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GM Trent Baalke’s stint with Jaguars has been a mixed bag: 3 takeaways

By Carlos Sanchez

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke at the 2022 NFL Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke at the 2022 NFL Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Not having the right general manager in place has affected the Jacksonville Jaguars’ ability to continually replenish their roster for more than a decade. Following an underwhelming tenure, David Caldwell was given the boot, and to take his place, the Jags promoted director of player personnel Trent Baalke, who joined the team in 2020.

This isn’t Baalke’s first time as a general manager though. He previously held the same position with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2016. While he was off to a good start, drafting players such as Colin Kaepernick and Aldon Smith, he didn’t have much success later in his stint in the Bay Area and was kicked to the curb.

After the Jaguars fired Meyer, fans wanted them to start from scratch and also part ways with Baalke But owner Shad Khan ended up keeping him around even though he might’ve made it difficult to fill their head-coach vacancy.

All things considered, Baalke’s had a few hits at the helm of the Jaguars’ front office but he’s also had his fair share of misses, so now it’s a good time to take a look at some of the things he’s done over the last two years and what’s ahead.

3. Jaguars GM Trent Baalke isn’t going anywhere anytime soon

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HC Doug Pederson and GM Trent Baalke of the Jacksonville Jaguars ​at TIAA Bank Stadium at TIAA Bank Stadium (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

If there’s one thing Shad Khan is known for (besides his amazing mustache) is that won’t make any rush decisions. He’ll give his head coaches — with the exception of Urban Meyer — and his general managers enough time to prove themselves. David Caldwell remained eight years on the job before he finally get canned. Before him, Gene Smith held the job from 2008 to 2012, so it’s hard to see Khan moving on from Baalke after just two years.

John Shipley of Sports Illustrated reported early this year that Baalke hadn’t been given a directive nor any kind of ultimatum to win an x amount of games to keep his job in 2022, and it doesn’t seem like he will get one any time soon. After all, this is a multi-year rebuild and even though the Jags are 4-8 as of this writing, they’ve made strides and seem to be headed in the right direction.

Has Baalke’s tenure been perfect? No, but it might be a while before Kahn decides he’s seen enough.

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