JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Al from Fruit Cove, FL
I believe I have often read where you will say that good teams don't rely on big-free agent signings, but rather build for the long term via draft and develop. I guess what troubles me about the potential loss of running back Travis Etienne Jr. and linebacker Devin Lloyd (and others?) is that the Jags did exactly what they should do to this point - they drafted and developed these players, to the point where they are among the best in the league at their positions. It's not supposed to be draft, develop and discard, is it? How does the team prevent this from happening the next time they successfully draft and develop a player who reached Pro Bowl level? Or is that just disregarded based on certain positions like running back and off-the-ball linebacker?
This is a very understandable sentiment – and a timely one with the 2026 NFL League Year scheduled to begin Wednesday. The window for teams to negotiate with the agents for other teams' unrestricted free agents will open Monday at noon, with news likely coming soon thereafter that Jaguars players such as running back Travis Etienne Jr. and linebacker Devin Lloyd – among others – are negotiating with other teams. Their departures will then become official Wednesday or soon thereafter. The Jaguars indeed drafted and developed those players, and drafting and developing indeed is what good teams do. It's the best way to develop a long-term contending team. Remember, though: If you're drafting and developing well, you are not going to be able to re-sign all players you draft and develop. And you must choose the right players to re-sign to long-term contracts. Positional value absolutely plays into that decision. Players such as Etienne and Lloyd are the sorts of players and people you want to re-sign. Would there be a better chance of doing so if they played offensive tackle, defensive end, defensive tackle or quarterback – or some other "premium" position? Probably. But a lot goes into these decisions. Current overall cap. Position. Projected players available in the future. Projected cap costs at other positions. Injury history. The Jaguars' overall circumstance at this time will dictate actions in the coming days. How future situations play out will depend on the circumstances at the time. But draft and develop by its nature always will have some discarding mixed in. You can't re-sign all players you draft – and the more you develop well, the more you eventually must discard.
Brendan from Yulee
Which players stand out in this year's crop of defensive linemen in terms of speed guys? General Manager James Gladstone mentioned getting some speed guys at defensive end.
This question is a bit general and I will answer as specifically as possible. If by "crop" you mean the 2026 NFL Draft, this is considered a good draft class at defensive end and edge. Players such as David Bailey of Texas Tech, Arvell Reese of Ohio State, Reuben Bain Jr. of Miami and Akheem Mesidor are considered four of the better edge defenders – with Bailey and Reese are considered faster than Bain and Mesidor. If by "crop" you mean free agency, this is also considered a good group at defensive end and edge. Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals is considered the top player available at the spot, though he perhaps isn't a high-end "speed" player. Los Angeles Chargers edge Odafe Oweh, Philadelphia Eagles edge Jaelen Phillips and Seattle Seahawks edge Boye Mafe – all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents Wednesday – also are considered fast for the position.
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, I return to my local IHOP and place a transition tag on the Strawberry Banana Pancakes. Again, my waitress just looked at me.
Sounds right.
Isiah from Jacksonville
Can I try out?
The Jaguars, like most NFL teams, don't typically have "open tryouts." What teams do in this vein is invite selected players to rookie minicamp most year on a tryout basis. This minicamp is typically held one or two weeks following the NFL Draft. The tryout players in this forum compete against selected young players and rookies, with the tryout players usually players who have played collegiately in the last season or two.
Shawn from Moore County, NC
Now that Crosby is traded to the Ravens we can finally stop pretending like we had a shot at getting him. The one trade I think we could do would be Minkah Fitzpatrick. Do you have a trade you would like to see?
The Las Vegas Raiders indeed reportedly have agreed to trade five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for first-round selections in the 2026 and 2027 NFL Drafts. I don't know how seriously anyone with any perspective on what the Jaguars could do this offseason seriously pretended a trade involving Crosby was possible, with any Crosby-to-the-Jaguars talk falling very much in the TRADE MACHINE!!!! category. As for Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick … that feels pretty "machine-y," too. The Jaguars like safeties Eric Murray, Antonio Johnson and Caleb Ransaw and believe Ransaw has the feel of a future front-line player. With that group on the roster, I don't know that trading for a premier safety is a 2026 offseason priority for the Jaguars.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
What's a sack, and why is it better than a "pressure?"
A sack is when a defensive player tackles a quarterback attempting to pass and it's better than a pressure because it involves lost momentum and lost yardage for the offense – but I think you probably knew that already. You sly dog, you.
Kevin from Jacksonville
It's quiet. Too quiet. Is this bad?
I'll use Scooby Sense – and not those other senses – and assume you mean that you fear the lack of recent rumors and reports about players such as Etienne and Lloyd mean they're probably not re-signing with the Jaguars. If those are your assumptions, I expect your assumptions are correct. The thought here since shortly after the end of the 2025 season has been that Etienne and Lloyd would not return to the Jaguars for the 2026 season. They are good players who play typically replaceable positions. That last sentence isn't the entire story here, but it's enough of a part of the story to matter. I expect, too, that players such as cornerback Montaric Brown and safety Andrew Wingard won't re-sign. We have heard little about any of those players re-signing or negotiating with the Jaguars. We don't always hear reports along these lines, but in this case, I expect the quiet will end in the coming days with news that those players will be leaving. Stay tuned.
Kevin from Jacksonville
I admit I'm confused. I don't write in often, but I try to read most days. What confuses me is the constant criticism and dissatisfaction of the Jaguars by readers in this column. The Jaguars had a great season last season. Aren't the same people who brought us that season still running things? Don't they know what they're doing?
It sounds as if you're confused about fans fanning. I will try to clear up the confusion. Fanning is not rational. It's caring greatly and being equally emotional. It's not always about understanding everything a team does. It's not about stepping back and seeing things unemotionally through a logical lens. It's about wanting to win every game. And to sign every free agent they want. And to make most trades, too. It's about criticizing without reason. And it's all OK. Because fans fan. It's what they do. And may they never, every stop.
Brendan from Yulee
When's the best time to write in? Do you do the weekend O-Zones on Friday?
There's no "best" time to write O-Zone questions. I typically answer O-Zone questions every day – including Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Not all questions get answered on the day they arrive. Or even the next day. But I do read all questions. Sometimes, they get answered. Sometimes, they do not. Whether they get answered has nothing to do with when they arrive.
Joe from Jacksonville
My sources (Twitter) have mentioned whispers of a Travon Walker deal being worked on. True or not, does Gladstone feel this is important to get done?
The wise among us are very, very careful putting credence on Twitter sources – whispered or otherwise. Gladstone thinks very highly of defensive end Travon Walker and has said so publicly. He did so as recently as his season-ending media availability in January. I have talked to no one in the Jaguars' organization who doesn't love everything Walker is about. I don't have a feel on timing for a contract extension for Walker, but timing on these things can be very fluid – particularly when there's no real deadline or urgency involved.
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
Even with free agency coming up, you still suck.
The NFL's pre-free-agency negotiating period opens Monday at noon.
