There’s really no other way to spin it. The Jacksonville Jaguars were a bad football team last year.
They couldn’t possess the ball or score with any consistency on offense, and they couldn’t pressure the quarterback or stop anyone on defense. It’s almost a shame that Jacksonville had to trade a haul of future draft capital to move up to No. 2 overall for Travis Hunter, as the Jaguars were barely a better football team than the Browns or Titans in 2024.
Owner Shad Khan and company made major changes offseason, including an overhauled coaching staff, led by first-year head coach Liam Coen, and a retooled roster now devoid of veterans Evan Engram, Brandon Scherff, Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis.
Have the Jaguars done enough, though, to get the most out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence and make serious moves in the AFC South in 2025?
CBS Sports analyst Cody Benjamin says yes.
In one of his bold predictions for the 2025 season, Benjamin has the Jaguars challenging the Houston Texans for the division title this year:
“The Jaguars surge under new coach Liam Coen,” he wrote, “giving the Texans a run for their money atop the AFC South, as Trevor Lawrence finally rounds into franchise-quarterback form.”
Jacksonville’s offense should be much improved under Coen, as former coach Doug Pederson’s play calling grew stale at the end. Keeping Lawrence healthy will be another major factor, as his new skill position group of Brian Thomas Jr., Hunter, Dyami Brown, Brenton Strange and new speedy rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten should open up more opportunities for explosive plays.
It’s the defense that remains a major cause for concern. The Jags struggled against the pass in 2024, and aside from whatever Hunter can give the team at cornerback, and veteran nickel Jourdan Lewis, GM James Gladstone passed on adding a true difference-maker to that group.
The Jags will be relying on Tyson Campbell to stay healthy, and Jarrian Jones to excel in Year 2 in more of a boundary corner role. They’ll also be looking for an improved pass rush, with Arik Armstead moving back to his more traditional defensive tackle spot. Time will tell if that unit can improve leaps and bounds under first-year coordinator Anthony Campanile.
The Texans won 10 games last season. Can the Jaguars jump from four wins to double digits in Coen’s first season in charge? That feels a little steep, but we’ll get a better sense during training camp on how things are clicking to start this new era in Duval County.
MORE: Browns catch more strays for Travis Hunter decision in Bleacher Report’s 2025 offseason rankings
Read the full article here
