Right off the bat, James Gladstone has left his mark with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not long after taking over, the first-time general manager was quick to move on from the mistakes his predecessor, Trent Baalke, made during this four-year stint at the helm. He then proceeded to raise the team's floor and ceiling with a series of appealing moves. But despite his work in such a short time, Gladstone was slapped with a puzzling review.
Patrick Daugherty of NBC Sports ranked all 32 general managers ahead of the 2025 season. Although he didn't give a spot to those who are holding the first job, he still shared his thoughts on them and didn't mince words when it came to Gladstone.
"Like Nick Sirianni before him, James Gladstone isn't winning any press conferences. His speaking style of "computer program translating millennial English into zoomer English" leaves much misunderstood," Daugherty wrote. "But as Sirianni can never stop reminding us, it's the actions that matter, not the words. And boy, has Gladstone been a man of action his first offseason on the job. Although his free agent spending spree was modest by past Jaguars standards, he still showered serious money on non-core positions."
Daugherty goes on to say that Gladstone's true moment to shine came in the draft when he traded up to select two-way star Travis Hunter and offensive lineman Wyatt Millum. Ultimately, he thinks that the general manager's success in Year 1 will depend on Trevor Lawrence having a good year.
There's a lot to digest here. For starters, Gladstone has been impressive in his interactions with the local media. Just because he tends to use uncommon terms such as "intangibly rich", it doesn't mean he's clumsy or that he lacks communication skills. If anything, his style is endearing to Jaguars fans, and it's a breath of fresh air after watching Baalke operate behind the scenes the last four years.
Regarding free agency, the Jags made several moves in the first wave to replenish the roster and did it without the bank. Wide receiver Dyami Brown, center Robert Hainsey, right guard Patrick Mekari, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, and safety Eric Murray should all have featured roles in 2025. Similarly, Fred Johnson, Chuma Edoga, Hunter Long, Johnny Mundt, and Nick Mullens will provide much-needed depth at key positions.
However, Jacksonville waited until the draft to find potential building blocks. Hunter, and Milum, along with safety Caleb Ransaw, running back Bhayshul Tuten, and even linebacker Jack Kiser, have the potential to be key contributors for years to come.
Why the James Gladstone and the Jaguars are bulding around Trevor Lawrence
All things considered, the Jags came out of the draft with a pretty good haul. With that out of the way, it's time to address the elephant in the room: Trevor Lawrence.
Dubbed a generational talent out of college, Lawrence has played at a high level at times but hasn't been consistent enough throughout his NFL career. Granted, he's dealt with injuries the past two years, and the Jags have at times failed to give him a decent supporting cast. Having said that, No. 16 is supposed to elevate the talent around him and hasn't always done it. Fair or not, that's one of the perks of playing the position with the biggest impact on the outcome of a football game.
The good news is that the team's brass made upgrades to his supporting cast in the offseason, and Liam Coen's coaching should help him hit his stride. Add the fact that Jacksonville will take pressure off his shoulders by establishing the run, and it's easy to imagine the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft having a banner year. This begs the question: should James Gladstone bet all his chips on him?
Patrick Daugherty is making it sound like a high-risk, high-reward move. However, expecting Lawrence to bounce back in 2025 and take the Jags to the playoffs is a pretty good bet. One year from now, everybody will be talking about how smart James Gladstone was for trusting Trevor Lawrence.