Jaguar Report

5 Questions Facing the Jaguars Entering the Offseason

The Jacksonville Jaguars have some key questions facing them entering the 2026 offseason.
From left, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, general manager James Gladstone and Tony Boselli, executive vice president of football operations, talk after an NFL training camp session at the Miller Electric Center, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
From left, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, general manager James Gladstone and Tony Boselli, executive vice president of football operations, talk after an NFL training camp session at the Miller Electric Center, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars are officially building for tomorrow. After Sunday's Wild Card loss, all the Jaguars can do is start planning for how to avenge it a year from now.

For the Jaguars, that means facing some very real questions and realities that are set to shape their offseason and, eventually, the 2026 season. So, what are the biggest questions facing the Jaguars entering the offseason?

Travis Hunter's role

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Oct 6, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) reacts after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The future role of Travis Hunter will be at the forefront of the Jaguars' offseason. The Jaguars only got seven games out of the No. 2 pick due to a non-contact knee injury, but he seemed to be trending in a very positive direction at the time of his injury. It seems like the Jaguars need more help at cornerback than at receiver, though, which begs the question of how exactly they will deploy the multifaceted Hunter next year,

Who to keep?

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) walks off the field after losing to the Bills during an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Bills lead 10-7 at the half over the Jaguars. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] | Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Jaguars are set to have over a dozen players hit free agency with expiring contracts in March, including former first-round picks and key starters Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd. Whether the Jaguars keep both, let each walk, or choose to retain just one could shift their entire focus on that side of the ball, while there are other key depth players such as linebacker Dennis Gardeck and cornerback Montaric Brown who are also on expiring deals.

Contracts for Travon Walker, Breton Strange, Parker Washington

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) walks off the field after the game of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Jaguars did a good job this season of being proactive on getting important deals done before players ever hit the market such as with Jakobi Meyers and Cole Van Lanen. There are three more players they could look to get ahead of the eight ball on: Travon Walker, who will otherwise be playing on his fifth-year option, and 2023 draft picks Brenton Strange and Parker Washington. Anton Harrison should be more of a 2027 question due to his own fifth-year option.

Level of aggression

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Sep 21, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone on the field during pregame against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images | Travis Register-Imagn Images

James Gladstone comes from a Los Angeles Rams front office that was never afraid to push all of their chips into the middle of the table. Gladstone's first offseason as Jaguars general manager was defined by his own bold move in the big trade up for Travis Hunter. With the Jaguars having a need for another impact defender or lineman, it feels safe to wonder just how aggressive Gladstone will be.

Draft cache

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Jan 4, 2026; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone looks on from the sideline against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images | Travis Register-Imagn Images

What will the Jaguars do with all of these draft picks? As things stand today, the Jaguars have nine draft picks and four in the top-100. Unless the Jaguars let every single one of their interal free agents walk -- which seems unlikely -- that is a lot of draft picks to make for a playoff roster. How the Jaguars turn those nine picks into other assets could define the offseason.

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John Shipley
JOHN SHIPLEY

John Shipley has been covering the Jacksonville Jaguars as a beat reporter and publisher of Jaguar Report since 2019. Previously, he covered UCF's undefeated season as a beat reporter for NSM.Today, covered high school prep sports in Central Florida, and covered local sports and news for the Palatka Daily News. Follow John Shipley on Twitter at @_john_shipley.

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