The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t do a whole lot during the 2023 offseason. All but one of the team’s 22 starters from the season prior returned, as did almost all of Doug Pederson’s coaching staff.
After a disappointing season that saw the team fail to reach the playoffs, things have to be different in 2024. The Jaguars already got started by firing defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, but there’s plenty more changes to make if the team hopes to get back to the postseason next year and get the franchise’s trajectory back on track.
With the offseason just getting started for the Jaguars, here are five big decisions they’ll have to make before the 2024 season gets started about eight months from now:
Who will be the next defensive coordinator?
Despite appeals from plenty of Jaguars fans, it doesn’t look like offensive coordinator Press Taylor or general manager Trent Baalke are getting the boot. The biggest change among Jacksonville leadership will instead be at defensive coordinator after Mike Caldwell was fired earlier this month.
The Jaguars finished 24th in the NFL in yards allowing during the 2022 season, Caldwell’s first with the franchise, and improved to just 22nd after returning all 11 starters in 2023.
Jacksonville certainly needs an infusion of talent along the defensive line and better depth at outside linebacker, among other personnel changes. However, it’ll be up to a new coach to get the most out of young players like Travon Walker, Tyson Campbell, Devin Lloyd, Andre Cisco, and Antonio Johnson.
Candidates for the job currently include former Ravens and Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and current Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen.
What should the Jaguars do with Cam Robinson?
Before the 2023 season began, it seemed Robinson’s days with the Jaguars were numbered. The offensive tackle was set to serve a four-game suspension, making way for Walker Little to start the year at left tackle.
With a $21.1 million cap hit on the way for Robinson in 2024 and $17.75 million in potential savings by parting with the lineman, it looked like Little taking over was just about inevitable.
What became clear, though, is that Robinson brings something that was hard for the Jaguars to replace. His leadership, energy, and aura was a significant boost when he returned, and it was sorely missed late in the year while Robinson was on injured reserve.
Meanwhile, Little played OK during his time in the lineup, but struggled through knee and hamstring injuries. He was especially ineffective at left guard and eventually replaced in the starting lineup by Ezra Cleveland upon Robinson’s return.
If the Jaguars feel like they can trust Little to be their left tackle, $17.75 million would be useful to make upgrades elsewhere — like the interior of the offensive line, perhaps. But it seemed abundantly clear in 2023 that Jacksonville was better with Robinson in the lineup.
Should the Jaguars re-sign Calvin Ridley?
Ridley finished the 2023 season with 76 receptions, 1,016 yards, and eight touchdowns. Those are pretty solid numbers for a player who was nearly two years removed from football when he made his Jaguars debut.
Yet, the veteran receiver’s season was largely defined by missed opportunities. There were a lot of chances for Ridley to make big plays, but they often literally slipped through his fingers.
One way or another, the Jaguars are going to send a Day 2 draft pick to the Atlanta Falcons as part of the 2022 trade to acquire Ridley. If they re-sign the receiver before free agency begins on March 13, the Falcons will get a second-round pick. Otherwise, it’ll be a third-rounder headed to Atlanta.
By letting him walk, Jacksonville may even recoup much of the value of the lost third-rounder with a compensatory pick in 2025. But losing a 1,000-yard receiver isn’t exactly an easy decision.
Ridley could be an even better player after developing chemistry with Trevor Lawrence, a year of learning the Jaguars’ offense, and much less rust to kick off.
Which direction should the Jaguars go with their 1st round pick?
There’s no shortage of areas on the Jaguars’ roster that could use an upgrade, but there aren’t exactly gigantic holes either. Only a few starters are set to hit free agency and it doesn’t look like there’s any chance Jacksonville lets Josh Allen walk.
While interior offensive line — Luke Fortner, in particular — stands out as a weakness, centers rarely go in the first round.
A defensive lineman, cornerback, wide receiver, or pass rusher would all make sense too.
Having options and not being pigeonholed into a singular direction is a good thing. That doesn’t mean the Jaguars can afford to miss, though. A lack of an impact from most of the 2023 rookie class played a big role in the Jaguars’ disappointing season.
Is 2024 the year to give Trevor Lawrence an extension?
Last offseason, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson was already talking about what seemed inevitable: a massive contract extension for Lawrence during the 2024 offseason.
At that point, the 23-year-old former No. 1 overall pick was coming off a Pro Bowl season with 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a dramatic playoff victory.
This year, Lawrence enters the offseason after a frustrating year with 21 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and a flurry of injuries in the latter half of the season that contributed to a season-ruining tailspin for the Jaguars.
There’s plenty of debate about how much of Jacksonville’s disappointing season was Lawrence’s fault. But no matter how you cut it, there’s much less excitement about the quarterback’s future now than there was a year ago.
Still, if Lawrence is the quarterback the Jaguars want to build their franchise around, the price tag is only going to keep rising the longer they wait to pay him. Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Lamar Jackson all got contracts last offseason that averaged at least $52 million and that number will inevitably continue to climb closer to $60 million as more franchise quarterbacks get paid.
