JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Bradley from Death Valley, CA

James Gladstone is on the hot seat? What, the hot seat of meteoric success?

This continues a remarkably silly O-Zone thread entirely without merit and based in delusion – but what are NFL offseason O-Zones about if not remarkably silly threads entirely without merit and based in delusion? General Manager James Gladstone is of course not on a "hot seat" following his first – uber-successful – season with the Jaguars. Quite the opposite, in fact – and I would be stunned if he's on any sort of "hot seat" after the 2026 season or any offseason very soon thereafter. The Jaguars are on the right course, as evidenced by the remarkable turnaround that resulted in a 13-4 AFC South Championship season in 2025. This doesn't mean they will go 13-4 or better next season. It doesn't mean they automatically will win the division next season. But this certainly seems like a team building a foundation and moving in the right direction. Gladstone, Head Coach Liam Coen and Executive Vice President of Football Operations were hired at the same time and are in lockstep. Theirs collectively is the long-term vision for the organization and I expect long term in this case to absolutely mean long term – not short-term hot seats.

Brian from Round Rock, TX

I view things through the lens of a longtime Jaguars fan remembering all those years of talentless teams. How do teams get as talentless as we endured for so many years? Not re-signing your first-round picks who are among your best players and trading away first-round picks raises red flags.

Your concern is understandable. The Jaguars struggled for a long time and lack of talent was a big reason. But there are different ways to end up with little talent. One is to draft and develop poorly. Another is to mismanage the salary cap by spending too big on players at non-premium positions. I don't yet know what the Jaguars will do with linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne Jr. this offseason, but if those two pending unrestricted free agents are not re-signed – and there's every chance that will be the case – it will be with an eye on managing the cap for the long-term future. As for the Jaguars trading a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft to move up to select wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft … yes, that was risky. Without question. It remains risky. Was it worth the risk? Time will tell.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

All right. (Respectfully towards, and not a shot at you) If it's just a matter of executing the play, and that's all that matters, why do we even run the ball? It's not terribly efficient for long-yardage plays. We should just run four verticals every play. Not even all four wide receivers have to beat the coverage, just one. All the offensive line has to do is not get beat. And all quarterback Trevor Lawrence has to do is make the throw. We should score on the first play of every drive. And while we're at it, just zero blitz on defense every play, all the defense has to do is get home. Both limit injury risks, whittling down the number of run plays, too. So, see? Field goals and play callers are stupid.

This seems extreme. I don't think this would work.

Mason from Palm Bay, FL

Did you guys make the trip to Mobile for the Senior Bowl this year? I didn't see any content regarding it on the website. If not, was it due to not having a first-round pick, or do the new decision-makers not see value in attending?

The Jaguars' personnel department attended the recent Senior Bowl, but the key decision-makers did not. We at Jaguars Media did not attend the event and have not attended since 2021. We review whether to attend particularly offseason events each offseason. If the Jaguars' head coach and/or general manager do not attend an offseason event, we at Jaguars Media often also do not attend the event. This is because there's often little we can add to an event's coverage if the team's decision-makers do not attend. Jaguars Media also likely will not attend the NFL Scouting Combine later this month because the team's decision-makers likely will not attend. We will continue covering the team and offseason issues as long has been the case.

James from Salt Lake City, Utah via Jagsonville

Mr. O. Don't say it's silly. There are people that can be bought at any time, And anywhere. Same with a referee. Humans are greedy by nature. You find one who needs money. He definitely can change an outcome of a game of a bad call. If the price is right.

I recently referred to the idea of NFL referees purposely making incorrect calls as silly. My team is on the floor.

Tym from Southside

In light of the recent defensive coordinator hiring for the Titans, was your uncle strictly an Otto? Or could he get after the passer at times? An Uncle "Lotto," if you will.

Former Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley indeed has been hired as the defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans. The "Otto" position – i.e., some sort of hybrid defensive end thing – indeed was a topic when Bradley coached here from 2013-2016. The "Leo" position, if memory serves, also was a thing. Tym made an impressive effort to make a joke about this. I regret not having the energy or inclination to do his effort justice with similar effort.

Greg from Marietta, GA

Since the Jaguars will be playing in a smaller venue this season, and in Orlando in 2027, do you expect the Jags to have multiple international games the next few seasons?

Very possibly.

Michael from Orange Park, FL

Of course the NFL is going to 18 games. Why would he even pretend?

My Scooby Sense – and not my Spidey or Scobee sense – tells me you're referencing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this week saying it's not a given that the league eventually will expand to an 18-game regular season. Goodell said this this week during his annual Super Bowl press conference. I agree with you that the league eventually will move to 18 games. Why would Goodell not say this? Because an 18-game regular-season schedule must be collectively bargained with the NFL Players Association and Goodell saying he assumes the league eventually will go there is premature if the sides haven't yet discussed it officially. The players also may not be incredibly keen on the idea. My thought remains that 18 regular-season games are too many. But I thought 17 regular-season games were too many. I keep waiting for Goodell to text me about my thoughts on these matters. I probably need to make sure he has my correct contact information.

Luke from Jacksonville

Would the stadium construction and possibly lack of lighting impact the Jaguars' ability to host home prime time games in the upcoming season?

No.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

What's crazy is the percentage of replayed plays that you see replayed the first time and with a good angle … do you not virtually know whether or not the call should or is going to stick? There are some that I am like "I just don't freakin' know how they're going to rule." But the vast majority I see a good angle once, and I understand based on the spirit of the rule and knowing how it gets called whether or not it was a catch, or interference. And does the NFL not already have the framework to have all calls reviewed and ruled on already? All the broadcasters seem to have that dude a breath away and are like, "What do you see here, guy?" And he tells everyone what it will, or he thinks it's supposed to be. How often is he like "this is just impossible to call?" Make that guy bear the brunt of it. Why should we have to listen to what he thinks if his projected elevated understanding of the rules can't be used to validate deciding what a call should be? Honestly, they should probably just put me in charge of it. I'll be fair, bro.

I don't expect the NFL will put you in charge of replay. And I don't know that the calls are quiiiite so easy as you believe – particularly pass interference. My experience is most "judgement" calls are 50 percent right, meaning those with a rooting interest in the team the call favors think it's a damned good call and those with a rooting interest the other way talk meanly about the officiating and using words a lot worse than "damn."

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. I'm wondering who the 17 "at large" Pro Football Hall of Fame voters are and when they will be found and captured.

Jim's got jokes.