The Jacksonville Jaguars raised eyebrows in free agency because they didn't make many major moves aside from re-signing a handful of players. Sure, they locked up running back Chris Rodriguez, but that wasn't the kind of splash expected from a team that went 13-4 just one year after finishing 4-13.
But despite the outside noise, the Jags are staying the course, opting to wait until the NFL Draft to address the larger scale roster. While that approach will be beneficial down the road, it's having a negative effect in NFL Power Rankings.
The Jaguars slid out of the top 10 in NFL Media's Power Ranking
Eric Edholm of NFL Media posted an NFL Ranking after the initial free agency spending and placed the Jags at No. 12, moving them down three spots because he doesn't think they did enough to keep up with other AFC South contenders. Here's the skinny.
"This was never going to be a bonanza free agency for the Jaguars, salary cap-strapped as they are, and they lack a first-round pick, thanks to last year's draft-day trade for Travis Hunter," Edholm wrote. "But even so, the draft should be able to provide some help, as Jacksonville holds 11 total picks, including three third-rounders."
Edholm continued, "The Jags' list of extremely pressing needs isn't long, but they did allow some notable players to walk in free agency, including Devin Lloyd and Greg Newsome II on defense and Travis Etienne on offense. I have to imagine they're looking to beef up the defensive front one way or another."
Then, Edholm states that it's too early to tell whether Jacksonville will remain a contender in 2026. For context, the Houston Texans popped up at No. 8 in his ranking while the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans were 18th and 26th, respectively.
In the Jags' defense, they're carrying $53.3 million in dead money that stemmed from bad contracts the past regime handed. That was always going to limit their ability to bring in external free agents in 2025 or re-sign linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne.
Lloyd ended up getting a three-year, $45 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, and Etienne bolted for the New Orleans Saints on a four-year deal worth $42 million. Jacksonville simply didn't have the space to match the contracts they got.
On the other hand, the Jags did manage to retain linebacker Dennis Gardeck and cornerback Montaric Brown, both of whom played pivotal roles on defense last year. Couple that with the underrated addition of running back Chris Rodriguez, and the Jags did make a few meaningful moves in free agency.
Moreover, the Jags have 11 picks, and they could use them, along with their three compensatory picks in 2027, to make trades before the regular season. Simply put, their lack of activity doesn't mean they don't have a plan.
Why the Jaguars are in good shape despite their quiet free agency
Teams hardly ever win championships in free agency. Heck, many players are available because their previous team didn't think it was worth re-signing them. This doesn't mean that free agency isn't a practical tool for clubs to improve, but big spending doesn't always translate into success on the football field.
Sure, the Jaguars could've gone after John Franklin Myers to address the interior defensive line. Similarly, there were several enticing options to bolster the pass rush, but the truth is that the team's brass didn't want to make a big signing without compromising its cap spending in future years.
The silver lining is that general manager James Gladstone showed in 2025 that he'll keep retooling the roster even after free agency and the draft, so don't be surprised if he makes one or two trades before the regular season.
If he does, and the Jaguars win games early in 2026, they'll get a massive boost in future NFL power rankings.