The dust on the 2025 season has settled, and it's safe to say that the Jacksonville Jaguars are back. The franchise's most recent campaign gave Jags fans 13 wins, a revitalized Trevor Lawrence, and a reason to believe that the team's first Super Bowl appearance is well within reach.
With the 2026 NFL scouting combine right around the corner, now's as good a time as any to reflect on the best things Jacksonville can carry into the new league year. Despite the team's lack of salary cap space, there are various routes the front office could take to spice up the roster. Also, Lawrence's emergence as an MVP-caliber playmaker gives Liam Coen a chance to peel back the other layers of his highly-touted playbook.
So, while it was harder than I thought to narrow it down, here are the three biggest positives the Jaguars will bring into next season.
Parker Washington's emergence as an impact player will give the front office room to work this offseason
Parker Washington's growth as a legitimate wide receiver gave Trevor Lawrence a reliable target in clutch situations and the Jaguars a flexible chess piece to consider during the offseason.
Brian Thomas Jr.'s regression during his second season as a pro was one of the reasons Washington had to step up. The Penn State alum's breakout game against the Denver Broncos revealed that he was more than an explosive punt returner. Naturally, the Jaguars' offensive game plan increased the Nittany Lion's workload throughout the rest of the season.
Going into 2026, Washington's presence on the roster gives the Jags a chance to use BTJ's affordable rookie contract as a bargaining chip to address a major need. One of the team's only weaknesses last season was its lackluster pass rush. Trading Thomas to a squad that needs a deep threat could give James Gladstone the ammo he needs to grab one of the most prolific rushers from the upcoming draft class.
Hitting on the right defensive end or tackle could help Anthony Campanile end more drives and give Parker Washington a few more chances to shine.
Trevor Lawrence's growth as an MVP-caliber player will continue in 2026
Lawrence's performance against the New York Jets put the entire league on notice and launched his late-season MVP campaign. The fifth-year signal caller dissected Gang Green's defense and put up numbers that made history.
Lawrence's brilliance during the last few games of 2025 was similar to his elte level of play between the second half of the 2022 season and the first 11 contests in 2023. Unfortunately, Doug Pederson and Press Taylor were unable to create an offense that accentuated T-Law's strengths.
For what it's worth, Lawrence didn't know what he didn't know at that point in his young career. Now, he understands how quickly things can turn upside down in the NFL.
I think Lawrence appreciates the fragility of sustained success at the highest level of the game now more than ever. This wisdom should give him the motivation needed to hit the offseason with a renewed sense of vigor. If he does, he'll be prepared to execute Liam Coen's explosive playbook and unlock the hidden pages we haven't seen yet.
Liam Coen's rise to superstardom in the coaching ranks won't be slowing down anytime soon
So, we've established that the Jags have a young playmaker who gives the front office room to work and a franchise quarterback who understands how quickly his team's national relevance can fade away. Now, what if I told you the real star of the show is a 40-year-old head coach with decades of winning ahead of him?
During the first few weeks of the offseason, Coen made it clear that Jacksonville didn't show off its entire offense last season. The former Kentucky WIldcat told Brent Martineau of Action Sports Jax that he was ready to "unload the rest of the playbook" on Trevor Lawrence and see what else they can add to the 26-year-old's plate.
These comments hint that Coen and his offensive coaching staff are all-in on making the former No. 1 overall pick the best quarterback in Jaguars history by a significant margin. While newer fans of the team might not think that's a huge accomplishment, Lawrence would need to make the AFC Championship game at least twice to challenge Mark Brunell's claim to the throne.
Coen and his locker room were one-and-done this postseason, and it's clear that no one in the offices of Everbank Stadium is satisfied with that outcome. That's great news for Jags fans since the team's current attitude proves that the rookie head coach completely flipped his organization's culture in less than 12 months.