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The Jacksonville Jaguars just found out what happens when momentum meets reality. It was painful. For most of the 2025 season, Jacksonville looked like a team on a mission. Young, fast, aggressive, and playing with confidence, they steamrolled their way from afterthought to AFC contender. That’s what made their Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills sting so much. This wasn’t a rebuilding team happy to be here but a group that believed it could go further. Instead, one cold January afternoon exposed roster pressure points that can’t be ignored. The good news? Jacksonville is close. The bad news? Close isn’t enough in the AFC. The 2026 offseason will be about sharpening the blade, not reinventing it.
The Jaguars’ 2025 campaign was nothing short of a transformation. Under first-year head coach Liam Coen, Jacksonville surged to a 13-4 record, claimed its third AFC South title. They even closed the regular season on an eight-game winning streak. The offense set a franchise record for points scored, while star QB Trevor Lawrence delivered MVP-caliber football. He combined command, efficiency, and explosiveness in a way that finally matched his generational billing.
There were moments that defined belief like Lawrence’s late-game poise and a defense that tightened up when it mattered, They even made some history thanks to Cam Little’s jaw-dropping 68-yard field goal that symbolized a team playing without fear.
And yet, they were reminded of how unforgiving the postseason can be. Against Buffalo, Jacksonville moved the ball, traded blows, and stayed competitive until the final whistle. However, they couldn’t get the decisive stop or play when it mattered most.
Unlike many playoff exits, Jacksonville’s doesn’t trigger panic. This is more about contention not desperation because this roster works. The quarterback is elite. The coaching staff has clarity. Of course, contenders don’t stand still. The Jaguars enter the 2026 offseason with targeted needs rather than sweeping ones.
Cornerback sits at the top of the list. Greg Newsome’s potential free agency leaves a hole on the perimeter, and depth behind him remains thin. Against quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Drake Maye, and Aaron Rodgers, coverage lapses are fatal.
The offensive line is next. Lawrence stayed upright more often than not in 2025. That said, the looming free agency for Ezra Cleveland and Cole Van Lanen threatens continuity. Interior depth and versatility will be critical to sustaining high-level quarterback play.
Running back is less urgent, but still relevant. If Travis Etienne Jr departs, Jacksonville will need a reliable option who fits its evolving offensive identity. That’s ideally without spending premium draft capital, especially after trading away their 2026 first-round pick.
That context shapes Jacksonville’s free agency priorities. Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Jacksonville Jaguars’ top 4 free agent targets after crushing playoff loss to Bills.
If Jacksonville is serious about surviving January football in the AFC, it must upgrade the cornerback room. Jaylen Watson isn’t a headline-grabber, but...
