Welcome to Big Cat Country’s staff roundtable!
Before we fully transition into
coaching staff changes,
free agency previews,
original mock drafts, and plenty of other offseason content, we’re taking one last look back at the Jaguars’ highly memorable 2025-26 season.
“I was extremely proud of a lot of things that we were able to accomplish,” head coach Liam Coen said at the team’s
end-of-season presser. “Very proud of their response to adversity and to that 1-0 message and that next-play mentality and now the real work is here to where we have to go and reload it.”
Question 1
Was Jacksonville’s first season under Liam Coen, James Gladstone, and Tony Boselli a success? How much does its heartbreaking Wild Card Round loss influence your answer?
Dillon Appleman: I don’t think anybody would have predicted a 13-win season, a division title, and a shot at the conference’s No. 1 seed in the first year of this regime, so it is absolutely an unquestionable success. The Wild Card loss, if anything, makes me more confident going forward for a couple of reasons. One, this was the worst performance both sides of the ball had had since their win streak started and they still had the lead against the reigning MVP with a minute left in the game, and two, a loss like that can serve as a learning lesson for a young coach. I expect a more poised level of play in the next playoff run.
Travis Holmes: When a four-win season is the bar, it feels insane not to consider the 2025 season anything short of a raving success. Despite the heartbreaking Wild Card Round loss, the team showed measurable improvement in coaching and development from the majority of younger Trent Baalke-acquired players on the roster. Additionally, Trevor Lawrence’s second half of the season clearly showed that the Jaguars have the right quarterback and coach to build from. In year one, that’s the primary goal: 13 wins, an AFC South division title, a top young defensive coordinator in league circles, and a league-leading defense in turnovers and stopping the run is simply a bonus (one heck of a bonus).
Gus Logue: The season was a success because the team won more than expected, and critically, not in a fraudulent way. Jacksonville finished the regular season top-five in the NFL in point differential,
DVOA, and
ANY/A, among other team efficiency metrics. Lawrence and the rest of the roster looked more than legit in multiple high-pressure spots down the stretch. The early playoff exit still stings, but as Dillon pointed out, the performance in that game shouldn’t make us doubt that the Jaguars are trending up. I will say: the season was a success relative to preseason expectations; it was a failure relative to post-Thanksgiving expectations. As Coen said, “Clearly it was not good enough for the full end of the season standard, but 31 other teams are having a similar conversation … that’s the beautiful part about this profession and the challenge that it brings.”
Henry Zimmer: This season was 100% a success. Winning 13 games certainly doesn’t happen often in Duval County, nor does going to the playoffs or even hosting a playoff game, for that matter. Outside of on-field success, this city embraced this team more so than it has in years. Whether it be through the Prowler jerseys or just coming to games, this season seemed to serve as a revitalization for the Jags, not only at home but across the overall NFL landscape.
Question 2
What are some names that you can’t tell the story of the Jaguars’ 2025 season without?
Dillon: Liam Coen, James Gladstone, Mason Graham, Travis Hunter, Trevor Lawrence, Devin Lloyd, Jake Browning, Robert Saleh, Jakobi Meyers, Davon Hamilton, Jarrian Jones, LeQuint Allen Jr.
Travis: Anthony Campanile feels like a name who is always tagged onto as an extra when discussing the story of the 2025 Jaguars, but this team doesn’t go .500 without the defense playing out of their minds early on. While the offense needed time to figure out their passing game issues, the defense, while working through issues of their own at safety, cornerback, and pass rush, continued to force turnovers at an impossible rate – giving the offense great field position and multiple bites at the apple on their way to an unexpected 4-1 start. Personnel were imperfect and missing multiple players (Caleb Ransaw on IR, Tyson Campbell traded, Greg Newsome acclimation period, Dewey Wingard slump, Eric Murray and Devin Lloyd injuries, etc). Yet, somehow they opened 4-1 and finished on an eight-game win streak. That’s primarily due to coaching.
Gus: Beyond the team’s three figureheads, its two All-Pro selections, its starting quarterback, and the guy named by Travis and Henry… I’d go with: Travis Hunter, who immediately became the organization’s most famous individual; Josh Hines-Allen, for breaking the franchise’s all-time sack record; Jakobi Meyers, whose arrival at the trade deadline wasn’t the only factor in turning the season around but was certainly the most noticeable; Cole Van Lanen, the OL’s Swiss Army knife (in Coen’s words); Brenton Strange and Travon Walker, for providing value that goes far beyond the stat sheet; Robert Hainsey and Jourdan Lewis, for being critical veteran additions; and LeQuint Allen Jr. and Dennis Gardeck, for being badasses. I also feel that shoutouts are in order for Travis Etienne, for keeping the RB1 job; Quintin Morris, for climbing the depth chart to TE2; and B.J. Green II and Danny Striggow, for making defensive plays as UDFA rookies.
Henry: You cannot talk about this past season without Anthony Campanile and, by extension, Devin Lloyd. This Jags team came sort of close to being a Sacksonville 2.0 but it was the way they turned offenses over that really stole the show. At the center of the Jacksonville turnover machine was Lloyd, who made himself a front-runner for the DPOY trophy for much of the season. This defense was supposed to be bad under a first-year coordinator, yet it turned out to be anything but. That success has already seen Campanile (unfortunately) at the center of head coaching interviews.
Question 3
What do you view as the Jaguars’ biggest need entering the offseason, and what do you think they should do to address it?
Dillon: I think pass rush is the biggest need by a mile. Hines-Allen and Walker are very good players but their impact is somewhat mitigated by a lack of interior pass rush and a lack of depth behind them. I would be surprised if the team made a splash move in that area this offseason, so that piece will have to come via the 2026 NFL Draft. Names like Caleb Banks (DT), Akheem Mesidor (DE), Ahmad Moten (DT), and Zion Young (DE) come to mind.
Travis: Where’s the beef? It always starts up front for me. The Jaguars’ defense is in dire need of a pass-rushing defensive tackle option to play next to Arik Armstead on passing downs (subbing in for DeVon Hamilton). I think adding someone like DT John Franklin-Meyers in free agency makes a ton of sense, while also adding a developmental option via the draft in preparation for when the team eventually moves on from Armstead (turns 33 next season).
Gus: I certainly hope Jacksonville makes moves to boost its pass rush, but I’m more fascinated by how they address the other side of the line. Jacksonville’s offensive line outperformed expectations early in the season before being struck by injuries. The unit was considered more of a lingering question than an apparent strength during the eight-game winning streak. I don’t want to overly criticize the OL — it’s not a
bad group. It’s just not great enough to allow Coen’s offense to destroy worlds. He can continue to scheme around a lack of elite blockers the way Kyle Shanahan, Mike McDaniel, and plenty of other coaches have, but a talent boost would allow him to fully open his playbook. Next season, I’d like to see more vertical passes from shotgun and more gap rushes with pulling blockers, please. There aren’t many attractive OL options in pro free agency or the college draft, so the front office should take several swings at the position and hope one or two hit.
Henry: The pass rush still needs to be fixed. At times it looked like the front had things under control but at other times — like in the playoffs — there was nothing up front when teams dropped back to pass. The same cannot be said obviously for stopping the run, but my big need for this team will be Jacksonville getting someone to rush the passer consistently. Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker are fine, but is there a way to improve this offseason?
Question 4
What’s a storyline that you’re looking forward to seeing unfold over the course of the offseason?
Dillon: The Travis Hunter storyline is somehow even more fascinating than it was to start this past season. The acquisition of Jakobi Meyers and the breakout of Parker Washington have made the need for his skills at wide receiver less important than the team’s need at corner. I fully expect Hunter to go into 2026 as the team’s CB1, but it will be interesting to see how he’s mixed into the offense, considering the team recently reiterated their plan to use him both ways going forward.
Travis: Does the Jaguars’ vertical game open up in 2026? This was undoubtedly the one area of the offense that failed to take off throughout 2025. Whether due to Brian Thomas Jr. not being the WR1 fans expected him to be, Travis Hunter’s early-season offensive developmental struggles, or Trevor Lawrence’s deep ball inaccuracy, the 30+ yard passing game never materialized. With Trevor being given the remainder of this offensive system this offseason and Hunter having a full season of experience in this offense under his belt, you have to believe the staff will be focusing heavily on building this offense into primarily an intermediate, middle-of-the-field passing operation.
Gus: What will Parker Washington’s role look like? It stuck out to me that he said after the 2025 campaign, “I haven’t started a season yet, knowing exactly what my opportunities are going to look like, so hopefully that’s the case.” He’s right to want some starting job security after breaking out in the second half of this past year; the former sixth-round pick ranked second in YPRR and third in PFF grade among 95 wideouts from Weeks 11-18. However, there may not be much room on the field, even in three-receiver sets, with Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, and Travis Hunter also on the roster. How much will Hunter’s role impact Washington, and vice versa?
Henry: I want to see if Campanile or offensive coordinator Grant Udinski leaves. Everyone saw Detroit’s success with all three major coaches at the top of their games. When both coordinators left, the Lions missed the playoffs. Hopefully, Jacksonville can keep its core together, but we do know that Campanile and Udinski are both already getting asked to do interviews.
Question 5
Do you have any way-too-early predictions or takes about the Jaguars’ 2026-27 season?
Dillon: Prediction: The Jacksonville offense is going to take another leap and finish as a top-three offense in 2026. Hot take: Travis Hunter leads the team in interceptions and receiving touchdowns in 2026.
Travis: I predict the team to sign just one first-day free agent, focusing heavily on the draft and depth signings later in the free agency period. I could also see this team winning fewer games in 2026, while potentially having a deeper roster. A 10-win 2026 season would still be an accomplishment and is heavily dependent on injury luck, what becomes of Anthony Campanile this offseason, and what the team does in late April with that draft-and-develop mindset.
Gus: Jacksonville may let Devin Lloyd walk in free agency, so the No. 2 linebacker spot behind Foye Oluokun (and who his own successor will be) could be a major storyline for the entire calendar year. I think Ventrell Miller will carve out an appreciated albeit limited role as a trigger man from the second level. For a juicier take, I think Travon Walker, Parker Washington, and a player not yet on the current roster will earn Pro Bowl nods. And I think Trevor Lawrence finishes second in MVP voting behind Jordan Love.
Henry: Jacksonville will not win 13 games again next year. That is not an indictment of the Jags, who may still win the division. But I do not believe that a 13-win season is sustainable year after year with the roster the Jags have. With no current first-round pick, a potential brain drain of coaches, and a handful of starters that may be on new teams, I just can’t imagine the Jags improving on their record next season. I think this may be a 10-win team at best in 2026-27.
Jags fans, let us know your final thoughts on the 2025 season, and early thoughts on the 2026 offseason, in the comments below!
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