JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Alex from Jacksonville

I was happy to see the new regime not aim to make a roster splash in free agency this year. We have a lot of draft capital, so our true talent acquisitions will need to be done through the draft. Base hits in free agents and home runs in the draft will be a sustained winning formula. Would you agree?

The Jaguars this week acquired nine free agents, acquisitions that became official at the start of the NFL League Year Wednesday at 4 p.m. The free-agent list – once more, with feeling – is as follows: Wide receiver Dyami Brown, offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, center Robert Hainsey, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, tight end Hunter Long, guard Patrick Mekari, quarterback Nick Mullens, tight end Johnny Mundt and safety Eric Murray. And you're correct that the Jaguars absolutely never intended to make a splash in free agency this offseason, The hope, in fact, is that they will never again have to make a roster splash in free agency – and if they do, that they will keep such splashes to a minimum. This franchise – and many other franchises – far too often have been lured into "top-tier" free agency, forgetting on a seemingly annual basis that top-tier free agency is the ultimate NFL misnomer. Top-tier players with rare exceptions don't change teams because teams don't typically allow top-tier players to leave. There certainly aren't enough top-tier players available in free agency to build a quality roster. I laughed this week when I saw a graphic on either ESPN or the NFL Network listing "free-agency winners." Winners are rare in free agency, and offseason winning rarely translates into in-season success. So would I agree that base hits in free agency and home runs in the draft is the way to sustain winning success? Yes. Absolutely.

Deane from Hill AFB via Daytona Beach, FL

Yo, O-Zone!!! Now that we picked up a backup quarterback in free agency, what if anything, does it do to Mac Jones' status? Is he on the trading block? Could you see Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone using him as part of a trade deal during the draft?

Quarterback Mac Jones became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday at 4 p.m. along with the following players: Quarterback C.J. Beathard, safety Andre Cisco, tight end Josiah Deguara, tight end Luke Farrell, offensive lineman Blake Hance, running back D'Ernest Johnson, linebacker Caleb Johnson, defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter, right guard Brandon Scherff, wide receiver Tim Jones, defensive end De'Shaan Dixon, linebacker Joe Giles-Harris and defensive end Esezi Otomewo.

Ray3 from Jax

It seems to me that one way of summarizing the Jaguars free agency this year would be to say that they did mostly second-wave signings on Day One. Would you agree?

Pretty much.

Steve from Nashville, TN

Large amounts of dead cap hits typically mean there was a regime change (or else they would still be here)?

Dead cap hits have been an O-Zone topic in recent days because the Jaguars indeed are moving into the 2025 NFL League Year with about $58.8 million in dead cap hits. This is among the higher totals in the NFL this offseason, and it's not unusual for a team to have such a high total to happen during a regime change. There are times when a stable franchise has a high dead cap number, too, because there are times general managers plan for multiple veterans to be released at the same time to absorb the cap hits in one year. Such circumstances don't always mean a franchise is struggling, though that is often the case.

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. Mekari allowed one sack in 998 snaps during the 2024 season while protecting Lamar Jackson. Dude sounds pretty serious to me?

It's a new era. No more kidding around.

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. Is dead cap money essentially throw away money for the owner? Is $59 million bye, bye money? How does this compare to your bye, bye money for this year?

I wouldn't call it "bye-bye" money, necessarily. Remember: Dead cap money isn't money being paid out during a particular year. It's usually money that has been paid out in signing bonuses that is being accrued for accounting purposes onto a certain year's salary cap. Or something like that.

Jason from Yomitan, Okinawa

I'm tired of buying jerseys only to watch this team ship them out. All this organization does is let you down.

Well, OK.

Matthew from Townsville, Tropical Australia

Hi, O. With wide receiver Christian Kirk and tight end Evan Engram gone, how about looking at the solid gold that's already on the roster? Patrick Murtagh and Louis Rees-Zammit both have top-drawer athletic skills, and proven footballing skills that are very transferable to NFL, as well as now having spent time on the practice squad learning the intricacies of playing tight end and wide receiver. It frustrated me that the previous regime lacked the imagination to give them a try last year even when playoff possibilities had ended. Both have the ability to not just play in the NFL, but to be stars. Do Head Coach Liam Coen and Gladstone have the imagination and courage to see outside the box and genuinely explore this kind of amazing potential?

There's no reason to believe Coen and Gladstone lack either courage or imagination. Murtagh and Rees-Zammit are very good athletes and developing players. I'm confident Coen and Gladstone will give all current Jaguars players a fair chance based on their ability and readiness to help the team win. If Rees-Zammit and Murtagh are indeed as amazing as you indicate, the Jaguars' courageous and imaginative leaders will take note.

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL

John. The Jags appear to have strengthened the secondary via free agency, which was well in need of an overhaul. Where does this leave fan favorite Andrew Wingard and is Dewey still in the mix to do to make the final 53?

I expect Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard to be on the roster next season with a chance to contribute and/or start.

Larry from Jacksonville

What do you think about bringing Calais in for the year and he retires as a Jaguar.

I think there's a chance the Jaguars sign defensive tackle Calais Campbell. I don't know when he plans to retire.

Ross from Orange Park, FL

In reviewing tape, whether that's during a practice or game-day film, I have heard analysts mention that having the play call allows for a better understanding of player out of position, missing coverage, etc. Do the films provide the call for coach as part of the review/assessment of personnel?

Knowing the play call when reviewing video absolutely allows for a better understanding of what's happening in the play. In many cases, it's impossible to properly assess a play without knowing not only the play call, but the assignment for specific players. Video used by NFL teams does include the play call and down-and-distance/game situation from the plays involved. In the case of the Jaguars' video from previous season, the play call is in the verbiage used by the coaching staffs employed during those seasons.

Steven from Ponte Vedra, FL

No question. Just an observation. Quite a few of our free-agency signings are former third-round selections. Five of the nine by my count. They seem to have an affinity for third round selections.

OK.

Steve at work at Jax Beach

In the last decade or so it seems like the NFL coaching "universe" has spread out on a scale of what I'll call (and I promise I'm "being nice") a blood-and-guts style of coaching versus detail-oriented football nerd style of coaching. For example, on one end you have the Mike Tomlins and Dan Campbells of the world and on the other you have the Mike McDaniels and Liam Coen style coaches. Not saying it's all or nothing or that knowledge and/or accountability is lacking in one or the other. But there seems to be a stylistic range and Shad has chosen one very specific style over the other. Are we following a trend? Am I way off here?

Jaguars Owner Shad Khan historically doesn't seem to have a predilection to a particular approach. This staff certainly leans toward a younger approach patterned after Coen – and by extension, the approach popularized by Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay. As Coen put it at the recent NFL Scouting Combine, that's sort of the Jaguars' current "north star." The Jaguars won't copy the Rams. But with Coen and Gladstone having NFL roots in the organization, the Jaguars will take on a Rams feel. That seems pretty unavoidable.

Al from Orange Park, FL

Mocks have Jags taking a defensive tackle. From years of reading, I believe that GM Zone would go offensive line or defensive line. After the recent free agents, which way would GM Zone draft in the first round. Or, other?

I would select the best player available on either line.