The Jacksonville Jaguars raised eyebrows across the NFL because they opted not to go on a spending spree. Then again, they're dealing with cap constraints, so they were always going to have trouble taking a big swing without affecting their future cap.
Then again, general manager James Gladstone was well aware that the Jags were working with limited space, so instead of spending the cap he didn't have, he chose to amass as many compensatory picks as he could. Moreover, Jacksonville wasn't outright quiet.
Aside from signing Liam Coen's protege Chris Rodriguez, the team's brass managed to re-sign the tight end Quintin Morris, linebacker Dennis Gardeck, and cornerback Montaric Brown. All three played pivotal roles for Jacksonville last year, so being able to bring them back was huge. Sure, the team's brass still has to address a few pressing needs, but when you compare the Jags with other teams in the AFC South, they most definitely gained ground without having to break the bank.
The Jaguars watch their AFC South miss huge opportunities in free agency
Like the Jags, the Houston Texans made the postseason last year and didn't have to make nearly as many moves as other AFC South clubs. That said, their offensive line was in dire need of upgrades. But instead of looking for a top-tier left tackle, Houston re-signed Trent Brown to a one-year deal.
Throughout his career, Brown has been outright dominant at times. However, he hasn't been consistent enough. That won't be great news for fourth-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, who's looking to bounce back after an underwhelming 2025. On the other hand, the Texans were able to re-sign pass rusher Danielle Hunter and defensive end Logan Hall, so you can bet their defense will be as formidable as it was last year.
The Tennessee Titans, for their part, were targeting wide receiver Alec Pierce, but he returned to the Indianapolis Colts, so they had to settle on Wan'Dale Robinson. Make no mistake, Robinson is a fine player, but Tennessee severely overpaid to court him. Having said that, the Titans managed to lock up defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers, so Jacksonville will now have to contain the terrifying duo of Franklin-Myers and Jeffery Simmons twice a year.
Circling back to Pierce, Indy had to allocate significant resources to keep him and Daniel Jones from leaving, so they weren't able to make many other big moves. Sure, they landed Arden Key, but as productive as the former Jaguar is, he's not in the same echelon as Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson. Heck, the Colts would have surely loved to sign Hendrickson instead of Ke.
This doesn't mean that any of the teams in the division won't give the Jaguars fits in 2026, but rather that they didn't make the kind of blockbuster move that will put them on top.
The Jaguars were smart to keep Montaric Brown, Dennis Gardeck, and Quintin Morris
Sure, none of the players the Jaguars re-signed will probably make the Pro Bowl next season. Having said that, they were all important to their turnaround last year. Montaric Brown should continue to get better in his second season under defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. The same is true for Dennis Gardeck, who'll have a full offseason to work on his craft, unlike last year when he was recovering from an ACL injury.
Quintin Morris, for his part, carved a niche as a pass-blocker and should have an increased role after Johnny Mundt's departure.
When you add it all up, the Jaguars are in a position to defend the division crown in 2025, and if they address their needs in the draft, their odds will continue to increase.