High marks! Handing out our final grades for the Jaguars newest draft class
The NFL draft is in the books and the Jaguars made nine selections over the three-day event. The News4JAX sports staff hands out grades on how Jacksonville did as it attempts to get the franchise back on track after a disappointing finish to a 9-8 season.
Grading the Jaguars pick of LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr.: Solid across the board
The Jaguars traded back in the first round of the NFL draft, moving from No. 17 to 23. They pocketed three additional picks in the process, and used their first-rounder to select LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The News4JAX sports staff grades the selection and the move of general manager Trent Baalke.
Doug Pederson gets โmotivationโ from Jaguarsโ late-season collapse
Doug Pederson spoke Monday morning at the NFL ownerโs meeting in Orlando, saying that heโll probably never come to terms with Jacksonvilleโs woeful finish to the 2023 season. The Jaguars were viewed as a potential Super Bowl contender. Instead, they melted down under the pressure.
Jaguars GM Baalke shoots down โfalse narrativesโ, says team can rebound quickly
Saying that thereโs no internal strife threatening to split the franchise apart, general Trent Baalke is steadfast in his belief that the Jaguars are still positioned well to get back on track quickly after the most disappointing finish in franchise history.
NFL draft primer: Draft party, late pick history and who the Jaguars have in mind
For just the second time in the past 15 years, the Jaguars are picking outside of the top 20 in the NFL draft. That means fans at the sold out Duuuval draft party at Dailyโs Place will have to wait quite a bit longer than theyโre accustomed to cheer (or jeer) Jacksonvilleโs draft choice.
Trent Baalke: Jaguars have โ2 or 3โฒ players in mind for first-round pick
After years of making high draft picks (Jacksonville has had its own pick after the 10th spot just once in the past 15 years), the Jaguars find themselves in a far different position this time. When the NFL draft rolls around on April 27, the Jaguars will pick 24th in the first round, their latest selection since they chose Florida defensive tackle Taven Bryan 29th in 2018.
UNF poll finds voters hopeful for Jaguarsโ future despite waning faith in front office
A UNF poll released Thursday morning revealed faith in the Jaguars' front office is shaken but those polled still see some bright spots for the Jaguarsโ future with a new coach and young quarterback to lead the way.
Roof damage: Company sponsoring โclown gameโ wants no part of it, sues Jaguars
A Jaguars sponsor wants no part of the clown out game on Sunday against the Colts and is suing to get out of a sponsorship agreement with the team, saying the โtoxic environmentโ around the franchise is now a โdetrimentโ in doing business together.
Jaguars sponsor sues to have name removed from 'clown game'
The title sponsor for Jacksonvilleโs season finale against Indianapolis is suing the Jaguars in hopes of having its name disassociated from the game during which disgruntled fans are planning to dress as clowns to protest team owner Shad Khanโs decision to retain general manager Trent Baalke.
Jaguars GM Trent Baalke joins Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow as Glen Kernan homeowner
A week ago, the Jacksonville Daily Record wrote that Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer and his wife purchased a home in Glen Kernan Golf & Country Club, moving onto the same street as his former University of Florida QB, Tim Tebow.
Jaguars GM Trent Baalke joins Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow as Glen Kernan homeowner
A week ago, the Jacksonville Daily Record wrote that Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer and his wife purchased a home in Glen Kernan Golf & Country Club, moving onto the same street as his former University of Florida QB, Tim Tebow.
Jaguars GM on free agency mindset: โPush the envelope and spend to the capโ
Whether thatโs in signing value players or spending on a big-ticket free agent or two shortly after 4 p.m. on March 17, donโt expect Jacksonville to sit idly by. AdโWeโre always going to look to push the envelope and spend, spend to the cap on a three-year rolling cycle, whether youโre above or below, but over a three-year period, hoping to spend to the cap,โ Baalke said. Fewer teams are in position to offer rich free agent contracts, which will no doubt lead to a buyerโs market, at least in 2021. Caldwellโs free agent history was rough. AdRemember expensive free agent additions like quarterback Nick Foles, tight end Julius Thomas, running backs Chris Ivory and Toby Gerhart and guard Zane Beadles?
Jaguars announce hires of veteran executive Gamble, Stamper
FILE - Jacksonville Jaguars helmets are seen on the practice field during an NFL football workout, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The Jacksonville Jaguars announced the hiring of veteran NFL executive Tom Gamble and former Florida linebacker Ryan Stamper as director of player assessment Monday. Gamble was named senior personnel executive and will assist general manager Trent Baalke in every aspect of the team's front office. Stamper is the lone addition to Jacksonville's staff who worked with new Jaguars coach Urban Meyer at Ohio State. He most recently served as assistant general manager of the CFLโs Montreal Alouettes in 2020 after working as a senior advisor to the head coach and player personnel at Michigan (2017-19). Stamper, a Jacksonville native, spent the past nine seasons of his career overseeing player development at Ohio State.
Urban Meyer hopes Jaguars coaching staff is complete by next week
The new Jaguars coach is dialed in on one thing โ filling out a coaching staff. โObviously I didnโt know Trent, we met years ago, so I knew him but I didnโt know him. Iโve been very fortunate, my entire head coaching career, Iโve always looked at everything that Iโve done is a partnership. โYeah, next week Iโd like to, weโll give a deep dive into whatโs taken place because thereโs been no finality to where were at as a coaching staff,โ Meyer said. Thatโs a three-month, two-month, I think we all know thereโs a couple incredible players out there, but my focus has been on the staff,โ Meyer said.
Jaguars stay in house, promote Trent Baalke to new general manager
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)JACKSONVILLE, FLa. โ The Jaguars looked far and wide for their next general manager, but wound up not even leaving the building. Baalke joined the Jaguars in February 2020, serving as the director of player personnel. The word alignment was the buzzword on Thursday afternoon, with Meyer, Baalke and owner Shad Khan saying that decisions for the franchise would work best when everyone was in sync. Baalke took over on an interim basis as general manager Dave Caldwell was fired in late November. โSpending the last, a lot of time with Coach Meyer in the past couple of weeks Iโve learned a tremendous amount,โ he said.
Jaguars promoting interim GM Trent Baalke to general manager, report says
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Five days after hiring Urban Meyer as head coach, the Jaguars appear to be close to promoting interim general manager Trent Baalke to the role of general manager, according to a report from NFL Networkโs Ian Rapoport. The top internal candidate, he stays to work with new coach Urban Meyer. When the early reports of Urban Meyerโs connection to the Jaguars came out, Baalke was the name most connected to Meyer as a general manager. Smith made the Pro Bowl in 2012, his second year in the league when he was also named a first-team All-Pro. Buckner made the Pro Bowl in 2018 and was voted a first-team All-Pro in 2020 with the Indianapolis Colts.
Are Jaguars getting closer to making front office, coaching decisions?
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Itโs been a week since the Jaguars made it official and hit reset on the football side of the operations. Raheem Morris, Falcons interim head coachInterviewed with the Jaguars on Jan. 7, per the NFL Networkโs Ian Rapoport. Robert Saleh, Niners defensive coordinatorOne of the first coaches linked to the Jaguars open coaching position. A former Jaguars linebacker coach under Gus Bradley, Saleh has already interviewed for jobs with the Chargers, Falcons, Jets and Lions. Louis Riddick, ESPN analystOne of the first to interview with the Jaguars, Riddick would be an out-of-the-box hire on the surface.