JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Jordan from Mandarin
Hiring James Gladstone would make this the best offseason in Jaguars history. Everything you hear out of LA is he's going to be the next great general manager. I only hope he's our guy and not some other lucky team.
The Jaguars as of late Thursday have interviewed seven candidates for their vacant general manager position: Los Angeles Chargers Assistant General Manager Chad Alexander, former Tennessee Titans General Manager Jon Robinson, New York Giants Assistant General Manager Brandon Brown, Buffalo Bills Director of Player Personnel Terrance Gray, Cincinnati Bengals Senior Personnel Executive Trey Brown, Los Angeles Rams Director of Scouting Strategy James Gladstone and San Francisco 49ers Director/Scouting and Football Operations Josh Williams. Jaguars Interim General Manager Ethan Waugh, too, is a very legitimate candidate. Gladstone is also a very capable candidate and I expect he is a strong possibility to be hired. My understanding is the search/interview process is going well, that there are multiple candidates and that there's no clear favorite. The first-round interviews are all virtual and are expected to conclude very soon. There will be a second round of interviews next week. Look for the Jaguars to have a general manager in place sometime late next week. Stay tuned.
Chris from St. Augustine, FL
Trevor to the Steelers? After the article you wrote about Coen building around Trevor, does this seem like a rumor that would have any real truth to it?
There was a "report" Thursday that the Pittsburgh Steelers had called the Jaguars about trading for quarterback Trevor Lawrence. "Report" has quotes around it to reflect the ridiculous nature of the "report." Head Coach Liam Coen was just hired to help develop Lawrence. Owner Shad Khan believes in Lawrence. The franchise believes in Lawrence. Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli believes in Lawrence. There's no truth to the report. Period.
GP from Savannah, GA
What would the Steelers have to give up for Trevor?
This is not a "thing."
Cliff from Orange Park, FL
Doesn't all this talk about Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' performance while under constant pressure in the Super Bowl last Sunday give us a clearer picture why Trevor hasn't developed the way we hoped he would? That pressure was similar to what Trevor sees every game.
It's fair to say the offensive line must protect Lawrence better. It's not fair to suggest that Lawrence has faced unmanageable pressure in every game he has played in the NFL.
Jim from Middleburg, FL
Dear, John. Your answer to Will from Jax recently was accurate but very depressing. The old gang will back on the scrimmage line and going to try to improve. Hang me with a NEW rope pleeeease!
The Jaguars won't be changing all five starting offensive linemen this offseason. That doesn't mean the line can't improve from its performance the past two seasons.
Nick from Palm Coast, FL
Who do you like so far out of the general manager search?
The best candidate. This is not a snide answer. It's an honest one because unless you're in on the three-hour initial interviews with each candidate, and in on the second round of interviews next week – and unless you're talking to people in NFL front offices around the league digging into these candidates' backgrounds – you're selecting the "best candidate" based on media-guide lines, speculation and other surface information.
Richard from Irvine, CA
I hope the Jags aren't seriously considering hiring Jon Robinson. Very few GMs have had success with a second team and he was fired from the Titans not that long ago. First, former Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke and now they are interviewing Robinson. What's up with the team's fascination with retreads?
The Jaguars are interviewing upwards of 10 candidates for the vacant general manager position. One, Robinson, has been a general manager before. One.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
I'm amazed that someone who has been so close to the NFL doesn't understand the impact of coaching on what happens on the field. By coaching, I mean the whole entire scope of what the coaching staff does. This isn't golf. This isn't basketball. This is a huge roster playing a complex sport. This sport requires great coaching to have a great team. Last year was a clear example of failed coaching. Need glasses?
I have glasses, though they're currently and characteristically smudgy and bent. And I absolutely understand the impact of coaching on what happens on the field in the NFL – and I understand the scope. Coaching absolutely matters. It's also far too often overanalyzed, overplayed and misunderstood. I've been close enough to the sport for long enough to understand that to my core. Did coaching play a role in the Jaguars' season last season? Sure. Coaching plays a role in any NFL team's success or failure. The view of some observers was that coaching was the sole reason for the Jaguars' 4-13 record in 2024. I absolutely understand that isn't even close to true.
Sam from Orlando, FL
Are laterals and other rugby style plays a potential evolution of NFL offenses in the next 10 years?
I wouldn't anticipate this because NFL people are very resistant to plays that significantly increase the risk of turnovers. I can't say we would never see an increase in lateral-oriented plays because I didn't anticipate the recent increase in higher-risk plays – and other "unconventional" approaches to offense – but laterals are VERY high risk and from this view we're a looong way from incorporating them into the NFL in a rugby-type approach.
Brian from Carlisle, PA
Almighty O, do you think the Jags will be letting go of our better players to make cap space? Like wide receiver Christian Kirk, tight end Evan Engram and pick up some good free agents. I have been seeing rumors that the Jags could be parting ways with them. I could see Kirk go, but Evan is too good of a tight end to let go, in my opinion. Thoughts?
This is possible. Kirk has a very high cap number for 2025 and Engram's is also high enough that restructuring or releasing could be considered. I think both could continue to help the Jaguars. I also think we're a few weeks out from knowing for certain their Jaguars futures.
Damon from The Stine
John- Do you think that potential general managers coming from organizations that haven't had great or consistent success recently are poor candidates for the Jags?
Not at all. Being part of a winning or consistent organization doesn't guarantee future success in another position with another team – and being part of a struggling or inconsistent organization doesn't ensure future failure. Interview the person, not the associated company.
Rob from Northside
Bullet Bob Armstrong was a long-time wrestler, particular in southern promotions and father of the Road Dog Jesse James. He got the nickname because him hitting you was like you getting hit with a bullet.
OK, but Bullet Bob in Jacksonville is one of two things. One is Bob Hayes, the greatest athlete from Jacksonville. The other is an India Pale Ale at Strings. Consider me a fan of both.
Jeffrey from SANFORD
John: Thanks for all you do! So, new coach(es) with established players ... how does the Collective Bargaining Agreement handle meetings between the players and the staff to get acquainted prior to offseason work?
Coaches can currently speak to players to get acquainted. They can't have football-related conversations on anything close to a "meeting" or "instructional" level until the offseason program begins.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
I seem to remember Coen's tone and tenor changing when he talked about being taken aback when becoming part of the Rams coaching staff and how remarkable it was because everyone seemed to be void of personal agenda and totally focused on the one big goal. Perhaps he selected his staff with that in mind rather than age and experience.
Yep.
Tim from Fort Wayne, IN
Does Arik Armstead's stated desire to return to interior defensive line next year make drafting Mason Graham at 5 less likely? I would be very happy to see them choose Graham, but I wondered if the presence of Armstead, Smith, Hamilton, and Jefferson would cause them to lean a different direction.
The stated desire of a player in his 11th season should have little – if any – sway over a team's draft-day decisions. You draft player for what they can do over a period of many years, not how they might fill a need for one season.
Brendan from Yulee, back from vacation
Do you think the Jags do something wild during the draft, like trade up to get two first-rounders? Gotta risk it for the biscuit.
I think the Jaguars will do whatever they can during the draft to select good players who will make the Jaguars better over the long run. I don't know what they will make rash decisions or undue risk simply to get a "biscuit."
