JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Jason from Norfolk, VA
What is your feeling on Montaric Brown? I imagined that the Jags were going to make an effort to keep him. As we are now on the brink of free agency, that seems like a long shot. I know the team likes him and wants to keep him. Is he outside the Jags' price range to be able to keep?
The Jaguars have agreed to terms to re-sign Brown, which was a big offseason move for the Jaguars as Wednesday's start of the 2026 NFL League Year approaches. A seventh-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Brown improved steadily in four seasons and emerged as a very solid starting corner this past season – and he undoubtedly was going to draw big interest on the free-agent market when the NFL's negotiating period opened Monday at noon. He started 12 games in 2025 with two interceptions and a team-high 12 passes defensed – and he absolutely fit in well with defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and this Jaguars defense. Retaining him stabilizes the secondary and gives the Jaguars starting level players all across the defensive backfield – and really at all positions on the defense except perhaps weak-side linebacker. The Jaguars likely will be losing some players in the coming days, which will draw ire from fans, but retaining Brown is significant and important – and a move that this team absolutely wanted to happen. This is obviously a big moment for Brown, too – and a deserved one. It's the money-making time in his career and he made it. He's a good kid who earned it. Good on him.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Woo-hoo. One fer Buster, right?
One fer Montaric "Buster" Brown? Absolutely. Well-earned.
Bill from Jacksonville
The nonchalant nature of the Jaguars' attitude toward ETN and Lloyd is what gets me. We're about to lose these players and they don't seem to care.
I'm not sure what qualifies as "nonchalant" here. It indeed from this view appears that Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. and linebacker Devin Lloyd – and players such as safety Andrew Wingard – will sign with other teams as unrestricted free agents Wednesday. This is understandably upsetting to Jaguars fans. Considering that all these players were key members of the Jaguars last season, and that they therefore have relationships with coaches and staff and teammates, their assumed departure is also upsetting to people in the organization. But players, coaches and staff are also aware that professional football is a business. Emotions are therefore kept to something of a minimum on both sides. How should the team avoid being nonchalant? By going on social media every day with tear emojis? By weeping in front of a camera on a livestream? March is a tough time in the NFL. It sucks that familiar faces will go elsewhere. Emotions are felt even if people don't always see them every day.
Mike from Daytona Beach, FL
Loved your statement that yards allowed per rushing attempt "gives you an idea about how well a defense is getting opponents into difficult down-and-distance situations," which enhances the chances of being good defensively. In 2025, the Jags tied for second best in the NFL by giving up an average of only 3.9 yards per rushing attempt. However, the other side of the coin is that the Jags' offense averaged only 4.0 yards per rushing attempt, which ranked 27th in the league. Two questions come to mind. Especially since Etienne may not return, how can the Jags increase their yards per rushing attempt to close to the league average of 4.3 or better? How dominant would Trevor Lawerence and the offense be if they did?
The Jaguars indeed could have run better in 2025. Getting more consistent – and productive – in the area was a major focus late in the season that they never could quite achieve as much as they wanted. How can the Jaguars improve in this area? By run blocking better, getting into the right play at the line better and reading the play better once the play begins. This is not to say the Jaguars were deficient doing these things in 2025, but that's the path to being better. Your question also suggests that losing Etienne will make improving impossible. I don't know that that's true. While Etienne made many big plays this past season, he's particularly strong running outside and turning solid gains into long runs. He's not quite as good running between the tackles on a down-to-down basis. If Etienne indeed does not re-sign with the Jaguars, is it possible they find a way to improve between the tackles and therefore overall? Of course. How much more dominant can quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the offense be if the Jaguars are more consistent and productive there? A lot.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
The Jaguars had to get under the cap. Have they?
The Jaguars reportedly have restructured multiple contracts to get under the NFL's salary cap by Wednesday's start of the league year, with veteran players restructuring their deals – including safety Eric Murray, guard Patrick Mekari and cornerback Jourdan Lewis. This is the common way to maneuver the cap, and the Jaguars did so in recent days. They now reportedly have about $6.9 million in cap space according to Spotrac. They also have the option of restructuring more contracts in the coming days if needed. Stay tuned.
Jaypee from The Vortex
Would you mind explaining trade evaluations in regards to draft picks? How do they determine if a player is worth a first or a second and a sixth? Is there an excel spreadsheet that sorts where players are ranked at their position and what drafts picks they are worth?
There's no universal excel spreadsheet circulated among NFL teams that ranks players or determines trade value. Teams determine value based on how they feel about the player and what other teams will offer for the player. Teams then determine if what is being offered to them is worth what they want to relinquish. Trades are pretty capitalistic that way.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
If Etienne, Lloyd, or both (arguably the top offensive and defensive playmakers from the 2025 team that was 13-4), put together four more similar seasons (on average), would they be worth what they are asking on four-year contracts?
Sure, probably.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX
KOAF: When discussing favorite tennis players, I will always have a soft spot for Michael Chang. Small in stature but full of heart, he showed that hard work and a little luck can overcome physical limitations.
Michael Chang indeed was a unique player. He was part of a very good group of American players in his era, a group that included Jim Courier, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras – and Chang unquestionably was the least physically imposing of that group. This prevented him from having the "weapons" needed to be a consistent major champion while the other aforementioned Americans in the era all won multiple majors. But Chang's speed, work ethic and desire enabled him to routinely push the top players and enabled him to win his lone major, the 1989 French Open, at age 17. I don't know how much luck had to do with Chang's success, but he darned sure worked his way to maximizing his career.
Jerry from Jacksonville
I keep seeing reports that the Jaguars are in on Jalen Carter? True?
There indeed was at least one report over the weekend that the Jaguars had expressed interest in trading for Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter. There are many reports and many teams with reported interest in many players. It's the final few days before the league year opens. Buckle up.
John from Jacksonville
The Jaguars' gameday staff will suffer some loss of income in 2026. I was curious if they will completely lose out in 2027 when the Jaguars play at another stadium, so I did a some investigative reporting. My source has worked for the stadium for years and I consider her pretty reliable (her husband is a minister). The staff will have first right of refusal so will be able to work gamedays if they so choose. The Jaguars will even bus them to the location. Good for them. Is that all Mark Lamping or is Tony Boselli part of that decision as well?
Jaguars President Mark Lamping generally oversees all business aspects of the organization including game-day operations, so that's perhaps a little more of a Lamping thing than a Boselli thing. But the two areas work in lockstep for the most part, so it's perhaps accurate to call this one a Jaguars thing.
JAY from THE BURG FL.
Alright. We developed and played rookies, endured injuries, navigated slumps, stayed fresh and unpredictable on offense and defense. And above all else Trevor stayed healthy and available. Now we have to turn the page and get better. Here we go one day at a time.
Here we go.
