JACKSONVILLE – This was about improving, and doing so with the right players.
James Gladstone on Thursday afternoon met with the media to discuss a busy, productive free-agency period – and the Jaguars' first-year general manager left no doubt: This is a better team than it was a few days ago – for very good reasons.
"These guys are built right," Gladstone said.
The Jaguars, after agreeing to terms with nine unrestricted free agents on Monday, signed those players on Thursday – with Gladstone and multiple free agents speaking to the media at the Miller Electric Center. The nine free agents:
- Dyami Brown, wide receiver (former team: Washington Commanders)
- Chuma Edoga,offensive lineman (Dallas Cowboys)
- Robert Hainsey,center (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Jourdan Lewis, cornerback (Cowboys)
- Hunter Long, tight end (Los Angeles Rams)
- Patrick Mekari, guard (Baltimore Ravens)
- Nick Mullens, quarterback (Minnesota Vikings)
- Johnny Mundt, tight end (Minnesota Vikings)
- Eric Murray, safety (Houston Texans)
"You've heard me say the phrase 'intangibly rich' quite a few times, and that was no different in our approach to pro free agency," Gladstone said. "By being nothing more than who they are, we can feel that they're going to level us up."
Gladstone, hired as general manager on February 21 after nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, said the Jaguars entered the NFL's "legal-tampering" period Monday targeting nine players. They signed all nine.
"Seeing that plan come to life, being executed in the way that it was certainly something that at this point in time I'm proud of," said Gladstone, adding that working with the Jaguars' personnel staff in recent weeks has been "An absolute blast."
"It's not the offseason that we're looking to win from a perception standpoint," he added. "We're looking to win football games this fall."
The idea, Gladstone said, was to fill roster holes this week to not have to select player in next month's 2025 NFL Draft based on need. The Jaguars hold 10 selections – including No. 5 overall – in the 2025 NFL Draft and 11 selections in the '26 draft.
"We wanted to set ourselves up so we felt like we had the flexibility to address any position we wanted to at any pick point that lies on the horizon," he said. "We feel like we're currently in a position to do just that.
"We do feel like we're in a better position today than we were a couple of weeks ago to make it so that when we enter each decision at each pick point in April that we can continue to level up where we are from a personnel perspective."
Gladstone emphasized that part of the approach in free agency was to ensure that drafted players can contribute immediately.
"We're going to have to have some spots that are actually open for them to insert," he said. "So if you add a veteran at this point he could be just standing in the way. We're going to allow these rookies to get a chance to get out on the field and help us this coming fall.
Gladstone, who said the Jaguars took a disciplined approach to free-agent spending, said the focus this week was to "raise the floor of this football team" – and he said the feeling at the end of the week is that that was accomplished.
"Every player we pursued, and that we've now acquired, is meeting that standard," he said. "By being nothing more than who they are and who we know them to be, both on and off the field, they're going to do exactly what we had hoped they do – and that's level up this ecosystem."
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NOTABLE FREE AGENCY MOMENTS
- With three of this week's nine signings on the offensive line, Gladstone on Thursday said the week in part was about "setting the standard for what we're actually looking to do" at the position. Mekari is expected to start at guard with Hainsey expected to start at center. "We answered some questions there with our decisions here in pro free agency," Gladstone said. "That doesn't count offensive line out of the equation in the draft, either. That's another position that does have attrition throughout the course of a season, so we'll never feel like we have enough."
- Among the Jaguars' moves entering 2025 League Year: Releasing tight end Evan Engram and trading wide receiver Christian Kirk to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Gladstone spoke of the franchise's respect for a duo that combined for 402 receptions for 4,368 yards and 21 touchdowns the past three seasons. "They meant a lot to the locker room and we will continue to bring those types of people and players into our ecosystem," Gladstone said, "but we needed a little bit more flexibility to address the larger scale roster after some departures across the offensive line as well."
Time to get to work. The newest Jaguars are in Jacksonville! These players met our leadership, signed their contracts, spoke to media and walked the facility. Check out some top pictures 📸😊
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga meets the offensive line coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Patrick Mekari poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga meets the coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray (right) meets defensive backs coach Anthony Perkins during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey reunites with head coach Liam Coen during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey reunites with head coach Liam Coen during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis meets the defensive coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Hunter Long arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray and wide receiver Dyami Brown arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars xxx arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Johnny Mundt signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey, Chuma Edoga, and Patrick Mekari arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey reunites with head coach Liam Coen during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens and cornerback Jourdan Lewis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga meets the offensive line coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Patrick Mekari meets head coach Liam Coen during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis meets the defensive coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Hunter Long poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Johnny Mundt arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey and Chuma Edoga arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis meets the defensive coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive linemen Chuma Edoga (left) and Patrick Mekari (right) mets head coach Liam Coen during their first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis meets the defensive coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Hunter Long signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
