Regardless of how interested the Jacksonville Jaguars were in potentially pursuing Bill Belichick as their next head coach, they'll have to look elsewhere for Doug Pederson's potential replacement, as the Super Bowl-winning head coach chose to take the North Carolina job. One of the Jags' top choices in the next hiring cycle will be Ben Johnson, and a prominent NFL voice believes they're one of the top destinations for the ascending offensive coordinator.
Justin Melo of The Draft Network recently drew up a list of the best openings for Johnson and included Jacksonville, pointing out that having Trevor Lawrence in the fold could convince the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator to take the job.
"The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't officially relieved Doug Pederson of his duties, but it's difficult to imagine him returning in 2025. The Jaguars entered the 2024 campaign with legitimate postseason aspirations in the AFC South. Instead, they're 3-11 and heading for a top-five selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Whoever Jacksonville hires will inherit Trevor Lawrence as their franchise QB after the team committed a five-year, $275 million extension to him. General manager Trent Baalke is on thin ice, and owner Shad Khan is among the league's more braggadocious leaders. The Jaguars have a lot to address from a front-office perspective this offseason. Johnson's interest level would likely rely on his opinion of Lawrence as a quarterback."
It's worth noting that Melo isn't alone in his belief that any potential interest in the Jaguars' potential opening is how candidates perceive Lawrence. James Palmer of the Bleacher Report echoed the same sentiment not long ago, noting that the fourth-year quarterback just signed a monster extension, so whoever takes the job must be willing to work with him.
In the same breath, Palmer thinks that general manager Trent Baalke will be gone, which will potentially make the Jags an even more appealing destination.
Whether Jacksonville kicks Baalke to the curb remains to be seen, but Lawrence should most definitely make the Jaguars a more appealing destination than both the Las Vegas Raiders and the Chicago Bears, the other two clubs Melo mentions.
Granted, the Jags have yet to dismiss Pederson, but it may be a matter of time before they dismiss the embattled head coach.
The Jaguars can convice Ben Johnson to be their coach, it will be up to him
For the sake of argument, let's say the Jacksonville Jaguars do move on from Trent Baalke. They would immediately become one of the top destinations for Ben Johnson. After all, he's stated that he wants to go to a place where he can be on the same page with the general manager. Trevor Lawrence hasn't met expectations but he's certainly shown the capabilty to play at an elite level. It would be up to the next head coach to untap his potentenial.
With the Detroit Lions, Johnson has helped Jared Goff enjoy a career revival. He could also work his magic with Lawrence. Aside from the quarterback position, the Jags have ample talent on both sides of the ball, having signed several franchise cornerstones this year. If that wasn't enough, they have more than enough cap space and draft picks to address whatever needs they have.
Simply put, Jacksonville has what it takes to lure Johnson. Having said that, Shad Khan cannot focus the search on one candidate. The organization must cast a wide net, and there won't be a shortage of appealing choices in the next hiring cycle.
Offensive coordinator Liam Coen has seen his stock surge dramatically after the Tampa Buccaneers became the first team to score more than 30 points on the stout Los Angeles Chargers defense this season. He would be far from a consolation prize. Similarly, Wes Phillips has gotten the spotlight for his work with quarterbacks as the offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings. He would also be an appealing choice.
The bottom line is that the Jacksonville Jaguars should be a prime destination for Ben Johnson or any other head-coaching candidate in the next hiring cycle.