JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Jaypee from The Vortex
When do you think the Jags will start signing free agents? The suspense is killing me.
Your enthusiastic anxiety, while understandable given the excitement around the Jaguars after their 2025 AFC South Championship season, is perhaps a bit premature. The Jaguars, like all other teams, can negotiate with unrestricted free agents from other teams March 9-11 and they can sign UFAs from other teams on March 11 at 4 p.m. – the start of the NFL's 2026 League Year. They can negotiate with and re-sign their own UFAs at any time, but I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for news on that front until far closer to mid-to-early March. Remember, too: A UFA is a player with four NFL seasons whose contract expires at the end of a league year. A four-year veteran released from a contract before that is a free agent (as opposed to UFA) and can sign with any team at any time.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
John, one thing I haven't seen is the possibility of tagging Lloyd and ETN. What do you think?
The window for teams applying the franchise or transition tag to pending unrestricted free agents opens Wednesday, February 18. I do not at this point expect the Jaguars to use either tag on linebacker Devin Lloyd or running back Travis Etienne Jr. I expect both will become unrestricted free agents. My expectations aren't always correct. Stay tuned.
Todd and Summerville
What is "dad cap money"? I want some.
As do we all.
Howard from Homestead, FL
It has been reported that although Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold earned $178,000 for winning the Super Bowl, he has to pay an estimated $249,000 in California taxes for the eight "duty days" he spent in the state, resulting in a net loss of $71,000. I get that players make a lot of money, but no one should be financially penalized for winning the Super Bowl. Do you see the league addressing this in the offseason?
Darnold's issue – while expensive and silly and unfair – is a California state tax issue, not an NFL issue.
Reese From Loyal Jaguar Fan in Va
Are we still talking about this past Super Bowl? Old news Go Jags!!!
Onward.
Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL
If the Jaguars want to re-sign Lloyd, Etienne and make a big splash in free agency they can. The salary cap is real, but teams have become good at manipulating it to make room year-to-year. The question is, what type of general manager is James Gladstone? Will he stay disciplined and not overspend at the cost of losing some key players? Or, will he go "all in" and worry about the high price that may have to be paid in future years?
You're right that the Jaguars in theory could re-sign Lloyd and Etienne this offseason – and they could make a "big splash" in free agency. The question is whether such moves are necessary, wise and in the best interest of the Jaguars winning long-term. What type of general manager is Gladstone? The type that will make moves that are necessary, wise and in the best interest of the Jaguars winning long-term.
Bradley from Death Valley, California
Doesn't the potential of prospective replacements for an Etienne or a Lloyd play a huge factor in whether the Jags are forced to overpay for these solid veterans?
The biggest factor in deciding whether to pay most pending free agents – Etienne and Lloyd included – is whether the price to be paid is worth the production that will be received.
Dave from Jacksonville via Miami and Tallahassee and Rochester NY
Super Bowl, officiating and the draft. "So What? Now what?" Offseason impatience and hometown discounts maybe?
Stay tuned.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
I've always thought Jimmy Smith was more deserving of the Hall than Taylor. The guy had nothing but bad luck for years after being the 36th overall pick in 1992. He really didn't get started in his career until 27 years of age. Had he been healthy in his early years, he easily could be the second- or third-leading receiver of all time. I'm sure there have been very few receivers that have more production after turning 27. One fer Lightning?
Former Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith had a stunningly good career, particularly considering the circumstances you cite – and he indeed is more overlooked than former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor when it comes to being considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a second-round selection by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1992 NFL Draft – and mostly because of health issues, he caught no passes from 1992-1994 before catching 22 passes for 288 yards in his first Jaguars season in 1995. That's a huge swath of a career wiped out before it began. He then turned in nine 1,000-yard seasons in a 10-year span from 1996-2005 with the lone exception an 805-yard season in 2003 when he played just 12 games. He absolutely is deserving of the Hall of Fame. One fer Lightning? Absolutely.
Chris from Mandarin
Fred Taylor had 48 50-plus-yard runs, not 14.
No, he didn't.
Stephen from Sec 113 from Jacksonville vi Pennsauken NJ
John. Before we get to the Dead Zone, we have a few big "events" coming up (free agency, the draft and the schedule release). I look most forward to the schedule release because that affects me directly. Is there a road game worth a road trip? How many late-night home games do we get and so forth. The other events don't directly affect me since the Big Three will pick up guys in free agency and the draft and I just get to watch them come September. So, here is my question for you regarding the schedule. Will we get the Thanksgiving game in Dallas and who will be our "home" game opponent in London.
Those who guess the NFL's schedule do so at their own peril – and that often includes those who claim to be "close" to the situation. This is why so many people who tweet "inside" information up to the moment of the schedule release often get very quiet in the hours and days immediately thereafter. It's one of the best-kept secrets in sports these days. I expect the Jaguars will have a chance at playing in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day in 2026, but there's no guarantee. As for the London home opponent, it's very much to be determined. Stay tuned.
Jadon from Raleigh, NC
Would've been hilarious if Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinksi withdrew from the Cleveland Browns job and confirmed he's staying in Jacksonville, then promptly after the Browns fire General Manager Andrew Berry and Udinski conducts a secret meeting to become the Browns next head coach. Promptly taking them to new heights. Hollywood material.
Would it? Is it?
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, so if the Jags can build a dominant defense, they'll take the points?
There are no "always" and "never" when it comes to these sorts of questions. I expect Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen always will lean toward being aggressive in fourth- and-short-yardage situations. I expect he and any coach will be more inclined to play field position with field goals the better and more dominant the defense.
Scott from Gilbert, AZ
Zone, As much as we love what "Buster" Brown does at corner in Camp's scheme, I'm not sure he will be considered a break-the-bank free-agent upgrade elsewhere making a return very realistic after a couple cap casualties, like cutting or possibly getting a late round pick for Walker Little who teams might view as a one-year stop gap LT. With Montaric and a healthy Travis at corner along with Chris Braswell and a later round CB for depth we'd be fine there, the additional roster spot Hunter creates with his ability to play WR in four receiver sets will allow for an Oakland A's "Money Ball" type approach to filling Lloyd's departure based on down and distance, leaving seven day-three picks to package with four top-100 selections to target a penetrating D-Tackle, designated pass rusher, TE2, swing tackle and stud running back to help young Bayshul carry the load on first and second down would again make us a damn formidable opponent. Who knows, maybe "Genius" Jimmy Gladstone can find another day-three Puka Nacua and make us even more of a nightmare to defend on that side of the ball as well...?!
What?
Yeti Daddy from Somewhere and Yet nowhere
OK "O" Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Lainey Wilson, and the Culligan Girl knock on your door to watch the draft with you … who you letting in first? And do you require an entrance fee, chips and dip, beverages, etc?
I wouldn't know who to let in first because I wouldn't recognize anyone nor would I know what you are talking about. But I absolutely would require an entrance fee. If you ain't payin', O-Zone ain't playin'.
