JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Mike from Outside Duval (Pensacola)

I don't think I have ever really questioned a front office move since 1995, but I am shocked. What is up with running back roster changes?

The Jaguars have made many front-office moves in 32 seasons – thirty-two seasons' worth, to be sort of exact. Some have been shocking. Many have worked. Many haven't. But the front-office moves this offseason at running back aren't from this view remotely shocking. They allowed Travis Etienne Jr. to sign with the New Orleans Saints as an unrestricted free agent and signed Chris Rodriquez Jr. as a restricted free agent from the Washington Commanders – with the belief that Rodriguez's ability to break tackles and be effective on early downs will more than offset Etienne's big-play ability. The Jaguars also this week signed veteran running back Ameer Abdullah and released first-year veteran back Ja'Quinden Jackson, having signed Virginia running back J'mari Taylor as an undrafted free agent. While Etienne was the Jaguars' leading rusher last season, his projected salary-cap figure made re-signing him not make sense. He's a loss, but teams routinely push forward after losing starting running backs. This overall was pretty routine roster turnover/management in the free-agency era, and the Jaguars aren't worried at all about the position.

Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ

Am I the only one that gets tired of the endless creep of greed in the NFL (i.e., second-round picks holding out for higher guarantees)? These men play a game. It's not like they serve in the military protecting freedom.

You're not the only one who tires of this. My experience is many fans and observers feel the same way. People are going to maximize wealth given an opportunity – and considering their short-averaged carers, NFL players absolutely should do this. Draftees hire agents to protect their interests, and agents having their players hold out for higher guarantees is very much in the players' interest. As for the "this-is-just-a-game" argument … we're long since past being able to compare NFL salaries to "real life." It's entertainment and players are in a high-demand industry. People play players exorbitantly to play this sport and that's not changing. Are their jobs as noble as those in the military? Or as teaching? Or being a First Responder? Of course not. You either accept this, put it aside and enjoy the games – or watch something else. That it's. That the choice. The crazy money isn't going away and will only get crazier.

Reeger from Jacksonville

Will the local market for the Jaguars be expanded to include the Orlando market next season to allow all residents in that area to have access to the games via free local airwaves?

To be determined.

Stuart from Cottonwood, AZ

I was watching a deep dive into draft analytics on a program I respect and noticed that one of only a couple of outliers to the norm was our own Brenton Strange. The adjective, as I call him, is exceptional. The football firm of Gladstone, Boselli and Coen obviously believe that Nate Boerkircher is also. Drop the mic!

I have neither the time nor inclination to deep dive every analytic or watch every NFL program, podcast and YouTube with wolverine-like intensity. I therefore don't know every outlier to the norm. I do know Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange is the sort of player around whom good teams are built, and I know the "football firm" of General Manager James Gladstone, Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli and Head Coach Liam Coen feel strongly about rookie tight end Nate Boerkircher. The two are part of a big commitment to the tight end position on the part of the Jaguars. They're serious about this 12 and 13 personnel stuff.

Cannon from Buffalo, SC

Loved the trade for defensive tackle Ruke Ohorhoro and after some serious film breakdown, very excited about the draft pick of defensive tackle Albert Regis. My question is do you think the rumor of trading or releasing Arik Armstead is likely to happen? I understand the salary cap savings and what not, but also believe losing Armstead would not be wise at least for the 2026 season. Would love to hear your take...

I expect defensive tackle Arik Armstead will be with the Jaguars in the 2026 season. The Jaguars also are excited about Regis, at least partly because they performed their own serious film breakdown before selecting him in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Mike from Zaragoza, Spain

How could people not see this draft coming? I thought the whole time this would be a meat-and-potatoes draft – big guys. They were never going to trade up into the first all the way from No. 56. With how much defensive lineman rotate nowadays, you have to constantly bring in players to keep the rotation fresh. The argument about the league moving to 13 Personnel and the run on tight ends explains a lot. This is what winning football looks like in the draft. We are sooooo used to having glaring holes all over the roster we go into the draft looking for someone to save us. We don't need to build a team. This is roster maintenance and this is what winning teams drafts look like. It's a good thing.

You never stop trying to build the team and improve the roster in the NFL. Still, "meat and potatoes" is a good way to describe the Jaguars' 2026 NFL Draft. That's fine. You need meat and potatoes.

Gary from Centerville, OH

When it comes to lights at the stadium, may I remind the other reader (and he knows who he is) that it does rain from time to time requiring the turning on of said lights as it gets dark and gloomy.

The NFL mandates that all stadiums have lights and that they must work regardless of when the games begin. The Jaguars will comply with this mandate in 2026.

Jimsure from DBS

I'm always amazed at how everyone these draft experts are not always right. I remember years ago when a from Michigan was drafted in Round 6 and not highly regarded. As I remember, he didn't do too bad of a job.

The Detroit Lions selected Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and he was not particularly highly-regarded. He did a decent job in his limited opportunity in five NFL seasons, completing three of his five pass attempts. I don't know that this was the best example of the NFL proving draft experts wrong, but you be you.

Stephen from The Jaguar Den

I was recently laid off from my job of 26 years. With all my free time, I was wondering if any senior writer's office needs to be cleaned? I am not good at a lot of things but am good at a couple things … GO JAGS!

I sincerely wish you good luck during this time, but what is an "office?"

Rob from the duuuuuuuuu

I am getting pretty tired of playing @ Bengals. The refs are too hard to defeat in that place.

The Jaguars probably should have beaten the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in Week 2 last season. A very questionable late-game interference call against Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter likely cost them the game. I don't know that that incident makes this an overriding trend that the Jaguars never will be able to overcome.

Zac from Austin, Tejas

I took about a year and a half off of reading O-Zone, and then decided today to pick back up at the draft and catch up. Anyway, that was a lot of McPizza talk.

Yes, it was.

Jadon from Raleigh, NC

Who is the best Jaguars player to wear No. 17 for the team?

Possibilities include wide receivers Arrelious Benn (2016-2017), DJ Chark (2018-2021) and Tim Patrick (2025) and tight end Evan Engram (2022-2024). Seventeen historically speaking is a relatively shallow pool, but Engram made a lot of big catches in a couple of very productive seasons. Nod to Engram.

Scott from Gilbert, AZ

Zone, two of the most important lessons in my life were thinking Mike Mayock was the most brilliant football mind on the planet... you know, until he was held accountable for actually having to make draft decisions, and the Miracle on Ice roster construction being so much more than assembling talent based on the consensus of self-proclaimed experts.

Fair.

Tony from Johns Creek, GA

O, I still own and operate my Kenwood receiver my late father bought me in 1978. He never got to witness Jacksonville being awarded an NFL franchise.

My brother got me Elvis Costello's My Aim is True and the Ramones' Road to Ruin for Christmas in 1978. I may or may not have been listening to a lot of Andy Gibb at the time and I may or may not have worn an Olivia Newton-John Grease T-Shirt to the Christmas Dance. I was 12. I was a little all over the place.