When James Gladstone became the general manager for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025, he wasted no time moving on from underachieving and pricey players the past regime brought in. That said, one offseason wasn't enough to fully overhaul the roster.
Some of the players that former general manager Trent Baalke acquired are still around. Then again, the clock is ticking for some of them. One, in particular, could be on his way out in the upcoming months.
Cooper Hodges has faced plenty of adversity with the Jaguars
The Jaguars came out of the 2023 draft with 13 draft picks. Some of them, including offensive tackle Anton Harrison, wide receiver Parker Washington, and tight end Brenton Strange, have gone on become key contributors. Others, such as defensive tackle Tyler Lacy and running back Tank Bigsby, have already been kicked to the curb.
Linebacker Yasir Abdullah and cornerback Christian Braswell are still around but have yet to do anything of note. And then, there's offensive lineman Cooper Hodges, who sits alone in his own category.
A sixth-round pick in 2023, Hodges generated plenty of buzz during his first offseason with the Jags and became a fan favorite when he came up with the Tugboat Tumble to hype up the crowd in practices. The Appalachian State product was seemingly working his way up the depth chart before suffering a knee injury during a preseason game that brought his rookie campaign to a screeching halt.
Hodges returned in 2024 but once again suffered a season-ending injury. This time, it was on his lower right leg. Despite the setbacks, the Glen St. Mary, Florida native remained in Jacksonville in 2025. However, he was waived with an injury designation last offseason. But because he went unclaimed, he reverted to injury reserve.
Fast forward to 2026, and Hodges is still with the Jaguars. However, his days may be numbered.
Why the Jaguars could move on from Cooper Hodges in 2026
You have probably heard that availability is the best ability in the NFL. You can have all the talent in the world, but it doesn't matter if you cannot take the football field. That most definitely applies to Cooper Hodges.
The Jaguars aren't in dire need of upgrades on the offensive line. Their starting five from last year will return, while sophomores Wyatt Milum and Jonah Monheim will compete for bigger roles. Having said that, the team's brass could cut ties with Walker Little and Chuma Edoga in an effort to free up cap space.
If both Little and Edoga walk the plan, Jacksonville could add a couple bigs in the draft, leaving no room for Hodges to return. Maybe he could stick around until training camp, but even then, he would be a long shot to return. As a matter of fact, releasing him would free up $1.43 million in space, which could come in handy when you consider that the Jags are $13.9 million over the cap.
Hodges would need to make a strong impression just to make the roster, and based on how things have unfolded, it's hard to see him pull it off.
Sure, there's a chance Cooper Hodges will at last put it all together, but the odds are stacked against him. Don't rule him just yet, but nobody will bat an eye if the Jaguars decide that it's time to move on.