In 2025, the Jaguars were aggressive in free agency, handing out 14 contracts totaling $149 million. General manager James Gladstone was direct in his approach, stating that the goal was to “raise the floor of the team.” Later in the season, the Jaguars would trade for and sign wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and extend offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen.
Why the Jaguars Took the Correct Approach in Free Agency
Dec 20, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (36) runs against Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jaelan Phillips (50) during the first half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
The Jaguars’ key pieces were now in place, with a few positions needing upgrades. The problem was now the available cap space. Entering the 2026 offseason, the Jaguars were $16 million over the cap. The restructures helped create flexibility to bring back cornerback Montaric Brown and linebacker Dennis Gardeck, but it would not be enough to re-sign second-team All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd or running back Travis Etienne.
Because of these departures, fans viewed it as a pivot to sign big-name outside free agents, but this was not the case. The Jaguars made just one outside signing, and it was Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. to a two-year, $10 million contract. In the first team-building window of the offseason, the Jaguars marginally improved, only making three total signings, two of which were already on the team in 2025.
But this was the correct approach. Previous general manager Trent Baalke was consistently a big spender in free agency, and that is what put the Jaguars in their current salary cap position. The Jaguars have just $7 million in cap space, while having the sixth-highest dead-cap total in the NFL at $53.3 million.
Building Through the Draft
James Gladstone has repeatedly stated that he wants to build through the draft, and the Jaguars have the assets to do it. Despite not having their first-round pick in the 2026 draft, the Jaguars will have 11 picks, with four of them in the second and third rounds. In 2027, the Jaguars are projected to have a total of 10 picks after losing Greg Newsome II, Travis Etienne, and Devin Lloyd.
#Jaguars Draft Picks (21)
2026: 11
•2nd
•3rd (3)
•4th
•5th (2)
•6th
•7th (3)
2027: 7 (+3 proj comp picks)
•1st
•2nd
•3rd
•4th (2*)
•5th (2*)
•6th (2*)
•7th
*3 projected 2027 comp picks: 4th, 5th, & 6th for losing Devin Lloyd, Travis Etienne, & Greg Newsome via OTC
— 𝕋𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕤 🅓. ℍ𝕠𝕝𝕞𝕖𝕤 (@TravisDHolmes) March 11, 2026
Gladstone talked about the benefit of having these picks, and how they aren’t just for the draft itself, but also for acquiring talent on the market. “Think about training camp and using a day three pick to acquire a wide receiver in Tim Patrick, you think about ahead of the trade deadline being able to use two day three picks to acquire a wide receiver in Jakobi Meyers. Without that draft capital at your disposal, you may not be as willing or able to relinquish some of those future picks by building that up now, it allows us the luxury of remaining sort of with the flexibility to do those sorts of things as we move into the next stages of the offseason and into the regular season, we’ll go to” Gladstone said.
#Jaguars GM James Gladstone says the team isn’t active in free agency because they want the compensatory picks for players lost (Etienne, Lloyd).
Knowing they’ll get those picks allows them to be active on the trade market in training camp and during the season. pic.twitter.com/YLU2Gm5Qec
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 12, 2026
Gladstone made a concerted effort to raise the floor in the 2025 offseason. Now that he has done that, the approach has shifted to raise the ceiling and win now. The roster has considerably fewer needs, with linebacker and pass rusher as the only glaring weaknesses remaining. Now that the Jaguars have adjusted their salary cap, hitting on their draft picks is the next step in taking the roster to the next level.
Main Image: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images