How can the Jacksonville Jaguars be 11-4 with only one Pro Bowl starter? Look, as critical as I've been of James Gladstone, even I can admit that this roster is in better shape than it was last year. The addition of Jakobi Meyers alone gave Liam Coen and his offense a new dimension to explore after the trade deadline. However, there's a more cohesive feel to the on-field product on Sundays.
When Gladstone first arrived, he declared he was going to elevate the floor of the roster and, thus far, he has. A team fielding multiple starters drafted by Trent Baalke reached their 2024 win total by week 5, and now there's a chance for the Jags to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC if things swing their way.
Amazingly, there are actually a few spots on the roster that could be more impactful in 2026. Free agency disappointments, a trade that hasn't panned out, and some players who simply aren't a great fit are the only things stopping Gladstone from being a 2025 Executive of the Year candidate.
Knowing that, let's look at four players who could be one-and-done with the Jags when it's all said and done:
The $10 million Dyami Brown experiment will be a one-season affair
It's ironic that Meyers got paid an average of $20 million per year in his new deal, because he saved the Jaguars' season by filling a role Dyami Brown had an opportunity to conquer. When Travis Hunter got hurt, Jacksonville needed one of its veteran receivers to step up in a hurry. Unfortunately, Brown was unable to answer the bell the way Gladstone envisioned when he signed the former commander to a generous $10 million prove-it deal.
Since Jacksonville's game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Dyami has only been targeted twice. He got a touch on the ground during the Jags' blowout victory against the New York Jets, but he fumbled it away.
In the team's pivotal matchup against the Denver Broncos the following week, Brown didn't register a single statistic. That could be a sign that the former Tar Heel's been iced out for good.
Tim Patrick could be the odd man out in a suddenly stacked WR room that can only get better
Tim Patrick's opportunities on the field have been limited and sporadic. Unlike Brown, Patrick seems to get at least one or two targets every week. Against the Indianapolis Colts, the former Lion caught five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. It was his best game as a Jaguar by far, but there doesn't seem to be enough space for him to build on that performance.
As if Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas weren't taking enough snaps away from Patrick, Parker Washington's 145-yard performance against Denver all but diminished his chances of getting on the field more often. With Brenton Strange needing to get his targets as well, it's hard to see how Gladstone and Coen find a spot for the 32-year old in 2026.
Hunter Long fills his role well, but a late-round draft pick could do the same things at a cheaper price
Hunter Long was hurt during his first couple of seasons in the league. However, he carved a niche for himself as a blocking tight end during his time with the Los Angeles Rams.
As a Jaguar, he's done a lot of the dirty work needed to keep the run game going in Coen's well-structured offense. However, his $2 million base salary in 2026 could cause Gladstone to look for a cheaper option in the NFL Draft.
I hear you yelling at me for being cheap, but there's a reason for this take. Devin Lloyd, Travon Walker, Anton Harrison, Brenton Strange, Travis Etienne, and Cole Van Lanen are all eligible for new contracts once the 2025 season ends. $2 million may not seem like a lot in the big scheme of things, but sacrifices will have to be made all over the place to keep the top end of this special roster together.
Long's contract may have to be one of the casualties considered.
Greg Newsome's emergence as a solid starter for the Jaguars may have come a few weeks too late
Greg Newsome finally showed what the front office was looking for during his standout game against the Colts. The Northwestern product only allowed 46 yards in coverage and intercepted one of Riley Leonard's passes to keep the momentum in Jacksonville's favor.
Before then, Newsome was performing just as poorly as Tyson Campbell was before the latter was traded to Cleveland. The fifth-year corner's development in Anthony Campanilie's system will help the Jaguars rally for the best seeding possible, but it's hard to see the front office paying CB1 money to retain his services.
Of all the names mentioned in this article, I feel the most confident in being wrong about this one. Newsome would give the Jaguars continuity going into a season with no star players in the secondary. Yes, Travis Hunter, the college prospect, is a huge name, but he wasn't playing at a Pro Bowl level before his injury. No. 6 manning one side with the former Heisman Trophy winner on the other could make offenses think twice before testing the Jags deep in 2026.