- - 2026 NFL offseason preview: Jacksonville Jaguars make strong step with Liam Coen in Year 1 but what's the plan for Travis Hunter?

Dan PizzutaJanuary 12, 2026 at 6:16 AM

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Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars entered the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the NFL before the Bills ended their Super Bowl hopes. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) (Mike Carlson via Getty Images)

The NFL offseason has begun, and Yahoo Sports is previewing the coming months for all 32 teams, from free agency through the draft and more.

AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Patriots | Jets AFC North: Ravens | Bengals | Browns | Steelers AFC South: Texans | Colts | Jaguars | Titans AFC West: Broncos | Chiefs | Raiders | Chargers NFC East: Cowboys | Giants | Eagles | Commanders NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings NFC South: Falcons | Panthers | Saints | Buccaneers NFC West: Cardinals | Rams | 49ers | Seahawks

Jacksonville Jaguars

2025 season record: 13-4 (o 7.5 wins), first in AFC South, lost to Bills in AFC wild-card round, sixth in DVOA

Overview

It’s impossible to overstate the success of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first year of head coach Liam Coen. Thirteen wins and an AFC South title are more than most Jacksonville fans could have imagined, even at some points during this regular season. The first half of the season was rocky with an offense that wasn’t clicking and a “plan” for second overall draft pick Travis Hunter that felt like he was being held back from his potential on both sides of the ball.

[Get more Jaguars news: Jacksonville team feed]

But this team became one of the best over the second half of the season. The Jakobi Meyers trade allowed all the offensive pieces to fall into place while Trevor Lawrence ranked fourth in EPA per play and third in success rate from Week 11 until the end of the regular season. The Jaguars were third in weighted DVOA by the time the season ended.

Jacksonville got the most out of its talent and it still feels like there’s more to come. A Year 1 couldn’t be much better and expectations are sky-high for Year 2.

Cap/cuts outlook

The Jaguars are about $15.5 million over the salary cap in effective cap space, the eighth-lowest in the NFL, according to Over The Cap. It’s tough to look at this cap situation and imagine Trent Baalke almost had another go as general manager. There aren’t a lot of clear cost-saving moves with a few players who would save around $2 million each. Jacksonville also doesn’t have a ton of restructure options. OT Walker Little could open just under $8 million, but his status in the lineup is questionable with the recent extension for guard Cole Van Lanen. A trade could also save $7 million.

Would Travon Walker be a trade candidate? With the former first overall draft pick set to play on his fifth-year option, the Jaguars could free up $15 million and recoup some draft capital lost in the Travis Hunter trade, which cost Jacksonville its first-round pick this year.

Key pending free agents

LB Devin Lloyd RB Travis Etienne Jr. CB Montaric Brown S Andrew Wingard

Lloyd had his fifth-year option declined, but came through with several big plays throughout the 2025 season. But Lloyd was only 78th in yards allowed per coverage snap and 39th among linebackers in FTN’s defeats. Etienne was another former first-round pick who came alive in his final season. Etienne was 11th in rushing yards, but just 42nd in success rate among 49 running backs with at least 100 carries. Brown was impressive as an outside corner in the Anthony Campanile defense. He ranked 15th among cornerbacks in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap.

Positional needs

Cornerback Interior defensive line Offensive line

Jacksonville’s need for a cornerback could hinge on the recovery and projected role when Hunter returns. He played well as an outside corner and ranked 36th in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap at the position. But it’s unclear what the Jags have planned for him going forward. The Tyson Campbell for Greg Newsome trade was a lose-lose and Newsome will be a free agent.

Arik Armstead was second on the team in pressures and was often the only player on the interior able to create penetration. Against the run, Jacksonville was seventh in success rate, but just 21st in stuff rate for tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage.

The Jaguars need to figure out how they want to approach the offensive line. The extension for Cole Van Lanen was the first indication. By EPA per play, the best offensive line combination has been what the Jaguars ran out late in the season, going Van Lanen, Ezra Cleveland, Robert Hainsey, Walker Little and Anton Harrison from left to right. Jacksonville has a decision to make on Harrison’s fifth-year option and Cleveland will go into 2026 on the final year of his contract.

2026 NFL Draft picks

2nd round 3rd round (DET) 3rd round 3rd round (DET projected compensatory) 4th round 5th round (SF) 5th round 7th round (DET) 7th round (LAR)

Good draft fit

Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

Hunter isn't the dynamite penetrator the Jaguars would prefer, but his combination of size and production might be too good to pass up. Plus, his pass-rushing juice can help him stay on the field all three downs and impact the game.

Betting nugget

The Jaguars were one of the NFL’s best teams as a favorite, going 7-1 against the number in the regular season. — Ben Fawkes

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Sports”