JACKSONVILLE – The planning and working continues.

And the Jaguars' decision-makers made clear during the recent 2025 NFL Scouting Combine that they will be prepared for a busy offseason schedule that gets busier next week with the start of the 2025 NFL League Year.

That means the start of free agency. That means it's very close to go time.

"We're jumping right into it, but we do not feel behind by any means," Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen said.

This was last week during the combine. The team's decision-makers, scouts and coaches are back at the Miller Electric Center this week with Coen and General Manager James Gladstone – like Coen, in his first offseason in the position – preparing for free agency while also meshing the organization and preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft in late April.

With Gladstone and Coen each meeting with the media extensively during the combine, Gladstone – first introduced to the media last Monday – provided insight into how the roster will be managed, grown and changed moving forward.

"Pure collaboration," he said, referring to the much-discussed front office structure that also includes first-year Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli.

Gladstone, too, discussed in detail organizational philosophy regarding player traits. When discussing this, he uses the word "intangibles" – a term that figures to heavily influence what the team will seek in players both in free agency and the draft.

"You're talking about two separate things, both on field and off field," Gladstone said. "All of us when we think about the idea of intangibles, we probably get to the same spot without even saying anything out loud.

"On field we're looking for competitiveness, toughness and football instincts. Off the field, you're looking for people that elevate those around them and our passion about the sport of football.

"It's really not all that complex, but it's something that we're just simply going to prioritize and be disciplined in our approach."

Gladstone when discussing the Jaguars' football operations often uses the term "ecosystem." He said the key is to introduce not only talent to that environment but the right "intangibles" to allow that talent to grow and produce.

"There's nothing better on planet Earth than just simply being yourself, and so the people that will bring in this environment, this ecosystem … we know that they're going to be made of the right stuff so that by being nothing more than who they are, they're going to elevate ourselves," he said.

NOTABLE

• Make no mistake: Coen is excited to utilize wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in the Jaguars' offense, saying of the No. 23 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft: "Our pass game will run through him." Thomas in 2024 set Jaguars rookie records for receptions (87), yards (1,282) and touchdowns (10). "He's so dynamic, being able to move him around," Coen said. "You saw him at LSU maybe not do some of those things, where he was mostly outside, running more linear routes, vertical posts, some overs, and then the stop. The ability for him to snap down, get in the slot, be able to run some of the choice routes, "lookie" routes – and then, oh, by the way, you can throw him a screen and he can go do something with it. I'm super-excited to get to work with him."

QUOTABLE

• Gladstone on his professional approach during nine previous NFL seasons, all with the Los Angeles Rams: "It's fair to say I rooted myself in whatever role I had. I kept my mind there. I think by doing simply that, you'll find good results. That's any recommendation for anybody who asks. How can I continue to ascend? The first thing I'd say is to root yourself where you're at, and as long as you start there, try and remain rooted in that mindset, good things are coming."

NOTABLE

• Both Coen and Gladstone praised Jaguars Assistant General Manager Ethan Waugh – who served as Interim General Manager from January 22 through Gladstone's February 21 hiring – for his role in the transition. "It has been critical," Gladstone said last week. "Ethan and I have worked closely over the last few days and really enjoyed that and looking forward to working with him through the rest of the spring – and for the rest of the scouting staff, I can't wait to get to know them." Coen called Waugh "a great sounding board, knowing the roster, knowing the dynamics of some of the players, the evaluation process that led them to Jacksonville, whether it would be free agency trade or draft acquisition. He has a great pulse on that and he has a lot of experience that we've been able to lean on throughout the last couple of weeks. He's been nothing but supportive."