In the NFL, not all shakeups make headlines – but that does not mean they don’t matter. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ decision to part ways with assistant general manager Ethan Waugh is one of those moves. It won’t dominate the news cycle, but it does signal that this new regime is moving to the beat of its own drum.
Jacksonville Jaguars assistant general manager Ethan Waugh talks with the media before the start of Friday’s rookie minicamp session. The Jacksonville Jaguars held their first day of rookie minicamp inside the covered field at the Jaguars performance facility in Jacksonville, Florida Friday, May 10, 2024. Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
Waugh, who joined the Jaguars in 2022 alongside former GM Trent Baalke after years in San Francisco, had been a key lieutenant in the shaping of the Jags’ roster over the past few seasons. His background in scouting and analytics, along with his long history working with Baalke, made him a trusted voice in the building – at least until now.
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While it’s always tough to pin a specific roster decision on any one executive, Waugh’s fingerprints are undoubtedly on several key draft and personnel moves, both good and bad. Under his watch, the Jags hit some draft picks but also whiffed on multiple picks, including ongoing questions surrounding former first-rounders like Travon Walker and Devin Lloyd.
Free agency evaluations have been equally hit or miss, and the team’s overall roster construction feels like it lacks identity, while remaining top-heavy – a point of frustration for fans who were expecting progress after a promising 2022 campaign. The Jags collapse in 2023 after starting 8-3 but only finish 9-8 and miss out on the playoffs, and then completely implode in 2024, reigniting the doubts about the front office.
The timing of Waugh’s departure – after the NFL Draft but ahead of training camp – suggests a deliberate internal reset to move forward with the new trio of GM James Gladstone, EVP Tony Boselli, and HC Liam Coen. It’s becoming clear that Jacksonville is moving forward with a full house cleaning from top to bottom. Better days are hopefully on the horizon in Duval.
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