JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville

A team is on the clock in the second round of the NFL Draft and they have a handful of players they are targeting, each of whom would represent good value at the selection slot – assuming a grading system of whole numbers with one decimal (i.e., 80.2, 85.6, 92.7, etc.). Of these players, one is a tight end with a grade of 83.9, one is an outside cornerback with a grade of 83.8, one is a running back graded at 84.1, another is a pass-rushing defensive tackle at 83.7 and another is a 4-3 defensive end at 83.6. Given this scenario, which of these players would you pick? Which one do you believe the Jaguars should take and which one do you believe the Jaguars actually would select?

The assigned grades in this scenario appear close enough that they likely would be considered to be in the same "cluster," which means need likely would play more heavily in the decision than would be the case if the grades were further apart. Remember: Contrary to those who think of – and try to explain – the concept of "best available player" in a vacuum, players grades in the real world often are not so clearcut. And teams do not list players in the draft from No. 1 to No. 400 then naively believe that there is a significant difference between Players No. 56 and No. 57 on the list. As for your scenario … I will be very surprised if the Jaguars select running back or cornerback in Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft and it's unlikely there will be a quality defensive tackle available at No. 56. I therefore expect the decision in your scenario would come down to tight end and defensive end – and I expect they should/would select defensive end because of positional value. Particularly if he can rush the passer.

Tyler from Palm Coast, FL

Why don't I hear more about Oluokun? How's he doing?

I'm not sure what you want to hear about Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokun. He's under contract and is expected to start next season. He's a very good player. The team loves him. He has been remarkably productive and consistent for four seasons with the Jaguars. I expect he will be productive again next season.

Stephen from The Jaguar Den

I wonder if former Jaguars punter Chris Hanson had a second career as a lumberjack? I know, I know. I need to be nice.

You're right. This was not nice. Not even close.

Brendan from Yulee, FL

Do the visits from top prospects really matter? Are the Jags holding this info close to vest this year?

Pre-draft visits from top prospects, also known as "Top 30" visits, are when prospects visit teams' facilities in the weeks leading to the draft. They matter a lot to some teams. They were once important to the Jaguars. They don't matter to the Jaguars under this decision-making regime, which is why they conduct no such visits.

Kenneth from Jacksonville

Help me, Zone. The NFL Draft is next week. This is usually a time of great anticipation. I read about the draft. I then watch the draft and get excited about the Jaguars' selection. What do I do now?

Your confusion is understandable. The Jaguars, after all, appear likely to enter the 2026 NFL Draft without a first-round selection – the first time in franchise history they have entered a draft in that situation. This is because they traded the selection to the Cleveland Browns in the deal to move up and select wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. What to do with the Jaguars not having a first-round selection. Watch the draft and realize that for the first time in a long time the draft isn't close to the most important – or coolest – thing going on around the Jaguars. That's fun, right?

J.Hooks from Mandarin

Yo, Zone! Let's pretend the Jags keep all their picks as they are currently slotted. What would you estimate the cost for this year's draft class, or is that too muth mathin' to math?

Since we're pretending, I'll answer by pretending the Jaguars sign their 11 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft to contracts worth about four percent more than the players selected in those spots signed last year. That projects to the 11 selections all signing four-year contracts worth about $60 million total and about $15 million in the first season. -ish. Since we're pretending.

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. I was checking out the schedule for the Jags this season. I was thinking it was looking tough. We have away games at Denver and Chicago, and a home game against Philadelphia. We have six games against our AFC South rivals, which are always unpredictable. We play teams from the NFC East and AFC North divisions, including games against the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals. But supposedly our Strength of Schedule ranking is the ninth easiest at 49 percent based on the combined winning percentage of our upcoming opponents? Go figure? However, you have schooled us to the fact that we should be cautious and not read too much into scrutinizing the schedule until multiple games into the season to see how teams are generally performing. I also noticed there really is very little difference between the toughest schedule at 54 percent and the easiest 43 percent. More credence to your caution. Can we assume this is deliberate on the part of the NFL determining the yearly schedules?

The NFL determines its schedule based on rotation, with all teams playing six games against teams from its division, four games against teams from a division in the other conference and four games against teams from a division from the team's own conference. Teams also play three games against teams from various divisions that finished in the same slot – first, second, third or fourth – that they finished the previous season. The formulaic nature of the schedule indeed minimizes the difference between difficulty because all teams play at least three division champions from the previous season and all teams play at least three last-place teams from the previous season – and all points in between. Is this deliberate? Yes – at least in the sense that the league always strives for balance and some version of parity. But you're correct that one of the biggest offseason time wastes from this view is figuring out strength of schedule for the following season. The NFL is a week-to-week, year-to-year league. You just don't know what teams will be strong or weak until four or five games into the season. Remember: This time last offseason, teams playing the New England Patriots and Jaguars probably thought those were "easy" games. Life comes at you fast in professional football.

Michael from Orange Park, FL

Was that you I saw that time at that place?

Yes. I'm there all the time.

Mike from NEPTUNE BEACH, FL

There is a lot of angst about the Jaguars not having a first-round draft pick this year. I know fans are going to fan but couldn't the people who need to convince themselves that the Jags are going to be OK consider Hunter's return from injury as our starting corner our first-round draft pick this year? After all, he only played about 35 percent of the defensive snaps last season before getting hurt.

Sure, fans could consider Hunter's return a first-round selection for the 2026 season. That would be an optimistic, positive way to see it. My experience is fans don't usually view things that way. Fans instead fan. It's what they do.

Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL

How many paychecks does Bucky get?

Too many for too much to count.

Jadon from Raleigh, NC

Who is the best player to wear No. 3 for the Jags in Jaguars history?

Players who might be considered in this question: Quarterback C.J. Beathard (2021-2024), cornerback Tyson Campbell (2024-2025), wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, punter Brad Nortman and punter Adam Podlesh. Let's go Meyers, because I'll assume his level isn't going to drop from the second half of the 2025 season.

Chris from Mandarin

Curious how long you can keep this thread going. Who is the best player in Jaguars history to wear No. 3?

Stay in your lane, Chris.

Pigskin Pete Hegseth from Washington, DC

Back in the day, Magic Johnson would spend his offseason with a new area of focus. For example, one year he worked on low post moves, another offseason he worked on only using his left hand. Wouldn't Trevor Lawrence benefit with working with a running coach? Blake Bortles had his issues, but he knew how to run without tripping on his own shoes.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence scored nine rushing touchdowns in 2025. The only NFL quarterback with more in 2025 was Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Maybe all those NFL quarterbacks not named Josh Allen should hire Lawrence as their running coach.