JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Steve from Jacksonville
Mr. Oehser, will adding more tight ends mean the run game is going to be the main focus?
Not necessarily. The Jaguars selected tight end Nate Boerkircher in Round 2 and tight end Tanner Koziol in Round 5 in the 2026 NFL Draft with the idea of playing more "12 and 13 Personnel" – multiple tight-end – packages moving forward. That has become the story of the Jaguars' 2026 offseason and figures to be a major story entering training camp and the regular season. Leaning further into 12 and 13 Personnel means having the option to throw to tight ends if the matchup favors that approach and it also means having the option to run behind those bigger sets if the matchup favors that approach. Make no mistake: The Jaguars want to run better – more consistently – next season than they did in 2025, but that was going to be the case however many tight ends they added this offseason.
Anita from Springfield
What will the capacity be of the new stadium, and how does that compare to other stadiums? Winning is key, but will it be conducive to being one of those "feared" places to visit like Seattle or Kansas City?
Projected capacity of the Stadium of the Future is 62,000-to-63,000, which would be among the two or three smallest NFL stadiums. It will be conducive to being a feared place to play if it is full and if the home team is contending, which is the formula for most feared NFL stadiums.
JAY from THE BURG, FL
I can't say I know a lot about Nate Boerkircher – or any of the draft picks for that matter. They were a number on a board maybe. I can't say I have ever seen any of them play. I can't say I knew who defensive end B.J. Green or tight end Quintin Morris were, either. But I know who they are now. When players start banging into each other, some belong and some don't. If you are one of 48 Jaguars on game day. The NFL has a way of sorting that out.
Yep.
Joe from Homer Glen, IL
Zone, I saw a quote attributed to Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen about the running back position being "wide open" in terms of the depth chart. The article I read said something to the effect of "when the Jaguars eventually have to create/submit a depth chart...". Now, I am not overly concerned about what the depth chart looks like in late May, but it did spark a question: Are depth charts published by team required? If so, why? Who would mandatory published depth charts benefit? Media, or other teams?
NFL teams must produce a depth chart in their weekly press release during the season. They are not required in the offseason. A depth chart benefits the media – and by extension, the fans.
Travis from High Springs
It seems the Jaguars' draft was about getting more physical and being able to close out games running the ball. With that being said, do you believe the Jaguars have a lead running back at this point? And if so, who would say is that guy? Last year it seemed Travis Etienne Jr. handled most of the running back touches. Do you see a back on the roster stepping into that role? And if so, will it be earned in training camp or do you believe there is a guy whose job is to lose?
I expect Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and LeQuint Allen Jr. to share carries in 2026 more than was the case with Etienne and Tuten last season. I expect we will get a better idea about the specifics of this topic during 2026 Training Camp.
Paul from Saint Augustine, FL
Saw an interview with Liam Coen in which he was talking about Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence's improvement as the season went on. One line that stuck out to me was "Figuring out who your quarterback is takes time." There have been times where it has seemed from my viewpoint that the coaches were trying to make Trevor be someone he wasn't. As the season went on, it felt like this coaching staff really figured out who Trevor is as a passer, runner and leader. During the last third or so of the season, he seemed loose, confident and firmly in control. Here's to hoping Coen and company can take that up another notch this year.
Here's to it.
Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville
I recall hearing not long ago a 2025 Jaguar team statistic stating they began more offensive drives on or across their opponents' 50-yard lines. I believe they were in first place in this statistic and by a lot. I had a difficult time verifying this statistic online but, if verifiable, what do you make of this statistic and what do you think it might portend for the upcoming season.
I don't know how to find this particular statistic and verifying it would take more effort than I am remotely willing to give. The Jaguars did have the best average starting field position in the NFL in 2025 – their own 32.8-yard line – but that was only 2.1 yards better than the league average of 30.7, so it's hard to argue that field position dictated the Jaguars' success.
Ed from Jacksonville
Just a quick comment. Was in Bordeaux, France last week in a Jags shirt and all of a sudden a guy sees my shirt and gives me a Duuvallll … probably a mid-20s guy, tells me he lives in Wisconsin but has always been a Jags fan and was excited to see a Jags fan! So I guess he was a Bordeaux via Wisconsin fan!
Cool beans.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
Hey, John. Parker Hughes is a good story. Born and raised in the Volunteer State, where he won the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award in 2020. He walked on at Middle Tennessee State University and earned a scholarship and became a team captain. Now he is in the Sunshine State competing for a spot on the Jags' defense. Is 6-feet-1 and 228 pounds big enough for an NFL linebacker and where does Hughes fit in a crowded linebacker room? Go Jags!
Hughes, selected in Round 7 of the 2026 NFL Draft, is big enough for the role the Jaguars want him to play. How does he fit into the linebacker crowded room? By earning his way into a backup and special teams role. That's how most late-drafted linebackers fit.
Daniel from Madrid
Hi, John. Since the guys in your department are still collecting paychecks for less work in the offseason could you add to your answers of best players for each number small info at what they are doing now, would be entertaining to see who is still associated with the game. Thank you!
The "supporting cast" works hard enough on a year-round basis that they don't need to add to their workload to supplement O-Zone answers to earn their paychecks. That leaves me to decide whether to put in the extra work to provide this service. It is not a difficult decision.
Limo Bob from Neptune Beach
Do you see any Jaguars being moved after June 1?
The "June 1" deadline is important in the NFL because releasing or trading a player after the date allows teams to split the player's dead money over two league years rather than one. That can help greatly in salary-cap machinations. But teams are no longer as tied to that date as once was the case because the NFL now allows teams to release two players per offseason with "post-June 1" designations, with the accounting in such cases taking place on June 1. I don't expect the Jaguars to release any players with this designation, but stay tuned.
Jordan from Lincoln, NE
No. 30 comes down to James Robinson and Montaric Brown. I'd be willing to bet Robinson would win a fan vote but I'm going with Brown on this one!
Possibilities for the best player to wear No. 30 for the Jaguars include cornerback Montaric Brown (2022-2026), running back Corey Grant (2016-2018), running back James Robinson (2020-2021) and running back Jordan Todman (2012-2014). Advantage: Brown.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX
KOAF: As a person who makes his living using words to describe events, keep people interested, show off your intellect and add a little much needed levity … did you have any interest in the 2026 Scripps Spelling Bee on Thursday or to the Spelling Bee in general? Say what you want, but to see the competition come down to a spell off of who can spell the most words in 90 seconds (winner has 32) is one of the most impressive mental feats next to speed chess. Do you have any words from the Spelling Bee that you want to try out here in the O-Zone?
Not perticularly.
