leads me to the conclusion of all 1 p.m. games at home this season. Do you reach the same conclusion?
I do not reach that conclusion. This is because I am fortunate enough to be able to speak with people who know facts and the fact is that as of now there are no limitations on the Jaguars hosting night games at EverBank Stadium in 2026. It is May 8. The regular season begins in September, before which sufficient lighting for night and late-afternoon games will – and must – be in place. I do not know how many – if any – prime-time or 4 p.m. games the Jaguars will have when the NFL announces the 2026 schedule Thursday. But lighting will not be an issue.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
"Edge is in a good spot, but the rest of the roster is average." A quality quote from one of those experts at a national outlet. We know they are all inch-deep, mile-wide surveyors of 32 teams, but it led me to think about the roster as a whole. With a largely returning unit on both sides, schemes aside, would you qualify this team as well above average? I am a homer and see great through my teal lenses.
My experience is most national analysts consider good rosters to be ones with a lot of names they recognize. While such name recognition is nice, it doesn't always mean a player is good. Trevor Lawrence was one of the NFL's best quarterbacks in 2025. DaVon Hamilton was one of the NFL's best nose tackles in 2025. Brenton Strange was one of the NFL's best tight ends in 2025. These players may not all be known by "national analysts," but they're very good players and well above average. How far above average is the whole roster? Far enough to go 13-4 and win the AFC South title in 2025, I suppose.
Tom from The Mean Streets of Nocatee
Who is this Al guy people keep referencing? Is he one of your long-lost pals?
What's a "pal?"
Josh from Atlanta, GA
Can we expect to see a few less illegal motion penalties the second year in? Seems like an obvious answer, but the number of those almost put me in a loony bin. It was pretty remarkable how well they dug themselves out of first- and second-and-very long because of the pre-snap penalties. The 13 Personnel isn't exactly a new thing, so it shouldn't be like another year of learning an entirely new system.
The Jaguars struggled with illegal shift penalties at times in 2025, particularly early in the season – though many of these were declined. These were more under control at the end of the season. Many of these penalties could be attributed to adjusting to Head Coach Liam Coen's offensive system – which places heavy emphasis on pre-snap motion, formations and pre-snap play changes. Because of that emphasis, it can be a tricky offense to learn and run cleanly at first. So yes … the pre-snap stuff should be a bit cleaner next season.
Crash from Glen Saint Mary, FL
Obi Wan! I'm not as articulate as Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, but I will say that his draft class seems to have the "Right Stuff."
OK.
Chris from Mandarin
All of this about Gene Frenette may be true, but the dude still can't surf in spite of your claims to the contrary over the years. Two left feet made of stone that one.
Former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette – unlike Charlie, who don't surf and we think he should – absolutely surfs. He just doesn't brag about it. Gene lives life under the radar, except when he doesn't.
Daniel from Johnston, IA
Some of the criticism I have seen on the Jags drafting tight ends was that the ones they selected were only "average" talent. I am so far away from the draft and college players that I do not know. What is your opinion of the tight ends that were drafted? Did it seem like they were some of the best tight ends in the draft?
The Jaguars selected two tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft – Nate Boerkircher of Texas A&M in Round 2 and Tanner Koziol of Houston in Round 5. They were the tight ends the Jaguars believe best fit their scheme and culture.
Chris from Mandarin
Antifragility is up there with his greatest strength is his strength.
Irony can be pretty ironic.
Chris from Mandarin
Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. seems that over the course of his career has been the type of player that if you need one yard, he'll get three yards and if you need five yards, he'll get three yards.
My understanding is it's more accurate to say if it looks like you might get two yards, he'll get you three or four. And if it looks like he might get four, he'll get you five or six. He won't get you 20 or more very often, but getting the extra one of two a lot is really valuable.
Jim from Jagsonville
You suggesting you display "professional reporting and analysis" was profoundly humorous to me. Thank you, and Go Jaguars!
I am the king of all professional funk.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
I have been doing a little research on tight end and at least last year the yards per play with multiple tight ends was significantly higher than with one or no tight ends. It seems if the trend continues then isn't a versatile linebacker like a Devin Lloyd become more valuable or what is the conventional wisdom defending multiple tight end sets? How valuable is it to have a legitimate two-way like a George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers, Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals, Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders or Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange? Do you see a salary surge for tight ends in the near future?
Versatile linebackers who can truly cover at a high level indeed will be valuable as the league moves toward multiple tight-end sets. Then again, linebackers who can truly cover are rare enough that they always have been and always will be valuable. The same is true of true two-way tight ends. Will we see a salary surge for tight ends? I suppose so, but considering the level to which all NFL salaries are surging, will we really notice?
Pete from Daytona Beach
Keenan McCardell had four straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons for the Jaguars. A catalyst for the glory years in the 90's. Why is he not on the so-called Ring of Honor?
It's called the Pride of the Jaguars and former Jaguars wide receiver Keenan McCardell should be enshrined. I expect he will be in some day, preferably soon.
Rob from the duuuuuuuuuuu
Gladstone mentioned "doubling up" at positions in the draft and how that usually ends up having a positive outcome. Can you please elaborate on some of the benefits of "doubling up" on positions in the draft versus picking a wider range of positions?
Teams "double up" in the draft for various reasons. A particular position group might be considered deep in a particular year, or a team might simply feel strongly about multiple players and see a chance to strengthen an area. You also increase your chances of hitting on one of the players. Is it better than selecting a wider range of positions? That depends on the quality of the player.
Jadon from Raleigh, NC
Without further ado, who is the best player in Jaguars history to wear No. 16?
This discussion pretty much centers on Lawrence (2021-present) and former "offensive weapon" Denard Robinson (2013-2016). That makes Lawrence a pretty easy choice.
Johnny B from Howey In The Hills
Dr. O. I am intrigued with the prospect of the Jags having what could be a ground and pound with big up front and some tight that look like tackles (Don't count out Quintin Morris). I also can't wait to see guard Wyatt Milum, center Jonah Monheim and guard Emmanuel Pregnon up front. Undrafted free agent guard Garrett Digiorgio looks like a great prospect as well. I think the offensive line could be a huge improvement especially in depth. My Scoobie sense is that this can give quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the receivers a great opportunity to set up defenses and not be ready for a passing attack like we know they have. Can't wait till September....Go Jags....
The 2026 NFL Schedule is expected to be announced Thursday night.
