Jacksonville Jaguars GM David Caldwell isn’t going anywhere

Based on the work done with the NFL Draft and the moves made over the offseason, Jacksonville Jaguars GM David Caldwell should be onboard past the 2020 season.

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell saved his job with the 2020 Draft because going into it, it was evident his job was never at risk.

After unloading Calais Campbell, A.J. Bouye, Marcell Dareus, and currently taking offers for Yannick Ngakoue and Leonard Fournette, it has been crystal clear that the “Win-Now” mandate set by ownership is nothing more than a lazy attempt to mask a rebuild amidst a myriad of downtown “improvements”.

Such improvements that appear to be a greater priority compared to providing a winning product on the field (38-90 since Shad Khan bought the team). Caldwell was able to have an excellent Draft because he had the backing and support of his owner that extends past this year. The Jacksonville Jaguars should benefit from this year’s class.

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When you look back at the 12 total draft selections Caldwell made, two things elevate themselves:

1.) Players with High Character (Please hold your “Choir Boy” takes)
2.) Players with Extremely High Athletic Upside (Can be said for at least 8 of the 12 selections)
Pairing those two together equate to a GM who knows this isn’t a “Boom or Bust” season on the horizon.

After successfully keeping his job after the tumultuous 2019 season, it seems as though when Caldwell met with ownership he pitched a two-year “renovation” and was granted that, along with accepting the idea of having the coaching side (Doug Marrone and staff) work more in harmony with the personnel (Caldwell and scouts) side of the building.

This is something that appears to have been a struggle in the past.

The fact that Caldwell used all 12 of his draft picks instead of consolidating his picks by trading for future assets or by targeting specific prospects signals that he and ownership are aware of how depleted the roster had become after the departure of football czar Tom Coughlin.

Taking a step back, looking at the beginning of Draft Week 2020 we had the Yannick Ngakoue-Tony Khan Twitter spat that, in all its glory showed me something. Pettiness aside, something that struck me was Tony Khan mentioning that it was a “New Regime”.

Last I checked, the general manager (who started in 2013) and head coach (who took over in 2017 permanently) were still in the building. This leaves Coughlin and Chris Polian as the only two football executive departures. This screams that Coughlin was seen by ownership as the sole cancer in the Jaguars’ building that eroded the roster and talent.

Eradicating Coughlin and retaining Caldwell showcases the winner of an under-the-radar power struggle that has divided the building and arguably, wasted the talents of an AFC Championship caliber team.

Altogether, the Khans have shown extreme patience with Caldwell. And with how the end of the season played out up through the end of the Draft I believe Caldwell is not on a one-year leash. Every move since he was retained has pointed to the two-year renovation with hopes of establishing a perennial playoff contender around their franchise quarterback Whether that is Gardner Minshew or a new talent remains to be seen.

Jacksonville Jaguars fans better hope that this renovation includes a Super Bowl window.