Jacksonville Jaguars Offseason Progress Report

Will Liam Coen save Trevor Lawrence's career, or is the sun setting on the former 1st Overall Pick?

Jaguars All-Rookie Receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

Overview

2024 Record: 4-13

General Manager: James Gladstone

Head Coach: Liam Coen

Starting Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence

Key Extensions:

--

Key Additions:

WR Dyami Brown, iOL Robert Hainsey, iOL Patrick Mekari, S Eric Murray, CB Jourdan Lewis, WR/CB Travis Hunter, CB Caleb Ransaw, iOL Wyatt Milum

Key Departures:

WR Christian Kirk, TE Evan Engram, iOL Brandon Schreff, CB Ronald Darby, QB Mac Jones, WR Josh Reynolds

Offense

Offensive Coordinator: Grant Udinski (Liam Coen calls plays)

2024 Ranks:

EPA/play: 18th Success Rate: 21st PPG: 26th (18.8ppg)

Projected Starting Offense (11 personnel):

QB Trevor Lawrence

RB Travis Etienne Jr.

WR Brian Thomas Jr.

WR Travis Hunter

WR Dyami Brown

TE Brenton Strange

LT Walker Little

LG Ezra Cleveland

C Robert Hainsey

RG Patrick Mekari

RT Anton Harrison

Offense Notes:

Following the offensive slide the Jaguars took in the second half of the 2023 season, Jacksonville had another poor year mired by mistakes in 2024. Trevor Lawrence did not look like the player we saw in the playoffs a few seasons ago, and eventually lost the season to injury. Doug Pederson's (now fired) schemes didn't move the opposing defenses whatsoever. The lone bright spot was rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. who had an electric campaign.

Now, Thomas Jr. gets a running mate in the best player in the 2025 Draft, Travis Hunter. New Head Coach Liam Coen, who helped the Buccaneers light the world on fire, will call plays for the Jags this upcoming season. Free agency also brought investments into the offensive line. Every part of the offense seems improved on paper; it's up to Lawrence to step up to the plate and deliver good quarterback play this season.

Defense

Defensive Coordinator: Anthony Campanile

2024 Ranks:

EPA/play: 31st Success Rate: 23rd PPG: 27th (25.6ppg allowed)

Projected Starting Defense (Base 4-3):

DE Travon Walker

DT DaVon Hamilton

DT Maason Smith

DE Josh Hines-Allen

LB Devin Lloyd

LB Foyesade Oluokun

CB Jarrian Jones

CB Tyson Campbell

NB Jourdan Lewis

S Darnell Savage

S Eric Murray

Defense Notes:

For as bad as the offense was last season, the defense was actually worse. Near the bottom of the league in most major categories, the Jaguars defense was rough to watch. Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielson (who wasn't bad in Atlanta) did not bring the juice this unit needed, and as a result, the group will have a new play-caller on defense for the third time in as many seasons.

Enter Anthony Campanile, whose years as a linebacker's coach can hopefully provide this defense with a new perspective. There wasn't as much investment on the defensive side of the ball this offseason as there was on offense, but there is still premium talent with this unit. Travon Walker quietly put together a strong season last year, and hopefully can grow into the enforcer he was billed to be with the 1st overall pick.

Outlook

Overall, it's hard not to get excited about the Jaguars this season. A brand new staff should help accentuate the strengths of the players already on the roster. With the offense in particular, Liam Coen did a good job showcasing the strengths of the Buccaneer's roster last season. He should be able to do the same for an offense that was quite poor last year.

As far as the talent on the roster goes, there isn't a team that has had more Top 5 draft selections over the past half-decade than the Jaguars. They have the players necessary to make plays on both sides of the ball, it's just comes down to how much can each player live up to their potential. Have we already seen the best out of these players?

I'm reluctant to say yes. We received a good run from this group in 2022, and seemingly everything has fallen apart since. With more stability in the coaching room and the addition of high-level talent like Hunter, this team should be able to compete. If we don't see at least a convincing attempt at the playoffs this season, I may be willing to say it's over for Lawrence. But until then, I have the expectation that this group should compete for a postseason berth, and perhaps a subsequent playoff run.

Expectation/Goal for 2025: Compete for Wild Card

2025 Schedule

\(\begin{array}{c c} \textbf{GameWeek} & \textbf{Opponent} \\ \hline \text{Week 1} & \text{vs. Carolina, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 2} & \text{@ Cincinatti, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 3} & \text{vs. Houston, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 4} & \text{@ San Francisco, 4:05pm} \\ \textbf{Week 5} & \textbf{vs. Kansas City, MNF, 8:15pm} \\ \text{Week 6} & \text{vs. Seattle, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 7} & \text{vs. Los Angeles Rams, 9:30am*} \\ \text{Week 8} & \text{-- BYE WEEK --} \\ \text{Week 9} & \text{@ Las Vegas, 4:05pm} \\ \text{Week 10} & \text{@ Houston, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 11} & \text{vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 12} & \text{@ Arizona, 4:05pm} \\ \text{Week 13} & \text{@ Tennessee, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 14} & \text{vs. Indianapolis, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 15} & \text{vs. New York Jets, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 16} & \text{@ Denver, 4:05pm} \\ \text{Week 17} & \text{@ Indianapolis, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 18} & \text{vs. Tennessee, TBD} \\ \end{array} \)

Primetime games are BOLDED, all times EDT/EST

*Week 7 game vs. LA Rams is in London*