Many NFL analysts are not fond of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2026 offseason.
The Jaguars were very quiet in free agency, with running back Chris Rodriguez being the team’s only outside addition, while Devin Lloyd and Travis Etienne signed elsewhere.
Then the Jaguars’ 2026 draft class has also been heavily criticized.
The latest critique of the Jaguars’ offseason comes from ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, who listed Jacksonville among his five “least improved teams” heading into the 2026 season.
“The Jaguars aren’t going to collapse and be one of the league’s worst teams, but expect to see some regression,” Schatz wrote. “How much pass rush is there beyond Josh Hines-Allen? Will the WR/CB Travis Hunter experiment work better in 2026? Is Cole Van Lanen ready to be a full-time left tackle, and can linebacker Ventrell Miller somehow replace Devin Lloyd without being a big step down? There are a lot of roster questions.”
To Schatz’s point, there are questions lingering on this roster, mainly at pass rusher behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. That said, every team has some unknowns at this stage of the offseason.
A difficult start to the 2026 schedule could also contribute to the Jaguars not reaching the 13-win mark this season.
However, one important aspect that the Jaguars have on their side, and it can’t be quantified, is continuity. Rather than learning brand new offensive and defensive schemes, which was the case last offseason, strong foundations in Liam Coen and Anthony Campanile’s systems have been established, providing a jumping-off point this offseason.
Lastly, just because there are questions in May, it doesn’t mean that the Jaguars haven’t addressed those needs. The team is clearly bullish on both Van Lanen and Miller, while GM James Gladstone added Wesley Williams and Zach Durfee at defensive end, along with Chris Rodriguez at running back and Ruke Orhorhoro at defensive tackle.
Coen’s overarching message to his team this offseason has been to continue to feel a sense of urgency, so that last year’s results become the norm for the Jaguars and not an outlier. The veterans taking a proactive role in helping the rookies along fits into that high urgency bucket.
“When it comes to our edge,” Coen said earlier this offseason, “we are constantly trying to find our edge. And as we go into Year 2 — Year 1 extremely important, right guys? For setting the tone and establishing the way that we want to operate, the way that we want to play, and going through that. I think we did that.
“There is no year more important than year two. There is no year because man, let’s be honest, there has been a lot of one-hit wonders. That’s the reality. And so, what are we doing to separate ourselves to make sure that never happens? So that we take the next step as a team.”
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars listed among 5 ‘least improved teams’ during 2026 offseason
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
