This crazy NFL season keeps on giving. A handful of head coaches already got the boot, the Kansas Chiefs are buried at the bottom of the AFC playoff picture, and a former executive for the Tennessee Titans is praising the current general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars for the work he did this offseason.
Wait, what?
In a neck-breaking turn of events, Ran Carthon, Tennessee's former GM, gave James Gladstone props for the players he acquired this year. Honestly, I can't blame the experienced personnel executive for forgetting the rules around here, as the Titans fired him after only two seasons on the job. That being said, I was told the Jaguars and Jeff Fisher's former employer were never allowed to break bread with each other.
While unexpected, Ran Carthon's commentary about James Gladstone is on point
The current CBS Sports talent gave his take while he and colleagues covered the Jaguars' most-recent victory against the Indianapolis Colts.
"Shoutout to James Gladstone - and Tony Boselli," Carthon began. "To start the season, very few people had [the Jacksonville] Jaguars even in the hunt, even to make the playoffs. And, now, we're talking about them finishing, possibly, the second-best team in the entire AFC; and a lot of that has to do with the players they've been able to acquire."
"Shoutout to James Gladstone ... very few people had the Jaguars [making] the playoffs."@RanCarthon credits the Jaguars' front office for their success during the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/EHm9Kon8XK
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 8, 2025
In the same clip, Carthon also credits Jacksonville for hiring the right head coach, which makes sense since Gladstone is unable to shop for the groceries and cook them all himself. "We talked about culture and the culture they are establishing. You've got guys like Devin Lloyd playing out of their mind," the former 49ers director of player personnel bemused.
While Lloyd wasn't drafted by the current regime, the fourth-year linebacker's breakout season proves that Coen has the skills needed to deliver his message on both sides of the ball.
Despite being hired after Boselli and Coen, Gladstone found a way to implement his unique mindset during the 2025 NFL Draft when he traded up for Travis Hunter. While that transaction hasn't panned out yet, Gladstone's one-draft renovation of the Jaguars' running back room proved he knows how to find gold in the late rounds.
Bhayshul Tuten's work as the Jaguars' RB2 has revitalized a running game that struggled to give Trevor Lawrence the balance necessary to develop as a franchise quarterback in the NFL. The fourth-round pick's played so well that he could be the team's workhorse in 2026 and beyond.
LeQuint Allen, the team's 236th-overall pick, quickly became one of the best pass-blocking backs in the NFL. He earned that status after fearlessly engaging Maxx Crosby in the backfield, telling the legendary Raider to "strap that [thing] up when you see me, baby," and helping the Jags limit him to 1 sack and 1 QB hit during their thrilling overtime victory on the road.
Of course, free-agent signings like Jourdan Lewis and Robert Hainsey must be applauded as well. Lewis immediately turned heads during his first few games in Jacksonville and became a respected leader in the locker room. Hainsey rebounded after being benched in Tampa Bay to become the anchor Jacksonville needed for years on the offensive line.
After joining the team via trade, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers saved the season and jump-started the passing offense's remarkable improvement. The former Patriots' impact is so important that the front office may want to sign him to an extension now before he has a chance to re-enter the open market.
James Gladstone has excelled as the visionary of the Jacksonville Jaguars
As a student of Les Snead, nobody in Jacksonville should expect all of James Gladstone's picks to be successful. With that in mind, there is just as much to praise during his first year as there is to criticize. With the way the Jags are playing now, the rising executive won't surprise anyone with his headline-grabbing tactics next year.
That being said, he's still a young professional learning how to navigate the nuances of elevating a roster as soon as possible without jostling the human elements of pro football.
After a full offseason, regular season, and postseason under his belt, Gladstone will have even more knowledge in his arsenal to use while helping the Jaguars reach their ultimate potential.