JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen was quoted on coaching the Jags' running backs regarding extra yards after contact and rushing for more yards than expected on a given play. Coen said, "It's like, 'What are you doing outside of what we're blocking and what does that look like?' Guys that get more than what's there, I can't coach that. I don't care how you do it, I just care that you do it, because I can't coach it. When you have and do things that I can't coach on a consistent level, to me that's important for players because it's like, 'Dude, I can't coach you to do that.'" We read and hear so much about how coaches focus on so many things: Skills, mechanics, positional specific training, technique, situation awareness, field vision, ad infinitum. Why is this nuance of the game not coachable?

Coen discussed this topic at the 2026 NFL Annual Meeting, and it provides insight into how the NFL works – and how much Coen understands the league and coaching's place in it. Coen is an outstanding head coach and leader. He also is an outstanding play-caller and a bright offensive mind. As a bright play-caller and offensive mind, he knows it's his job to call plays to put players in the best position possible. He also knows he can't be on the field throwing passes or catching footballs or – in the case of your question – making defenders miss. At some point, in a league with elite athletes at every position, an offensive player must be able to outperform a defensive player. This might mean making the perfectly placed throw. Or high-pointing a catch that seemed uncatchable. Or – in the case of your question – making a defender miss in space. Or breaking a tackle. A coach can't do those things from the sidelines. Even though it's always coaching in the NFL.

Jon from Arcanum

If the 2022 draft was tomorrow, knowing what you do now, are you taking Walker No. 1 over Hutchinson? I know I am. Also, if you were building a defense for one year, who are you picking first, JHA or Walker?

This is a fair question – and certainly pertinent considering the Jaguars just extended defensive end Travon Walker's contract, and considering he was selected No. 1 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft with the Detroit Lions selecting defensive end Aidan Hutchinson No. 2 in that draft. As for your answer … some of it would depend on what I needed. If I needed a great all-around player around which to build a franchise for the long-term, I probably would select Walker – an opinion that's admittedly biased because I know Walker and do not know Hutchinson. If I just needed pass rush and sacks for the short-term, I probably would select Hutchinson – and because the league is so sack/centric, I expect many would do the same. Bottom line: Both are elite players worthy of long-term contracts. I see Walker as a long-term, foundation piece of the franchise – and I can easily envision him playing at an elite, foundation-piece level for more than a decade. I think of players such as former Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward, players who didn't lead the NFL in sacks – but who were All-Pro level players for a decade or more. In that sense, I'm probably leaning Walker. As for who I would select if I were building the defense for a year, Walker or Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen … though I'm glad I don't have to make this choice, I've said for some time I believe Walker is the best overall player on the Jaguars' defense. I therefore would lean toward Walker, by a nose.

Peter from Jacksonville

Are the Jaguars done trading?

I expect Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone to always be willing to trade if the situation calls for it. I will be very surprised if he doesn't trade in some capacity in the 2026 NFL Draft, though it's impossible to predict such a move until the draft is underway. I also wouldn't be surprised if Gladstone trades for a veteran – or two – between now the regular season.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

I'd just like to take a trip down memory lane for a second. Last season was incredible.

Life comes at you fast in the NFL, and teams that delay looking to the future when one season ends risk being unprepared for the next season. Fans follow suit because they understandably get caught up in the NFL's forward-looking, 24-7 news cycle. We therefore spent little time looking back on the Jaguars' 2025 season in these parts. But considering they won the first AFC South title in four seasons, won the second-most games in franchise history, won eight consecutive regular-season games to end the season, and did so with quarterback Trevor Lawrence playing as well as just about any quarterback in the NFL … yeah, pretty incredible stuff.

Bill from Downtown

John, I am not a selfish person, but I must admit, this question has crossed my mind a number of times of late. What if the Jaguars take the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the 2027 season and win the AFC Championship Game? That would be somewhat bittersweet. I guess the answer is to make sure I have my season tickets.

It's true that it would be cool for the Jaguars, their fans and anyone else involved if they were to be successful – and make the Super Bowl – playing home games in Jacksonville. I don't know if it's true that it would be bittersweet. Making the Super Bowl, and winning it, is cool on a level that transcends place.

Bradley from Death Valley, CA

The question isn't whether you have an office or not, it's whether they make you store the big ribbon- cutting scissors in your office.

I think the first question is kind of the question.

Michael from Orange Park, FL

Are we ever going to talk draft? It's about time, right? Seriously, who we got at 56?

I suppose it is about time to talk about the Jaguars and the 2026 NFL Draft, though the relative silence among O-Zone readers on the topic is more than understandable. This is a franchise, after all, that has had at least one first-round selection in its first 31 drafts. Not only doesn't it have a first-rounder in this year's draft, its first selection isn't until 24 selections into Round 2 – No. 56 overall. When your first selection is that deep in Round 2, you're not listed in a lot of mock drafts – and you're therefore not a major topic in many pre-draft discussions. Who do the Jaguars "got" there? Let's go with an outside linebacker. Maybe Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech. That's probably a decent guess. It is only a guess.

Pedal Bin from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK

Oh Mighty 'O' / King of all Funk, a word of warning about Josh from Alanta. I would tread carefully about his questions over the air speed of an unladen swallow (African or European) as he turned me into a newt! (I got better though.)

That's no ordinary rabbit.

Pookie from Panda City

I talked to my dad (AI) and he told me that, after Walker's recent signing, at $55.75 million annual average value the Jaguars are the second-highest team in the entire league when it comes to money invested in a starting defensive end duo. Pittsburgh is very close at No. 1 with $58 million, and you could even make the argument that they primarily play a 3-4 scheme, so it's not quite apples to apples. The Jags have a LOT invested in Hines-Allen and Walker. So, to my questions: 1) Given the stats of those two men, if one of our division rivals had Hines-Allen and Walker on THEIR roster, would we really fear for Lawrence's safety on the field at least twice a year for the foreseeable future? And 2) Wouldn't most observers here be laughing at a division rival if they had that much investment in defensive ends that don't get to the quarterback? I mean, goodness gracious … imagine what the cost-per-sack must be for those two guys if you were going to dig deeper in a conversation with my dad.

I don't know what makes Jaguars observers laugh. I do know the Jaguars' opponents would be a lot less scared playing them without Walker and Allen than with.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

I know the answer is very, but just how expensive would a move from No. 56 to somewhere between 28 or so and 32 be?

I expect it will take at least the No. 56 overall selection and two more third-to-fourth-round selections to move up into the bottom of Round 1. Maybe more. That doesn't mean there's no way the Jaguars will try to do it. It's just going to be very difficult.

Chris from Mandarin

Hey, buddy. Your jokes might not always land, but at least you try. Good for you.

I am the king of all funk.