5 things Jaguars GM Trent Baalke must accomplish this offseason

Keeping general manager Trent Baalke around after finishing 3-14 in 2021 was not a popular move but owner Shad Khan hasn’t thought of giving him his walking papers. Moreover, the team’s plan to hire an executive vice president of football operations is currently on hold, so it will be up to Baalke to prove Khan made the right decision.

If the embattled general manager wants chants of #FireBaake to stop, he will need to field a competitive team in 2022. On the bright side, he will be armed with plenty of cap space and a boatload of draft picks. That should be more than enough to accomplish these five things this offseason.

No. 1 thing Jaguars must accomplish – Add depth to running back room.

Travis Etienne is ahead of schedule of his recovery from a Lisfranc injury he suffered last preseason. However, fellow James Robinson is coming off a torn Achilles and may not be ready by the start of the 2022 campaign, so the front office should err on the side of caution and add depth to their running back room. After all, Dare Ogunbowale is slated to hit the free-agent market and veteran Carlos Hyde was a non-factor when given the chance to contribute.

Fortunately, the Jaguars wouldn’t have to pour many resources into their running back group. They could sign a quality one, such as Marlon Mack or Sony Michel, in free agency or use a mid-round pick in the draft on one.

Maybe Robinson will make a full recovery and pick up where he left off last year and it’s possible that Etienne will become the playmaker he was back at Clemson but the front office shouldn’t put all their eggs in that basket.