The 2024 season didn't go the way the Jacksonville Jaguars hoped, but it's already a new year, and dwelling in the past won't be of much use. Instead, the Jags must focus on the future and make the changes to ensure they steer the ship in the right direction.
So what exactly does Jacksonville need to do to avoid another losing season? Fulfilling these three New Year's resolutions would help.
Getting the most out of Trevor Lawrence
The Jaguars drafted Trevor Lawrence first overall in 2021 with the expectation that he was going to be the long-term answer behind center. While he's certainly provided stability at quarterback, he's also left much to be desired.
After a dreadful rookie season, Lawrence saw a noticeable improvement in 2022. After playing a huge role in Jacksonville's turnaround, it was thought that he was close to becoming a top-5 quarterback in 2023. However, he didn't get much help from his supporting cast and a myriad of ailments hindered his performance.
Realizing they needed to help their quarterback, the Jaguars tried to surround him with more talent in 2024 However, Lawrence struggled early on, and not long after he finally hit his stride, he suffered a shoulder injury that ended his season prematurely.
Lawrence will rehab during the offseason. Once he's at full strength, he'll need to find that consistency that's evaded him throughout his career if he wants to take his game to the next level. Of course, the Jags can help him by getting a head coach who can get the most out of him. Whether that's Ben Johnson or someone else remains to be seen.
The Jaguars must dismiss Trent Baalke and find a GM that can cohexist with the coaching staff
All things considered, Trent Baalke hasn't been dreadful when it comes to drafting talent. His 2023 and 2024 classes have progressively looked much better, with players such as Parker Washington, Tank Bigsby, and Maason Smith making strides in the second half of the season. On the other hand, his free-agent acquisitions have left much to be desired.
Baalke signed Arik Armstead and Gabe Davis and doesn't have much to show for either one. But even if you leave his puzzling free-agent signings aside, his biggest flaw as the Jaguars general manager has been his inability to get along with the coaching staff.
For a while, there's been chatter that Baalke has antagonized with Pederson and the coaching staff. This isn't surprising when you take into account that he doesn't have a stellar reputation around the league, and is known for being difficult to work with.
Even though it's hard to tell just how good or bad his relationship with Pederson is, you can see from miles away that they aren't best buddies. And if the general manager isn't on the same page s the head coach, you won't be able to put together a championship-caliber team.
That's why the Jaguars must get rid of Trent Baalke whether they dismiss Pederson or not. Then again, he could also choose to leave on his own. If that's the case, he'll save the team a massive headache.
The Jaguars need to find sustained success
One of the reasons that Doug Pederson has to go is that he helped the Jags recover from the Urban Meyer debacle, and for a brief moment, it looked like he was going to turn them into a perennial contender. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case.
Jacksonville has gotten progressively worse since 2022, and Pederson has been a big reason why. He's given ample time to get back on track but has been unable to. If the Jaguars want to right the ship, they'll need someone who can consistently guide them through adversity and get the most out of his players.
Now, it's not a given that Jacksonville move in from Pederson, but signs point in that direction. Once he's gone, the Jaguars can start looking for that head coach who will take them to the promised land.