JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Reese from Loyal Jaguar Fan in VA
I do enjoy a good story, especially a good Jacksonville Jaguars one. What do you think will be the most important step going forward? Go Jags!!!
The Jaguars' most important step from this view is the next step. The coming months and season are crucial to the organization because it will give us an idea of whether the remarkable 2025 season was the beginning of something or a blip. The '25 Jaguars season by any measure was one of the most successful in franchise history. A 13-4 record that marked the second-most victories in franchise history. An AFC South title that marked the fifth division title in franchise history. Eight consecutive victories to end the regular season. An incredibly optimistic feeling about the future. The Jaguars accomplished these things with a head coach in Liam Coen who appears to be one of the NFL's top young leaders and play-callers. They also accomplished it with a quarterback in Trevor Lawrence who appears to have ascended into one of the NFL's best players at his position – and one of the league's best players regardless of position. What happened in 2025 feels sustainable – more sustainable, perhaps, than any success this team has had since the late 1990s when it made four consecutive postseasons. But all that is appearances and feelings – and while really cool, those things aren't real. Success can be very short-lived in the NFL. Sustaining it is much harder than accomplishing it for the first time. The Jaguars were a winning team in 2025, but there are places they must improve. Pass rush. Run offense. Big plays allowed in the secondary. And more. And Lawrence must continue to ascend. How the Jaguars play in 2025, when there are high expectations, will determine whether this is a team that can win consistently as opposed to a team that wins temporarily and fades too quickly. This team has been the latter too often in the last 25 seasons. It's time for sustainability.
Phil from Nome, AK
Are the Jaguars required by league rules to provide seats to visiting teams?
Yes. NFL teams under league rules must provide at least 300 tickets to opposing teams, with those tickets designated as available to purchase. The total was once 500, but it has been reduced in recent years. Visiting teams with a greater need for tickets can seek "special consideration" shortly after the league announces the schedule in mid-May. Each player has the ability to purchase two tickets from this allotment. If a team is not using its allotment, it must return unused tickets five days before the game – with the home team then able to sell those tickets.
Sean from Jacksonville
What are the Jaguars' biggest needs entering the draft?
Linebacker, defensive tackle, good players. Not necessarily in that order.
Jake from Toronto, Canada
There are a number of reports out that suggest that Travis Hunter will assume a full-time role on defense with a part-time role on offense. The reason for the speculation appears to be largely driven by the roster – i.e., Jaguars having three established receivers and only one established cornerback. If Hunter plays disproportionately on the defensive side, what is the likelihood that this is due to the composition of the roster rather than maximizing Hunter's skillset? If the former, is that not a little short-sighted? If that's not the case, has Jaguars management lowered their expectations of Hunter as an offensive contributor? I'm no scout, but even my layman eyes could tell that Hunter (when he did flash) was the most electric player on the entire offence last year.
A few thoughts on these thoughts and questions. One is that the reason there are "reports out" about Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter playing full-time on defense is largely because Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone indicated as much during his first postseason media availability in mid-January. Another reason is that Hunter is clearly a high-end corner – and already playing that way as a rookie last season – while he must continue to develop as a wide receiver. A major issue with the "Hunter discussion" this offseason continues to be that people doing the discussing crave an end-all answer Right Now about his role when the reality is this is still a developing story. Every indication is that Hunter indeed will be a "full-time corner." What seems more of a question is his offensive role. The fact that there is a question doesn't mean lower expectations. It simply means we don't yet know. I expect the Jaguars will seek – and find – a role that maximizes their chances of succeeding offensively and defensively. I expect that will be "starting" corner and fitting in offensively in a way to make an already high-functioning unit even better. Is that not OK?
Chris from Jacksonville
You mentioned drafting a running back as a possibility. Didn't the Jaguars sign Chris Rodriguez Jr. for a reason?
The Jaguars did sign Rodriguez as an unrestricted free agent from the Washington Commanders for a reason. He's a tackle-breaking runner who has a knack for getting the more from a run than seems likely. The Jaguars also have running back Bhayshul Tuten, who has some special breakaway speed. LeQuint Allen Jr. gives them a quality, versatile third-down back with big-time pass-blocking. None of that precludes the Jaguars from selecting a running back in the 2026 NFL Draft if the value is right. It's a position where a lot of players can contribute – and in Coen's offense, they often do.
David from Orange Park, FL
Go Jags.
OK.
Jadon from Raleigh, NC
Who is the best player to wear No. 1 for the Jags in Jaguars history?
Only two players have worn No. 1 for the Jaguars for anything close to an extended period: Kicker Mike Hollis (1995-2001) and running back Travis Etienne Jr. (2021-2025). Hollis is the second-leading scorer in franchise history behind kicker Josh Scobee and was a key player – with a lot of big kicks – on some of the best teams in franchise history. Etienne, the No. 25 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, rushed for more than 1,000 yards in three of four healthy seasons and also turned in some of the biggest/most memorable plays in franchise history. This is tough. I suppose I would lean Etienne, but I would do so worrying that recency bias was playing a really big role.
Peter from Duplek, Slovenia
What happened to the Culligan Girl?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Scott from Gilbert, AZ
Zone, with contracts for both Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton expiring after this season, do the Jags draft two defensive tackles? I know they re-signed Matt Dickerson to a placeholder contract, and it's too early to quit on Maason Smith, but my gut is telling me they will let both Armstead and Hamilton pursue free agency in 2027. With 11 picks, it might be prudent to grab a second defensive tackle on Day Three and give him a year to better develop his craft as a practice squad guy against NFL offensive linemen rather than have to force a high pick next April with an expectation for immediate contribution as a rookie. Recognizing how difficult it is to find D-Tackles that can rush the passer, and how expensive they are in free agency as the result, with additional picks this year, I for one like the idea of maybe taking a late-round flier on a 290-pound guy who can slip blocks with a great first step, but maybe doesn't have enough bulk or strength to also get it done against the run just yet.
Your reasoning is sound in theory, and defensive tackle from this view ranks high on the list of areas the Jaguars must figure out – and continue to figure out – moving forward. I will be surprised if veteran defensive tackle Arik Armstead is on the Jaguars' roster in 2027. I will be a lot less surprised if nose tackle DaVon Hamilton is on the roster in '27. That's because Hamilton may have been the most underrated player on the roster last season – and he was a major reason the defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL against the run. Even if Hamilton returns in 2027, it's a tricky position because the Jaguars need better disruption from the middle of the defense. My sense is the Jaguars would love to address the position heavily in the 2026 NFL Draft. The challenge here is it's considered a weak draft for the position. It's one thing to address the position and it's another to bring in players who can actually help. This is not to say the Jaguars won't or can't find a quality player there. But this is a tricky offseason to try to do so in the draft.
Stephen from The Jaguar Den
Please tell Pedal Bin his mother was a hamster and his mother smellt of Eldeberries.
Is there someone else I could talk to?
