After a tumultuous 2024 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars front office has its work cut out finding players to fill the Jaguars’ offseason needs for 2025. From finding starters in the trenches to adding depth to the cornerback and wide receiver rooms, the Jaguars’ offseason needs are imperative for their success in 2025.
The Top Five Jaguars’ Offseason Needs For 2025
After the Jaguars hired Liam Coen, and with the announcement that Hall of Famer Tony Boselli is the new Executive Vice President of Football Operations, the Jaguars’ offseason needs can begin to be discussed. With the Jaguars’ offseason needs not being limited to one side of the ball, and their spending capabilities being among the most in the NFL, the Jaguars will have a busy offseason ahead of them.
Jacksonville has the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, along with the 36th, 70th, 88th, 105th, 124th, 142nd, 182nd, and 223rd picks. That draft haul is among the best in the NFL, and with the draft class being strong in many areas where they need to address, the Jaguars’ offseason needs can be met through the draft. They also have around 32 million in cap space, and with a strong free agent class two of their top five needs, the Jaguars will have multiple avenues to address their offseason needs.
1. Defensive Interior
The Jaguars have plenty of great individual players on defense, especially along the defensive line. Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen are two great defensive linemen, but the issue is in the interior of the defensive line. While Arik Armstead is expected to go back to being a full-time interior defensive lineman, the Jaguars still need another difference-maker at that position.
The Jaguars’ offseason needs to start with a defensive interior, and fortunately, the 2025 NFL Draft class is very strong along the interior. They can address their top need using their fifth overall pick on a player like Mason Graham from Michigan, or they can wait and select a good one in rounds two or three. There are at least ten quality defensive tackles in the draft, all deserving of going in the first three rounds. Day three, rounds four through seven, also have some intriguing prospects that the Jaguars can select. But the draft isn’t the only place with a good defensive tackle class.
There are multiple good free-agent defensive tackles in the 2025 free-agent class, with a combination of veteran leaders looking for a new team, and young and ascending defensive tackles looking for their first big deal in free agency. Overall, between the free agent class and the NFL Draft class having strong defensive interior talent, the Jaguars’ offseason needs can be easily met. It’s a good time to need a defensive interior, just as it’s a good time to need another position.
2. Offensive Guard
The Jaguars 2025 free agent class has one player that stands out above the rest in terms of importance, and it’s offensive guard Brandon Scherff. If the Jaguars decide to let him walk in free agency, which after his play in recent years seems like a good idea, the Jaguars would be in the market for an offensive guard. With the rest of the offensive line locked up for 2025 at the least, a right guard is the only position left to address. Boselli, now in a larger role in the Jaguars organization, will identify a right guard at one of the Jaguars’ offseason needs that has to be addressed.
Scherff leaving would open the door to filing that hole at right guard, and it can be done through the NFL Draft or free agency. With multiple solid offensive guard prospects in the draft, in nearly every round, the Jaguars will be able to address that need wherever they deem fit. Similarly to the defensive interior free agent class, the offensive guard class in free agency is also a great place for the Jaguars’ offseason needs to be addressed.
Outside of Scherff, some of the top offensive guards are in free agency. Both right guards from the Super Bowl are project-free agents, with Mekhi Becton and Trey Smith being potential options. Kevin Zeitler from Detroit is also a free-agent guard, and there are a bunch of other options that won’t be huge investments as well. Only needing to address one position along the offensive line is a huge step forward from previous seasons, where the Jaguars were looking to fill those holes with nearly anyone. Now, with a strong free agent class and draft class, the Jaguars’ offseason needs can be met in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
3. Outside Cornerback
For many Jaguars fans, while the offense was rough to watch in 2024, it was somewhat expected and explained with Doug Pederson at the helm and all of the injuries suffered throughout the year. The big disappointment was the defensive performance in 2024. The defense was one of the worst in the entire NFL and allowed the most passing yards in the league. One of the biggest reasons behind this performance was the defensive backfield, specifically the number two corner for the Jaguars.
Tyson Campbell was solid for the Jaguars during the season, and despite having a down year compared to his normal play, he was still their best boundary corner. Ronald Darby and Montaric Brown were the two corners playing the outside all year other than Campbell, and they both allowed over 600 receiving yards on the season. Brown allowed four touchdowns while Darby allowed five, and they were a large part of why the Jaguars pass defense struggled so much in 2024. With Jarrian Jones locking down the slot corner position, and Campbell looking to bounce back after getting a massive deal, the Jaguars need to address their number two corner slot.
Of the Jaguars’ offseason needs, the second boundary corner is the first where there isn’t an immediate hole, but rather the area in dire need of an upgrade. Both Brown and Darby are under contract for 2025, but neither should see a starting time in an ideal world. There are a few solid corners in the NFL Draft and free agency, but finding a solution for this position is one that the Jaguars will have to focus a lot of their efforts on if they want to find success in 2025.
The Jaguars’ offseason needs so far have been about filling holes or replacing veterans, but this position is different. Finding an upgrade at their other outside corner is the key to fixing the defensive backfield, and the Jaguars should look to invest a lot into that position. With the defense, the way it is now, getting that second boundary corner is the only missing piece for a defense that has a chance to rebound massively under new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
4. Wide Receiver
Out of all of the 2024 rookie wide receivers, Brian Thomas Jr. was the best. Not only did he lead the rookies in receiving yards and touchdowns, but he was also third overall in the entire NFL in receiving yards with 1,282 in his rookie campaign. With such a dominant rookie year, and Gabriel Davis and Christian Kirk under contract, along with Evan Engram around for another year, the need for another wide receiver doesn’t seem like an obvious one. However, it’s incredibly important for the Jaguars to look to add to their receiver room.
Unlike the previous three most important Jaguars’ offseason needs, the wide receiver position should be prioritized in the NFL Draft. With a cheap superstar at wide receiver thanks to Thomas’ rookie deal, the Jaguars have a bit more flexibility with the rest of their roster, something they needed with Trevor Lawrence‘s massive contract. Looking to add to the wide receiver room in the NFL Draft should be a priority, especially with how both Davis and Kirk have played in 2024.
Both Davis and Kirk could be on the chopping block during the offseason, and with a top-heavy wide receiver class, the Jaguars should be okay with spending one of their days one or two picks on a receiver to pair with Thomas long-term. In 2026, the Jaguars will need to add a receiver or decide to retain Kirk, so being a year ahead of schedule is not a big issue, especially if there is one in the draft that Coen and the front office fall in love with.
Another reason why wide receivers should be a top priority despite having Thomas is that a lot of the top offenses have two great wide receivers. A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Jamaar Chase and Tee Higgins, and Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are all examples of teams having two great wide receivers together. Coen had Godwin and Evans in Tampa, and if he wants to bring that offensive philosophy to Jacksonville, he will need to address the position in the NFL Draft.
Moving one of Kirk or Davis will save the Jaguars a lot of money, and that could be used to address other areas of the team while upgrading one of the most important positions in the NFL. Thomas is already an elite receiver, and adding another threat to the offense will only allow him to be even better. The future of the offense in Jacksonville is bright, and if Coen and the front office can add another dynamic receiving threat opposite of Thomas, the sky would be the limit for the Jaguars.
5. Running Back
Of all of the Jaguars’ offseason needs addressed, this one is the most up for debate on whether it should be a top need or not. Jacksonville already has Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby in the building for at least 2025. However, the Jaguars didn’t see nearly enough production from either back in 2024. Bigsby emerged as a solid runner but was still limited in the passing game. Etienne was banged up all year and wasn’t nearly the same as he was in his first two seasons.
His volume and efficiency went down in 2024, and with Etienne nearing the end of his rookie deal, the Jaguars should consider making changes in the running back room. Coen in Tampa Bay utilized Rachaad White and rookie Bucky Irving to their fullest in 2024, and the hope would be that Bigsby and Etienne could become that two-headed monster the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had. However, both Bigsby and Etienne are a step behind their Tampa counterparts, and they are easily replaceable soon.
Between the uncertain future for both players and their differing skill sets, the Jaguars’ offseason needs should include a running back. Just like the receivers, Jacksonville should look to the NFL Draft to solve this issue. With a stacked running back draft class, and the reemergence of the running back in the NFL during the 2024 season, the Jaguars should be all the more aware that addressing this position is important.
Whether it’s Etienne being traded and taking a running back in the first three rounds, or just adding to the room by taking one while keeping Etienne for another season, the Jaguars’ offseason needs to include a running back. Bigsby deserves another look, but Etienne might be the odd man out. Regardless of whether he’s kept, Jacksonville needs to add another running back to their roster.
Jaguars’ Offseason Needs: How to Address the Rest of the Roster
Looking at the rest of the roster, there are plenty of important positions to consider in both free agency and the NFL Draft. Adding a center is an important position to address, but that would only be impactful for 2026, as Mitch Morse will be the Jaguars center for 2025. He was arguably the best offensive lineman the Jaguars had in 2024, so his role is almost certainly secure for 2025.
On defense, the Jaguars will need to add a safety. Whether it’s by keeping Andre Cisco, drafting one during the NFL Draft, or finding a new free agent to come in and compete with Andrew Wingard, the Jaguars will need to add to that room in some capacity. The top five Jaguars’ offseason needs to look at the most important positions to address. With Wingard and Rayshawn Jenkins locked in at safety, the Jaguars will be adding competition for that position. They could look to invest a lot in that position, but with the rest of the holes on the roster, there are more pressing matters to address.
Jacksonville should also look to add depth at edge rusher and tight end, both of which have starters locked in, but depth down the road in question. One of the main reasons why the Jaguars fired Trent Baalke was due to his roster construction, and depth at edge rusher was always an issue.
Fixing that should be one of the Jaguars’ offseason needs to address, whether it’s by free agency or in the draft. But, with two stars already in place, a new edge isn’t a huge priority. So, while trading for and signing Myles Garrett is an intriguing target, he most likely won’t be heading to Jacksonville as they just don’t have such a big need for an edge rusher.
Overall, the Jaguars could use players at nearly every position, including backup quarterback, backup linebacker, and backup offensive tackle. Those last three are the least important of the Jaguars’ offseason needs, but they still need to be addressed in the offseason. All of these holes are important to consider, as the Jaguars have a chance to rebound from a disastrous end to the Pederson era with a revamped offense and new-look front office.
The Jaguars’ offseason needs span every position, but the priority in which they come is clear. Defensive interior and offensive guard are the two biggest needs for the Jaguars, and both can be addressed in either the NFL Draft or free agency. Jacksonville also needs to add another boundary corner and wide receiver to compete with the other top teams in the league. Running back will also end up being a priority thanks to the offensive philosophy of Liam Coen.
All in all, the top five Jaguars’ offseason needs are some of the most important positions in football. Thanks to Lawrence at quarterback, the Jaguars will be ready to compete right away, and these other positions that have been put on the back burner can finally be addressed with their solid cap space and strong draft pick collection. If the Jaguars’ offseason needs are met, and the coaching staff comes together nicely, the Jaguars will have a chance to win the AFC South and make it back to the playoffs. The future is bright in Jacksonville, and it can become even brighter if all of the Jaguars’ offseason needs are met during the 2025 offseason.
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