JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Kenneth from Jacksonville

You said this was a good thing. You said this wouldn't be boring. Guess what, Zone? That was boooooring.

I assume you are referencing the Jaguars not having a selection in Thursday's Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft. I don't know that I said or wrote that it was a good thing, though it is true that it is good for Jaguars fans to get used to being more excited about the regular season and the postseason than the draft. It has been too long since that was the case around these parts. I also did not say or write that Round 1 wouldn't be boring for Jaguars fans – and I expect many Jaguars followers accustomed to Day 1 draft excitement did indeed find Thursday night unusual and perhaps a bit dull. But you know what? So what? And Jaguars fans should get accustomed to some version of this. The Jaguars may not be without a Round 1 selection every year moving forward, but the thought here is the Jaguars have a decent chance to be selecting late in Round 1 a lot of seasons. And that will be a good thing. A really good thing.

Shawn from Moore County, NC

I am glad we did not trade up into Round One. The cost was too high. With Round One in the books, can analysts finally stop talking about us trading BTJ?

I don't know that we know exactly what the price was for trading up into Round 1. My sense was that the price was too high for a few players – and that there may have been enough players the Jaguars really liked available at the end of Round 1 that they felt there was no reason to move up Thursday. Remember: The early part of Round 2 in this draft is not considered all that much – if any – worse than the latter part of Round 1. My sense also is that the Jaguars could be active Friday to move up from No. 56 to the early part of Round 2. Or not. We'll see. As for the trade talks around Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. … I don't know what it would take to get analysts to stop talking about this subject. Maybe they never will.

Travis from Jacksonville

Christen Miller, Georgia, defensive tackle (Junior, RS). Fill a gap and a younger and solid talent for the long term. Welcome!

The Jaguars don't believe they have a lot of gaps in the roster. That's one reason they didn't feel the need to overspend and trade up Thursday.

Richard from Jacksonville

Are Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, Missouri defensive end Zion Young, Texas A&M Cashius Howell or Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers going to be trade-up candidates? I think it's "The curtains" for them. I would expect them to be gone in the top third of the second. The next round of players in areas of need don't seem worth any loss of capital. To me, I see this round as the organization letting the draft come to them. Any thought on who might be available at No. 56 that the Jags covet? Illinois linebacker Gabe Jacas or Miller might be within reach there. What say you, O?

I think the Jaguars would love to get another edge rusher, a tight end, an offensive lineman, a defensive tackle, a linebacker and maybe a safety, running back and wide receiver in the next four or five rounds. That is a lot of rounds and a lot of loves. As General Manager James Gladstone likes to say, the Jaguars have a lot of at bats. I have no earthly idea what they consider worth trading up for or what order they might choose. They haven't told me those things and I'm not privy to the Jaguars' draft board. People who run drafts are funny that way. Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft starts Friday at 7 p.m. I'll be watching. Those following the Jaguars should watch, too.

Johnny from St Augustine, FL

It's finally here, but does anybody really know what time it is?

Does anybody really care?

Jimjim from Eugene, OR

Zone. I heard mention of a virtual training room, or something along those lines. Can you expand on that? Is this something exclusive to the Jaguars? Thanks for your insight.

Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen mentioned this Monday when discussing injuries to players such as wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen and cornerback Jourdan Lewis essentially keeping those players out of on-field practice during the offseason program. The virtual training room – or virtual meeting room – is essentially what the name suggests – an expanded room where players can walk through game situations virtually and therefore get mental repetitions without having to do so physically.

Kevin from St Johns, FL

That thing that happened in the first round ... I called it!

Good work.

Robert from Elkton

How soon after the draft can we sign Calais Campbell and not affect compensatory picks? The odds of signing an undrafted player who could contribute more in 2026 than Campbell have to be at Powerball level so I would rather sign him.

Signings after June 1 usually do not count against the compensatory selection formula.

Chris from Columbus, OH

Ah, the McPizza. That's when McDonald's bought up Donato's. A truly sub-par, cracker-crust, square-cut pizza here in central Ohio. They were smart enough to ditch it, but for some reason, people up here think it's "good."

My recollection is that the McPizza actually predated McDonald's purchasing Donato's – and that McDonald's purchased Donato's to try to improve the already perfect McPizza. People in Indianapolis seemed to love Donato's when I was there, though I – like you – didn't get the mass appeal. Whatever. I just miss the McPizza.

Joe from Kissimmee

This is not a question, but thought you might want to know. All is not lost on the McPizza front. All that you need to do is come here to Central Florida. Epic McD in Orlando is the only place in the world currently selling it. Perhaps you can acquire some during the 2027 season.

Noted.

James from Titusville, NJ

Sbarro's put McDonald's pizza to shame. The McPizza never stood a chance.

Fair.

Bradley from Death Valley, California

I know Liam Coen and Robert Saleh both say last year's confrontation is water under the bridge but I'm guessing the bad blood has just started which, of course, is one of the things that make sports great. Comments?

I can't say for sure whether the water is under, over or around the bridge. Such confrontations as the one that occurred between Coen and then San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh last season are fun – and that's OK. It's important to remember that sports are ENTERTAINMENT" – and most of what goes on around it is best treated as such. Yes, livelihoods are on the line. But those livelihoods are wonderful – and wealthy – livelihoods because fans want to be ENTERTAINED. My sense is Coen and Saleh get that, which is why they moved the water under the bridge during the recent 2026 NFL Annual League Meetings. Could the water boil again now that Saleh is the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, a Jaguars division rival? Sure. And when that happens, that will be entertainment, too.

Jonathan from Fairfield, PA

I have a baaaaaad feeling former Jaguars guard Cooper Hodges made more money in his short, sad, two-year career than I have made in my long, sad, 20-year career.

Faaaaair.

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. Quick question about the edge position. If the defensive is in the 3-4 formation, can we assume the designated edge player is responsible for setting closer to the line to rush, but also on a pass play has to be able to set back and defend the pass? Same player or different players depending on rush or pass defense? If it's same player, starting to see fully understand Devin Loyd's abilities.

An "edge" defender in a 3-4 defense is usually a linebacker. That player usually rushes the passer in passing situations. Ideally, he also would be able to help set the edge at times against the run. He also occasionally in a 3-4 scheme would be asked to drop and defend the pass. But that has little – if anything to do with former Jaguars outside linebacker Devin Lloyd. He was mostly an "off-ball" linebacker. The "edge" as described in this context applies to players such as Jaguars defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, who played "edge" or outside linebacker when the Jaguars were playing a 3-4 scheme from 2022-2024.

Roy B from Jacksonville

Flexatility! Great word, love you James!

A great man once said, "I am the king of all funk." Gladstone apparently is the king of all Funk & Wagnalls. (Don't forget to tip your waitstaff. I'll be here all week).