Ben Johnson leads the Jaguars intriguing list of candidates to replace Doug Pederson

The Jacksonville Jaguars chose to take a half-measure approach after an underwhelming 2024 season. They dismissed head coach Doug Pederson but kept controversial general manager Trent Baalke.

The decision was met with a blank stare around the league, with a top candidate for the vacancy even saying that the job is now less appealing due to the presence of Baalke. Nevertheless, the Jags already started the process to replace Pederson and have put in several requests with different coaches.

The team announced that it's placed requests to interview the following candidates:

• Kellen Moore, OC Philadelphia Eagles
• Todd Monken, OC Baltimore Ravens
• Ben Johnson, OC Detroit Lions
• Aaron Glenn, DC Detriot Lions
• Patrick Graham, DC Las Vegas Raiders
• Robert Saleh, former HC New York Jets
• Joe Brady, OC Buffalo Bills

Before the Jaguars announced their list of potential replacements, several outlets had reported that the had put in requests to interview Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, and Liam Coen.

This list stands out for a couple reasons. For starters, Jacksonville is unphased about the negative reviews Baalke has gotten. The consensus is that their opening is less appealing because he's still in place. However, owner Shad Khand doesn't believe that will be a roadblock to attracting his preferred candidate.

On the other hand, the list is leaning toward the offensive side of the ball, which is understandable when you take into account that the next head coach will be tasked with getting the most out of Trevor Lawrence. That said, a coach with a defensive background could thrive if he has the right plan.

Lastly, the Jags interviewed Kellen Moore the last time they had an opening in 2022. At the time, he was the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys and would end up losing the job to Pederson.

The Jacksonville Jaguars still remain a hot destination in this hiring cycle

There's a chance another candidate could surface in the upcoming days, but all things considered, the Jacksonville Jaguars put together a strong list of potential replacements for Doug Pederson. Either they have head-coaching experience or a successful track record on their side of the ball. This begs the question, will Trent Baalke be a turnoff for candidates? In some cases, it may.

For instance, Ben Johnson wants to work with a general manager who shares his vision, and Baalke may not fill the bill. On the other hand, the Jags have a handful of things that could make him an attractive landing spot for most head-coaching candidates. Apart from the presence of Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars will have talent at several key positions. On top of that, they'll have the cap space and the draft picks to address whatever roster needs they have.

If that wasn't enough, Shad Khan allows his head coaches and general manager to operate without interference, something that isn't true for several owners. In the end, it would probably come down to which candidate feels the most comfortable with Baalke.

But for the time being, the Jaguars are putting together a strong list of candidates to replace Doug Pederson.

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