The Jacksonville Jaguars went 4-13 in 2024 for a myriad of reasons. Inadequate coaching certainly played a part. That's why Doug Pederson was given his walking papers. On the other hand, the Jags didn't have enough talent playmakers. If that wasn't enough, injuries exposed their dearth of depth, including quarterback. For that reason, nobody batted an eye when general Trent Baalke, who was in charge of building a well-rounded team, was dismissed, even if it took longer than it should have.
To replace Baalke, Jacksonville signed James Gladstone, who focused on raising the team's floor in free agency. The Jaguars ended up making 10 signings. Some of them will go on to become mainstays, while others may struggle to make an impact.
With that in mind, here are five players who could be one and done in Jacksonville.
Robert Hainsay - Jaguars center
Right guard was among the Jaguars' biggest offseason needs because Brandon Scherff was slated to hit the open market. However, Mitch Morse's retirement also forced the team to prioritize the center position in free agency. New head coach Liam Coen chose to bring a familiar face from his stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Robert Hainsey.
A third-round pick in 2021, Hainsay was the starter for two seasons before being phased out in favor of Graham Barton last year. But despite spending being relegated to a backup role, the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish took things in stride and fared well when called upon.
In Jacksonville, Hainsey will be a Week 1 starter, but he could once again be sent to the sidelines if the front offices add another big in the draft. It's not a given that they will, and he should hold the fort for as long as he needs to.
But if Hainsey gets Wally Pipped again, the Jags could release him in 2026 without incurring a massive dead cap hit. Having said that, he's the least likely of the players on this list to get the boot next year.
Eric Murray - Jaguars safety
The Jaguars let Andre Cisco walk in free agency and signed Eric Murray to start next to Darnell Savage. At first glance, his stats don't pop off the stat sheet, having batted 24 passes and amassed three interceptions since 2016. Then again, you don't last 10 years in the NFL, let alone start, if you aren't any good.
Murray may lack luster, but he makes up for it with high effort, clean play, and consistency. The downside of signing him is that Jacksonville won't get many turnovers from him. That may prompt the front office to take a safety early in the draft. Furthermore, third-year pro Antonio Johnson may make a push for a starting job, and if that's the case, Murray could be the odd man out in 2026.
Dyami Brown - Jaguars wide receiver
The Jaguars added Dyami Brown to round out Trevor Lawrence's weapons. During his four-year stint with the Washington Commanders, he showed the capability to get deep. In Jacksonville, his presence should draw coverage away from fellow receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and allow tight end Brenton Strange to thrive underneath.
Brown's biggest red flag is that he was underwhelming in his first three seasons, and it wasn't until last year that he put it all together. But if his strong performance during the Commanders' playoff run carries over to 2025, he will post career numbers, which will, in turn, give them the chance to cash in next year.
Hunter Long - Jaguars tight end
The Jaguars cut ties with Evan Engram in free agency, but instead of replacing him outright, they signed Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt. This was a sign that they're paving the way for Brenton Strange to take on a featured role.
Strange stepped into the starting lineup when Engram got hurt and fared well, registering 40 receptions for 411 yards with two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Long has caught eight passes in his four-year career.
Granted, Long could be a solid backup but not much else, and if the Jaguars invest a draft pick at tight end, he may not make the 53-man roster in 2026.
Chuma Edoga - Jaguars offensive lineman
The Jaguars realized that they needed to beef up the offensive line if they wanted to protect Trevor Lawrence and run the ball in 2025. That's why they spare no expense in free agency, signing Robert Hainsay and Patrick Mekari to start at center and right guard, respectively. But they didn't stop there. The front office also added Chuma Edoga and Fred Johnson.
The former can play all five positions up front. That kind of flexibility could come in handy. On the other hand, Edoga has spent time with both the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys but has yet to hit his stride.
The Jaguars may keep making upgrades on the offensive line in the draft. That's great from a competition standpoint but not great news for Edoga. If he struggles to make a strong impression in training camp, he could end up being a victim of the numbers game.
Here are other Jaguars stories you may also like:
manual