The Jacksonville Jaguars exceeded expectations in 2025, going from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best in a span of one year. Hiring Liam Coen as the head coach was a huge reason why, as he managed to get the most out of his players. That said, general manager James Gladstone also deserves plenty of praise after assembling a playoff-caliber roster.
Now, the Jags are looking to pick up where they left off last year. And for that to happen, Gladstone will need to continue to keep making upgrades to the roster. Along the way, he could move on from a handful of players who left a bit to be desired in 2025.
With this in mind, here are five Jaguars players who are sitting on the hot seat ahead of free agency.
Walker Little, Jaguars offensive tackle
After flashing early in his career, Walker Little finally got the chance to start full-time when the Jags traded Cam Robinson midseason in 2025. He finished the year strong, which may be why the team's brass didn't have him compete for his job last offseason. That turned out to be a mistake, as the former Stanford Cardinal was a liability last year.
Little was benched in favor of Cole Van Lanen, who earned a three-year deal worth $54 million. Van Lanen is trending toward being Trevor Lawrence's blindside protector in 2025. Meanwhile, Little is set to have a cap hit of $14 million, which could be too much for a backup. Trading him, though, would free up $7 million in cap space, so he might've played his last game with Jacksonville.
Maason Smith, Jaguars defensive tackle
Maason Smith got off to a rocky start to his rookie season but finished the year strong, racking up 11 pressures and three sacks to finish the year. This gave the team a reason for optimism heading into 2025. However, the former LSU Tiger took a massive step back.
An injury in training camp stalled any momentum Smith had ahead of Year 2. Things got so bad that he was a healthy scratch for several games late in the season.
It's hard to tell if the Jaguars are ready to give up on Smith, but nodbody would bat an eye if they do.
Hunter Long, Jaguars tight end
Hunter Long could be a surprise addition on this list because the Jags never expected the former Boston College Eagle to be a game-changer. Instead, they signed him to provide depth behind Brenton Strange.
Nevertheless, injuries held Long back in 2025, and he was eventually phased out in favor of Quintin Morris, who worked his way up from the practice squad into the active roster.
Long is slated to make an affordable $2.7 million, so keeping him wouldn't be cost-prohibitive. On the other hand, Jacksonville could free up a bit over $1.3 million, which could come in handy when you consider that the team is in a dire cap situation.
Chuma Edoga, Jaguars offensive lineman
The Jaguars took a bet on Chuma Edoga last offseason, giving him a two-year deal worth $7 million. Although the 2019 third-round pick had flashed in his previous stops, he hadn't been consistent enough to earn a starting role. And for a brief moment, it looked like Jacksonville had hit it out of the ballpark.
Edoga had a strong offseason, even sharing first-team reps with Anton Harrison at right tackle. He followed that up with another promising outing in the preseason. But the regular season came, and he struggled mightily, getting flagged five times on limited playing time. By the end of the season, he was an afterthought.
Fast forward to 2026, and Edoga could be a cap casualty. The Jaguars are in need of space, and releasing him would free up $2.8 million. The front office could most definitely allocate that amount to other areas.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars wide receiver
Following an impressive rookie campaign, Brian Thomas Jr. dealt with a sophomore slump last year. This has led to speculation about his future in Jacksonville. Before the 2025 deadline, he was the subject of trade chatter.
Although the Jags have stated that the former LSU Tiger is 100 percent part of their plans, the noise probably won't go away. Sure, the news that Travis Hunter will play cornerback full-time next season might be a sign that the team's brass is confident Thomas can show out. Having said that, don't rule out a trade just yet.
Thomas appears to be safe, but a team in need of help at wide receiver could make the Jags an offer good enough to pass up, maybe a second or a late first.