When the Jacksonville Jaguars fired head coach Doug Pederson at the beginning of the 2025 offseason, Ben Johnson appeared to be the favorite to replace him. However, things have changed the past few days, and chatter about the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator going to the Las Vegas Raiders is picking up steam. That said, good things are happening in Duval as well.
While there's still a chance the Jaguars hire Johnson, another candidate is quickly gaining steam. Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports that there's growing buzz about former New York Jets head coach Saleh being a realistic choice for the Jaguars.
Saleh coached the linebackers in Jacksonville from 2014-2016. He then spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers and became the Jets head coach in 2021.
Even though Saleh routinely fielded some of the best defenses in the NFL during his stint in the Big Apple, he couldn't find a long-term answer behind center. Then again, he didn't really get to choose his quarterback and was forced to dismiss offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur after 2022 even though he wasn't the main reason for his unit's shortcomings.
The Jets eventually traded for Aaron Rodgers but things didn't get much better, and Saleh was dismissed during the 2024 season. Fortunately for him, he may be able to quickly get on his feet.
Jacksonville placed a request to interview Saleh not long after ousting Pederson, and they'll meet with him on January 13. It's not given that he'll get the gig, but many people in the organization like him, so he should have a favorable chance.
Let's say things go well, and Saleh does become the next Jaguars' head coach. If that's the case, he could bring in these four pending Jets free agents with him.
Chuck Clark, safety
After spending his first six NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Chuck Clark was traded to the Jets in 2023. Unfortunately, he missed the whole season after suffering an ACL injury. Nevertheless, New York believed the veteran safety could still bring something to the table and gave him a one-year deal last offseason.
Although Clark once again missed time with injuries, he managed to suit up for 12 games and post two passes defensed with an interception. It's fair to say that his stock isn't soaring right now, but he could sign a one-year deal with the Jags if they let Andre Cisco walk in free agency.
Aside from his veteran leadership, Clark could help teammates get familiarized with Saleh's defensive system. Moreover, his presence would allow the team to draft a young safety and have him learn behind him.
Salomon Thomas, defensive tackle
Defensive tackle Salomon Thomas has been a long-time collaborator for Robert Saleh dating back to his days in the Bay Area. The Jags probably won't have a need at defensive tackle due to the presence of Maason Smith and Arik Armstead switching back inside after playing on the edge in 2023. Having said that, Thomas would turbocharge their interior rotation.
Imagine Thomas and Armstead taking turns while Smith spells both of them. What's been an issue for Jacksonville in recent years could turn out to be a strength if Thomas follows his former head coach.
Tyler Conklin, tight end
Robert Saleh's area of expertise is on defense, so didn't personally coach tight end Tyler Conklin. That said, he saw him at practice every day, so he definitely knows what the former Central Michigan standout offers. While his numbers have never popped off the stat sheet, he was dependable in 2024, registering 51 receptions for 449 yards with four touchdowns last year.
Now, signing him would only make sense for the Jaguars if they traded Evan Engram in the offseason, and there's a (slight) chance they'll do it. Tyler Conklin would become an affordable replacement who could challenge Brenton Strange for the starting job.
DJ Reed, cornerback
Byron Murphy will probably be the best corner available in free agency, but D.J. Reed is no slouch, having formed one of the NFL's top tandems opposite Sauce Gardner the past three years.
Reed isn't a ballhawk but he's pretty good at slowing down opposing quarterbacks. He's surrendered a completion rate lower than 60.0 percent in three of the past four years. Moreover, he's just surrendered a manageable eight touchdowns since 2021, so it's fair to say that he would be a good alternative to pair up with Tyson Campbell if Byron Murphy doesn't fit Jacksonville's budget.