JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Fred from Naples, FL

Does the signing of Jake Bobo spell the end of Tim Jones' tenure here in Jacksonville? I understand he is an outstanding special-teams player, which we need now to replace Dewey Wingard. Is there a chance he sees spot duty as a wideout?

The Jaguars this past Friday reportedly signed Seattle Seahawks restricted free agent wide receiver Jake Bobo to an offer, with the Seahawks having five days from the day the signing became official to match the offer. If the Seahawks indeed match the offer – a reported $5.5 million for two seasons with $4.5 guaranteed – they will retain Bobo. If not, Bobo will join the Jaguars. Bobo's signing doesn't automatically mean the end of Jones' tenure. Remember: Jones, who was with the Jaguars from 2021-2024, began last season with the Minnesota Vikings before rejoining the Jaguars and spending most of the season on their practice squad. He's a reliable, steady veteran who can find a way to be around a team as valued depth because of that reliability and special-teams ability. As for Bobo … he wouldn't really replace Wingard, who in fact didn't play special teams last season because he was starting at safety. But he's indeed a front-line special teams player who also has 34 career receptions with three touchdowns. I expect he will play a similar role for the Jaguars offensively if he indeed joins the organization.

Ryan from Apopka, FL

Why don't fans understand that you DO NOT win at the end of the season by winning in March? The Jaguars have a decade of being the "winners"' in March and over that timeframe made it to the playoffs twice. Next, running back and off-the-ball linebacker might be two of the least important positions on a field that a team believes can be easily replaceable – and you can't give outside contracts to. The team already selected and likes the two running backs running backs from the draft last year in Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. – plus the more recent additions. For linebacker, I'd guess it ends up being the biggest camp battle for a starting spot with Miller and probably a rookie or two going for that spot. And as you have stated, with a better secondary and defensive line you won't notice a dropoff there either.

Running back Travis Etienne Jr. (New Orleans Saints) and linebacker Devin Lloyd (Carolina Panthers) departing as unrestricted free agents earlier this month were necessary moves at this stage of the Jaguars' roster development. They were good, popular players whose Jaguars contributions should and will be remembered fondly. Good teams get good plays from good players. But they were not foundation-level players, nor are they irreplaceable. That's not a criticism of the two players. It's simply an acknowledgment that the two players played positions that good teams replace without significant drop off. Maybe the Jaguars will do that. Maybe they won't. But it's what they must do and there's no reason to believe it won't happen.

Josh from So Cal/Rancho Cucamonga

So, just saying, John, a fiddle didn't exist when Nero did (it was invented like 1,000 years later), and history says he wasn't even near the fire. Just saying maybe things might turn out just fine …

When in doubt, blame it on Nero. Or the senior writer.

Matt from Pace, FL

Yo, Zone! I remember thinking over the last few drafts "Man, we've been picking a decent amount of linebackers." Such as Devin Lloyd, Ventrell Miller and Jack Kiser. This year, there is a lot of talk about linebackers because we lost Lloyd. My question is, isn't this the point of draft and development? I get that not every pick is going to be a future starter, but wouldn't this be the time for Miller, Kiser, etc to step up and show us what they've got?

The Jaguars indeed have selected multiple linebackers in recent drafts. This is not unusual because teams like having depth at linebacker in part because linebackers – like defensive backs – often are also valuable special teams players. This approach for the Jaguars means significant depth and competition with players such as Miller, Kiser, Jalen McLeod and Branson Combs. It's possible the Jaguars already have Lloyd's replacement there. But the 2026 NFL Draft is considered talented and deep at off-ball linebacker, and it's entirely possible the Jaguars could focus on that position very early on Day 2.

Ray from Newport News, VA

Ozone, geek-ing out on stats (numbers) again. It's what I do. Assuming Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence stays healthy and continues to play at or close to his recent level of play, he will take over as the passing leader for Jaguars within two years. Moving on to wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., here's to hoping he has a bounce-back year (over 1,000 yards), but if he has another year similar to last year (700-800 yards, which may not be a bad thing if we have so many potential weapons making plays), he will be very close to being in the Top 5 for Jaguars receiving yards. Currently sitting in fourth place for receiving yards is former Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew at just under 2,900 receiving yards. Just goes to show you the Jaguars have not really had a multiyear receiving threat for a long time. Tight end Marcedes Lewis is our third-leading receiver and he left the Jaguars after the 2017 season.

Wide receivers Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell formed the best wide-receiver tandem in Jaguars history – and one of the best wide-receiver tandems in league history. The current group of Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington and Brian Thomas Jr. – along with tight end Brenton Strange – is very balanced and appears to have a chance to be very good for a while. With the exception of 2022, when wide receivers Zay Jones, Marvin Jones, Christian Kirk and tight Evan Engram were really good, most Jaguars receiver/tight end positions were not on par with the present and distant past. This current group was increasingly impressive as last season continued. Having it continue on that trajectory will be critical for this team next season.

Kenneth from Jacksonville

Is it football season yet?

No.

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John, recently Gladstone said this about the draft, "The best way to think about that is, right now, what we have structured is we don't have to necessarily pick based on need at any specific spot". Sounds like he is leaning towards Best Available Player? Having said that still any thoughts on our top positional need? Have to believe the Jags are still targeting some specific positions?

Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, like most NFL general managers, wants to lean toward drafting best available player as much as possible. The idea is always to get the roster as strong as possible in free agency so you're not reaching for needs when you're on the clock. The current state of the Jaguars' roster suggests Gladstone will be able to lean pretty far that way late next month. Weakside linebacker and interior defensive tackle stand out as areas where the Jaguars could still focus in the coming weeks and months, particularly pass-rushing defensive tackle.

Jake from Toronto

I don't understand the common view that the Jaguars now have a hole at the linebacker position. If I recall correctly, the final Jaguars depth chart coming into the season had both Lloyd and Miller as alternates. I appreciate that Lloyd ultimately won the job and greatly exceeded expectations this past season. However, if Ventrell had instead won the job in Week 1, I'm not sure anyone at the time would have thought that linebacker was a weak point in the defense. Is this just recency bias or is Ventrell no longer viewed by the coaching staff as the future at the position?

The Jaguars like Miller and he indeed was essentially a co-starter at the beginning of the 2025 season – and beyond. There is little reason to believe there is a huge drop off from Lloyd to Miller., outside perception to the contrary notwithstanding. The Jaguars would be fine if Miller emerges as the starter at the position next season. That in no way precludes them from focusing on the position as early as possible in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Paul from St. Augustine

I have to take issue with the fellow from Orlando. Etienne was a good running back, but our BEST offensive player? He must have been watching a different team than I was. Etienne, over the five years he was on our roster had a couple of good years and a couple of down years. I wish him well in New Orleans, but it's not like we just let Fred Taylor or MJD walk.

Fair.

Tom from Keystone Heights, FL

John. Two of those Stadium Chairs would look nice on my patio??

Refreshing this periodic O-Zone public service reminder: A statement with question marks tacked on the end doth not a question make. It just dothn't.