JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Shawn from Moore County, NC

I see a lot of people are upset that we did not follow the formula of draft, develop and retain our homegrown talent. We have to remember two things. 1 That's not how it is at non-premium positions. 2. The current regime didn't draft either of them. I think General Manager James Gladstone made the right call. Do you think we are done in free agency until after the draft?

The Jaguars absolutely are increasingly following a "draft-and-develop formula." This is the case even though they last week had to allow two popular drafted players – running back Travis Etienne Jr. (New Orleans Saints) and linebacker Devin Lloyd (Carolina Panthers) – as well as developed former collegiate free agent safety Andrew Wingard (Arizona Cardinals) to sign elsewhere as unrestricted free agents. Remember, though: The Jaguars had to allow the aforementioned players to sign elsewhere because they want to retain other drafted-and-developed players. Remember, too: Part of draft and develop is having to allow some drafted players to sign elsewhere, and it's impossible to re-sign all drafted players if you draft and develop well. I don't know that Gladstone not drafting either player played any sort of a role in the decision not to retain either player. As for what to expect moving forward in free agency this offseason … Gladstone said last week that we're still very early in the 2026 NFL League Year. We would be wise to remember that.

Ken from Jacksonville

Are there metrics that Jaguars use to monitor whether an injured player "lost a step?" I know there was lots to like with Ransaw at safety and Hunter at corner, but sitting out for seasons for serious injuries is no small matter. Are you or the Jaguars confident that these injuries won't linger and can they truly ever get back to pre-injury form? Will they only know come practice or game time (this certainly has to impact draft decisions). Thanks O!

The metrics in this case are whether a player is as fast and quick after an injury as before the injury. I am neither confident nor unconfident that safety Caleb Ransaw and cornerback Travis Hunter can get back to pre-injury form, though the Jaguars certainly believe they will do so. There's certainly no reason to believe they're incorrect. The Jaguars like both players very much and believe they will be the core of a strong secondary moving forward. (I'm not sure last season's injuries to these players will affect how the Jaguars approach the 2026 NFL Draft).

Amy from Jacksonville

Johnny OOOO. The weather was nice Sunday, The Players Championship came down to the last hole. Jags didn't do anything stupid in free agency. Spring is starting soon. All in all, it is a good time to live in Jax.

Damned right.

Joe from JACKSONVILLE

Hey, Zone. All the talk of salary-cap struggles makes me ask this. Have we gotten over the Gabe Davis dead cap issue? I think he stopped by for a cup of coffee!

Wide receiver Gabe Davis, who played one season for the Jaguars – 2024 – accounts for a "dead cap" hit of $14.6 million on the Jaguars' 2026 salary cap. I don't know what Davis drank while in Jacksonville. The whole situation was of little interest.

Reese from Loyal Jaguar Fan in VA

Everything seems to be stable, smart and expected with the moves the Jaguars have made this week so far. Re-sign wide receiver Tim Patrick, keep wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and draft. Go Jags!!!

Woo-hoo!

Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville

Although there are likely to be bargain free agents added between now and then, as a lay person and diehard fan, I would consider the Jaguars' positions of need to be, in order of priority: 1, Three-technique defensive tackle; 2, Edge rusher; 3, Weakside ("Will") linebacker; 4. Zero and/or one-technique defensive tackle; 5, Depth wide receivers, depth tight ends or depth defensive backs. I am well aware that teams do not (nor should they) draft by reaching for perceived needs, especially since you never truly know what your needs might end up being, but this remains to fans an interesting exercise for knowledge. How do you view the needs in order of importance at this point?

DaVon Hamilton is the Jaguars' nose tackle. He's one of the best in the NFL at his position and a big reason the Jaguars ranked No. 1 in the league in run defense last season. The Jaguars could use depth at edge rusher, though edge production overall would be helped by better interior pressure.

Dinkus from Gainesville

So, now the truth comes out! Travis left the Jags because no one pronounced his name correctly! Nothing to do with money at all, it's only money. Ay-chan it is.

Etienne revealed last week upon signing with the New Orleans Saints that his last name indeed is correctly pronounced Ay-chan rather than ETN. This is not why he left the Jaguars, though from his perspective I expect it is among the benefits of playing professional football close to home.

Rob from San Antonio, TX

KOAF, maybe this isn't nice, but the whiney, butthurt fans still writing in to cry about free agency and how the Jags could have or should have done this or that should finally get over it and enjoy the team. Life will go on. No team can keep everyone, every year. And "draft and develop" doesn't mean every single decent/good player can be re-signed after each season. I'd also like to remind people that the team's coaches, scouts, general manager and football operations folks just might be making decisions to help them consistently win games and who, unlike fans, have lives that are actually materially impacted by the outcome of their football decisions.

Pretty much.

Mike from Azores

Hey, John. Can we agree that the Jags' mistake was drafting a running back and linebacker in the first round? These positions of little value in the current NFL are a waste, long-term, to invest high-level draft capital. If players at those positions develop as you hope a first-round pick would, they most likely price themselves off the roster! Therefore, should the Jags only spend their first-round picks on quarterback, defensive end, cornerback and wide receiver?

I don't think it's accurate to make an all-encompassing statement that drafting a running back or linebacker or any non-special teams position in Round 1 is always a mistake. Was the player a Top 10 selection or No. 32 overall? There's a mammoth difference in value and expectation there. The Jaguars got a lot of production from Etienne and Lloyd. Just because they didn't re-sign those players doesn't mean they were awful selections.

James from Titusville, NJ

Did you just ask us fans if we can be glad that we have Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen and Gladstone? Are you new to this? We are angry, always angry! We will not settle for less than every draft pick being a home run and winning every game in every season by 30-plus points with an exception for each Super Bowl victory to be by a margin of 50-plus points. Also, us fans are the true knowledge source for running a football franchise and get that these elite players should only play for the Jaguars in minimal salary compensation as to stay under the cap with the team until we don't want them, after which they must retire. Then and only then will we be ... less angry. But still angry. There. Now, you know.

I sort of already knew.

Greg from the mean fields of EHS

I have been a diehard JAGS fan from Day 1 and bleed teal and black. I also have a degree of rational thinking. I understand fans will fan. It's what they do. It is possible to be both without contradiction. Having stated the obvious, how would you assess our football leadership triumvirate in scouring free agency with an eye on their strategy for the upcoming draft? Will they continue their first-year focus on supplementing the roster to continue the BAP selection or do you feel they will use their draft capital to move up for a "prize target prospect" they feel will help transform the roster with their first pick as they did with THE?

I don't know that there's an always or never way to look at how the Jaguars will draft or acquire players under Gladstone. I expect the Jaguars to approach the draft valuing good football players and production over traits. When there is a player they like enough, I expect they will be willing to trade draft capital for that player – be that a veteran player or a player in the draft.

Bill from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Before last season, I was reading about Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten's speed, but it seems he ran mostly between the tackles. Will the team try to get him out in space more this year?

Of course.