JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - JANUARY 07: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars drops back to pass during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at TIAA Bank Field on January 07, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)
The Jacksonville Jaguars had another disappointing season, missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year with a 4-13 record. The team struggled with injuries and inconsistencies on both sides of the ball. The best part of the season was the breakout rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who led the team with 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season. Outside of Thomas, the rest of the offense was stagnant, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence having a rough season full of injuries and running back Travis Etienne Jr. having the worst season of his career.
Heading into the offseason, the Jaguars needed a change of culture and decided to fire former head coach Doug Peterson. The team brought in former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Coen was only an offensive coordinator for one season with the Buccaneers, but has extensive coaching experience at both the NFL and college levels, including stints with the Rams, the University of Kentucky and the University of Maine.
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The Jaguars didn’t stop making changes to their team this offseason; they signed several players, including cornerback Jourdan Lewis, to a three-year deal to help improve their weak secondary. They also signed safety Eric Murray, who had three interceptions last season with the Texans. Finally, their last major offseason move was signing offensive guard Patrick Mekari to a three-year deal. Jacksonville also lost tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Christian Kirk this offseason, which will leave some holes on the offense, which struggled last season.
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Jacksonville made their most significant move on draft day, moving up from the 5th overall pick to the 2nd overall pick and selected 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who played both offense and defense for Colorado the season before. Hunter fills a major need on both sides of the football, giving Lawrence another weapon to pair with Thomas, as well as filling in on a lackluster secondary. Jacksonville also made some other key selections in the draft, like cornerback Caleb Ransaw out of Tulane, guard Wyatt Milum out of West Virginia and running back Bhayshul Tuten out of Virginia Tech.
The Jaguars will have an easier path to returning to the playoffs, with the 24th-easiest schedule, according to Fox Sports. Jacksonville opens the season vs a rebuilding Panthers team at home in what should be a statement game for new head coach Coen. The key to having a successful season will come early for Jacksonville, as they play many of their key games in weeks two through seven, facing teams like the 49ers, Bengals, Rams, Seahawks, Texans, and Chiefs during that time. With Lawrence healthy and the offense rejuvenated by a new coaching staff, the Jaguars will have a lot to prove in the 2025-2026 season to reclaim the AFC South title, last won in the 2022 season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ win total for the season is set at 7.5 and has odds of +8000 to win their first Super Bowl. The team is favored in only six games despite having one of the easiest schedules in the NFL next season. Rookie Travis Hunter opens the season with an unprecedented line of +1000 odds of winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year, which has never been done in NFL history.
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