Jags Team Notes

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jags fans, this is an automated news feed that shares what's going on in Jacksonville.

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Over the coming weeks with the NFL’s free agency period on the horizon, I will be taking a closer look at each of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ pending free agents and predicting whether or not each player will return or sign elsewhere.

Up next is tight end Luke Farrell. If you missed our first preview of quarterback Mac Jones, you can find that here.

Farrell was a fifth-round pick by the Jaguars in the 2021 NFL draft and he’s played a fairly big role within the offense, particularly the last two seasons, playing over 800 snaps during that span.

As a pass-catcher, Farrell has only 36 receptions in his career, including just 12 in 2024. He’s totaled 318 yards at 8.8 yards per catch with no touchdowns.

Instead, where Farrell’s biggest impact comes on offense is as a blocker. According to PFF’s metrics, 72% of Farrell’s snaps have been as a blocker over the last two seasons. And for what it’s worth, by PFF’s metrics, Farrell took a major step forward in that regard this past season.

He’s also been a regular contributor on special teams, specifically on the punt coverage and kick return units.

While the emphasis for Liam Coen is on helping Trevor Lawrence bounce back, a key part of that equation will be the Jaguars being much more consistent in the run game. A factor in that is having a tight end who is capable and can hold their own as a blocker–which Farrell can help provide.

In addition to that, the Jaguars have only three tight ends under contract for the 2025 season, so depth is very much a need as well.

Re-signing Farrell isn’t going to break the salary cap bank by any means and it won’t impact whether or not the Jaguars’ further address the position in free agency or do so in the draft.

Bringing him back sure feels like a low risk move that helps provide some stability at a position that needs more depth and in the run game, which is going to have to play a key role in the Jaguars’ success on offense.

Prediction: Jaguars’ re-sign Luke Farrell.

Source

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Here is a first look at Jacksonville Jaguars 2025 NFL draft hat

During Super Bowl week, we got our first look at what the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2025 NFL draft hat will look like.

These are the hats that draft picks will put on when selected as they walk across the big stage.

The Fantasy Life account on X recently posted pictures of each team’s 2025 NFL draft hat. Below is a look at the Jaguars:

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13) pic.twitter.com/Hc1aTVdmcF

— Fantasy Life (@MBFantasyLife) February 7, 2025

The embroidery that you see on the brim is the same for every team. Then, under each team’s logo is the team’s location printed out and a nice touch is the team specific pin next to the logo.

For the Jaguars, the hat has Duval county listed for the location and “Duuuval!” is, of course, one way that fans show their support for the Jaguars. The pin is of the Main Street bridge that crosses the St. Johns River in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars will enter the 2025 NFL draft holding the fifth overall selection and have 10 picks in total, providing Jacksonville with an excellent opportunity to add to this roster.

A few positions of need for the Jaguars this offseason include addressing safety, cornerback, defensive tackle, and the offensive line.

In early mock drafts, the two most popular picks for the Jaguars are cornerback Will Johnson and defensive tackle Mason Graham. Will one of those prospects be wearing this hat on draft night?

Source: https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/09/first-look-jacksonville-jaguars-2025-nfl-draft-hat/

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars 2025 free agency predictions: Will RB D'Ernest Johnson return?

Over the coming weeks with the NFL’s free agency period on the horizon, I will be taking a closer look at each of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ pending free agents and predicting whether or not each player will return or sign elsewhere.

Up next is running back D’Ernest Johnson, but if you missed any of our other previews up to this point, you can find them below:

Mac Jones
Luke Farrell

Johnson has spent the last two seasons with the Jaguars. His role during that span has been relatively small, totaling 41 carries in 2023 and 32 carries in 2024, along with 22 total receptions.

This past season specifically, Johnson was more efficient as a ball carrier this year compared to last, averaging 4.5 yards per rush. He’s also shown the ability to pick up yards in the passing game when getting the ball in space, totaling 206 receiving yards on just 22 receptions since 2023.

Of note, Johnson went from playing 142 special teams snaps in 2023 to just 55 this past season–and didn’t include any beyond Week 9. For a back end of the depth chart player, the ability to help out on teams is a must for most.

As of now, the Jaguars have just three running backs under contract for the 2025 season, so multiple additions will have to be made. However, two of those backs are Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby.

In addition to that, and what I really think is working against Johnson when it comes to whether or not he will return, is the depth of this year’s running back draft class.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid said that he had a whopping 33 prospects with draftable grades. The opportunity for the Jaguars to add young, high-end talent at the position on a team-friendly rookie deal will exist and with 10 picks in this year’s draft, Jacksonville could reasonably add multiple backs to their 2025 roster as well.

Something to keep in mind when it comes to the running back position in Liam Coen’s offense is that both Rachaad White and Bucky Irving were top 15 among all running backs in targets last season.

So to put on bow on this, between Bigsby and Etienne both returning and it being an absolutely loaded draft class at running back, I think the Jaguars let Johnson explore free agency. While, of course, the Jaguars will want more roster depth for training camp and to create competition, realistically there may only be one roster spot on the 53-man at this position up for grabs this summer.

Prediction: D’Ernest Johnson signs elsewhere.

Source: https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/20...y-predictions-will-rb-dernest-johnson-return/

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Report: Jaguars' timeline for hiring next general manager revealed

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ search for their next general manager will officially get underway on Tuesday and there is a reported timeline for when they would like to have this role filled.

Last week, it was reported that the Jaguars requested to interview a number of candidates. Now this week, those interviews will begin, starting on Tuesday with San Francisco 49ers’ Director of Scouting and Football Operations Josh Williams.

49ers Director, Scouting and Football Operations Josh Williams will become the first candidate today to interview for the Jaguars GM job, per source. pic.twitter.com/Dv2zeAftYH

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 11, 2025

Ian Rapoport would also report on Tuesday that there are “roughly 10 or so” candidates for this opening. At this time, we know of nine interview requests that have been made:

– Ian Cunningham, Bears assistant GM

– Mike Greenberg, Bucs assistant GM
*Greenberg has withdrawn his name from consideration

– Chad Alexander, Chargers assistant GM

– Ethan Waugh, Jaguars assistant GM

– Trey Brown, Bengals senior personnel executive

– Brandon Brown, Giants assistant GM

– James Gladston, Rams Director of Scouting

– Josh Williams, 49ers Director of Scouting and Football Operations

– Terrance Gray, Bills Director of Player Personnel

NFL insider Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports would add that the interviews this week will be conducted virtually with Jacksonville having on eye on filling the GM role next week ahead of the NFL combine, which begins on February 27th.

Owner Shad Khan, Executive Vice President Tony Boselli, and head coach Liam Coen will lead the search for the team’s next general manager.

Source: https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/20...imeline-hiring-next-general-manager-revealed/

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Who have Jaguars interviewed for general manager job?

Who have the Jacksonville Jaguars interviewed so far for their general manager opening?

Interviews started earlier this week and are taking place virtually. CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones would report that the Jaguars hope to have a new general manager in place by the end of next week, prior to the NFL Combine.

During a recent interview on 1010XL, Executive Vice President Tony Boselli highlighted what the Jaguars are looking for in their next GM:

– The character of the individual and understanding who they are.

– What is their vision and philosophy of football?

– And lastly, what’s their process for establishing that vision and then executing on it?

Boselli also added that the search committee said Boselli will be himself, owner Shad Khan, head coach Liam Coen, and team President Mark Lamping.

With help from the Jaguars team site, here is who Jacksonville has completed interviews with up to this point:

Former Titans GM Jon Robinson: The Titans had a record of 66-48 from 2016-2022 during Robinson’s tenure. They made the playoffs four times and reached the AFC Championship Game once. However, Robinson also traded away star receiver AJ Brown on draft night in 2022 to the Philadelphia Eagles as well.

Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown: Brown has been in this role with the Giants since the 2022 season. He got his start at the NFL level as a scout in the Colts’ organization in 2015 before joining the Eagles as the assistant director of pro scouting and then being the director of pro scouting.

Bills Director of Player Personnel Terrance Gray: The 2024 season was Gray’s third in his current role with the Bills. He’s been in the Buffalo organization for the last eight seasons. His background is largely rooted in college scouting.

Bengals senior personnel executive Tre Brown: Brown has been in Cincinnati since 2021 and was a finalist for the Jets GM opening this offseason. He’s also been apart of the Philadelphia and New England organizations in scouting roles. Bengals on Sports Illustrated wrote that Brown has worked closely with GM Duke Tobin during his tenure. Brown has interviewed for a few different GM openings over the years.

Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander: The 2024 season was Alexander’s first as the assistant GM with the Chargers. Before that, he spent five seasons with the Jets as their director of player personnel. Alexander’s career started in Baltimore’s organization where he spent 20 seasons, including as a pro scout. The Chargers went from missing out on the playoffs to a playoff team in 2024 thanks to revamping their roster in free agency and hitting on a number of draft picks.

49ers Director of scouting Josh Williams: Williams has been with the 49ers the last 14 seasons and has a scouting background. He’s worked on both the college and pro scouting sides. In his current role, which he was promoted to last offseason, Williams has worked closely with 49ers’ general manager John Lynch and “directs pro and college scouting efforts,” according to the 49ers team site.

Rams Director of scouting strategy James Gladstone: Gladstone has been with the Rams for eight seasons and in his current role for four years. During that span, the Rams organization has finished with a combined record of 37-31, which includes three 10-plus win seasons, three playoff appearances, and a Super Bowl win, hitting on a number of draft picks and often operating aggressively in free agency.

Still to interview, based on the initial requests that the Jaguars made for this role, is Ian Cunningham, the Chicago Bears assistant GM and someone Adam Schefter believes will be “in contention” for this job.

Also of note, current Jaguars interim GM Ethan Waugh, who was the assistant GM under Trent Baalke, is reportedly a “strong” candidate for this role.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler would also mention Packers VP of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan as a name to watch–although no formal interview has been reported.

Source: https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/13/who-jaguars-interviewed-general-manager-job/

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars' NFL draft: Just 2 safeties on Daniel Jeremiah's top 50 big board

Perhaps of interest to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah released version 2.0 of his top 50 prospects big board for the 2025 NFL draft and included were only two safeties.

The safety position–and the secondary as a whole–is a major need for the Jaguars this offseason.

Collectively in 2024, the Jaguars’ pass defense ranked 24th in completion rate and were bottom three in passer rating, interceptions, and yards per pass attempt–giving up way too many big plays. In fact, the Jaguars’ defense allowed 22 plays of at least 30 yards and eight receptions of 50 or more yards.

Included on Jeremiah’s big board at the safety spot were South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori at No. 25 and Georgia’s Malaki Starks at No. 34

At 6-3 – 227 pounds, Emmanwori is expected to test extremely well at the NFL combine and has spent the bulk of his college snaps playing closer to the line of scrimmage, which is also where Darnell Savage is at his best.

Starks, meanwhile, would fill the free safety role for the Jaguars and will bring a versatile and well-rounded skill set to the NFL level.

With the fifth overall pick in the draft, neither of these prospects will be in play for the Jaguars in the first round unless Jacksonville wants to trade back to the mid-teens at the earliest.

When it comes to addressing the safety position in the draft specifically, the earliest likely option that Jacksonville could do that is in Round 2. However, if the Jaguars’ big board somewhat aligns with how Jeremiah has these prospects evaluated, options might be low there as well.

It’s possible that both Starks and Emmanwori could be gone before that point, and it’s also possible that, value-wise, taking any other safety at that spot may not be the prudent move.

A successful draft often starts with giving yourself as many paths as possible throughout the three days, and if Jacksonville goes into this year’s draft still needing a top-tier safety presence, then they may be lacking those options when it comes to attempting to address this need early on.

That, in turn, can lead to reaching or being overly aggressive when it may not necessarily call for it.

To avoid this scenario, perhaps we see the Jaguars choose to address the safety need in free agency. That way, addressing safety right away is no longer a must, and Jacksonville can instead let the board come to them and bolster the depth at that position when it makes sense.

Source: https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/20...2-safeties-daniel-jeremiahs-top-50-big-board/