Following a stagnant free agency and a panned draft class, experts warn that Jacksonville’s roster regression could derail their momentum after last year’s AFC South title run.
The criticism of the Jacksonville Jaguars' offseason continues to pour in.
After a wildly successful 13-4 season, which included an AFC South division championship, the popular opinion is that the Jaguars did not do nearly enough in the offseason to continue their winning ways in 2026. Many people believe that Jacksonville will take a step back this season, largely the result of what is viewed as an underwhelming showing in free agency and a draft class that has been poorly reviewed,
Now, Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports has declared the Jaguars' offseason as the absolute worst in the NFL, naming Jacksonville the league's "biggest offseason loser."
Same Old Criticisms
In his piece, Dajani doesn't really offer anything new, instead just rehashing the same old criticisms the Jaguars have heard for months. Dajani took the usual shots at Jacksonville's inactivity during free agency and the "reaches" the team made in the draft.
"The Jags objectively got worse in free agency, losing linebacker Decon Lloyd, running back Travis Etienne, cornerback Greg Newsome II and safety Andrew Wingard. The only players Jacksonville signed from outside the organization this year were reserves Chris Rodriguez Jr., Ameer Abdullah, Dane Jackson and Trystan Colon-Castillo.
"In the draft, the Jaguars put together what many would call the worst class this year. It's not fair to judge an entire draft class before the players have taken a single snap, but the picks were a bit confusing. The Jags drafted Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher at No. 56 overall. He's going to be an older rookie who caught just 19 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns last season, but offensive coordinator Grant Udinski has said he's going to change their offense. What?"
Still Thinks Jaguars Could Win Division
What is surprising about Dajani's rant on the Jaguars is that he still thinks very highly of the team this season, saying he "wouldn't be surprised" to see them win the division again.
Dajani notes several reasons for his optimism, like Trevor Lawrence, the coaching staff, and having the top rushing defense in the NFL. He also points out the disappointing 2025 seasons from Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter, and expects both to have a much greater impact this season.
It's almost like all those points factored into what the Jaguars did (or didn't do) in the offseason.
Was Offseason Really That Bad?
Any time a team loses more than it gains in free agency, it's easy to list them as "losers" of the offseason. Jacksonville's draft didn't include a first-round pick this year because of the trade-up for Travis Hunter last year, which will always knock a draft class down a peg or two.
But was the offseason really that bad?
The money the Jaguars saved by not retaining Etienne and Lloyd in free agency has been put to good use. The team was able to sign Ross Matiscik, widely considered the best long-snapper in the NFL, to an extension.
The team also announced a three-year contract extension with tight end Brenton Strange. Signing Strange long-term was one of Jacksonville's top priorities this offseason.
Wide receiver Parker Washington is also expected to ink a new deal with the Jaguars in the very near future. Star safety Antonio Johnson is eligible for free agency after the season. Keeping him will be vital for the continued success of the defense. Johnson's extension will probably be north of $20 million per year.
Sometimes it's better to focus on extending your home-grown talent than splurging on outside free agents.
Perhaps the most important accomplishment the Jaguars have had this offseason was being able to keep both of their coordinators. Grant Udinski and Anthony Campanile each interviewed for multiple head coaching positions during this last cycle. Yet, both returned to Jacksonville.
That is a huge offseason win.
Final Thoughts
It's impossible to judge a draft class before any of the players even take the field in NFL games, but that doesn't stop us. Maybe the Jaguars did reach for some of their picks, but if they perform well, nobody will care that they were picked too high.
Jacksonville did lose some key players in free agency, but have already started putting that money towards extending other key players, with more likely on the way.
Keeping both Udinski and Campanile for another season should really keep the Jaguars off of any offseason "loser" list. Look no further than the Detroit Lions, who regressed from 15-2 in 2024 to 9-8 last season after losing both coordinators to head coaching jobs.
Jacksonville is still one of the top teams in the AFC this season, and are set up to very good for a long time.
Teams only should care about winning Super Bowls and not winning offseasons.
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