![Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) falls back as Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen watches during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ mandatory minicamp Tuesday June 10, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_79,w_2384,h_1341/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/55/01jxr2f1bdzcpzsg1gc7.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) falls back as Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen watches during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ mandatory minicamp Tuesday June 10, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]")
The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off a pair of disappointing seasons but made enough changes in the offseason to make you think that they can bounce back in 2025. Most notably, they cleaned house and hired Liam Coen and James Gladstone as their head coach and general manager, respectively. Together, the duo has overseen a roster overhaul, and it's fair to say that after several months of hard work, the Jags are in better shape than it was last year.
This begs the question: How much has Jacksonville really improved? Could it make a deep playoff run? Or is it trending toward finishing with double-digit losses? Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports took a guess and came up with the best and worst-case scenarios for next season.
Regarding the Jags' best-case scenario, it would include an AFC South title and Trevor Lawrence hitting his stride under Coen's tutelage. Here's the skinny:
"Trevor Lawrence finally feels at home with Trevor Lawrence finally feels at home with LIam coen calling the shots and Travis Hunter joining Brian Thomas Jr. out wide," Benjamin wrote. "And the Jaguars capitalize on a weak AFC South by pouncing to the top of the division."
And here's what the worst-case scenario for Jacksonville would entail:
"Coen proves out of his league as a head coach, Hunter struggles to translate his two-way gifts to the NFL stage, and Lawrence still can't control the rock as Jacksonville remains an offensive laughingstock," Benjamin said.
The Houston Texans are the favorites to win the AFC South in 2025. According to Pro Football Focus, their win total for 2025 is set at 9.5 while the Jags sit two games behind at 7.5. This means that they're an underdog to earn the division title.
Trevor Lawrence can help the Jaguars exceed expecations in 2025
All eyes are on Trevor Lawrence ahead of Year 5. The first overall pick in 2021, he played like a top-10 quarterback in 2022 but has been nearly as consistent as the Jaguars would've liked the past two years. Coming off a pair of injury-marred seasons, he's expected to bounce back under Liam Coen.
Throughout the offseason, Coen has worked with Lawrence to help him fix his footwork and mechanics. On top of that, the team's brass revamped his supporting cast, adding Travis Hunter and Dyami Brown to his arsenal of weapons and beefing up the offensive line.
If the former Clemson Tiger manages to stay healthy, there's no reason to think he can once again lead Jacksonville to the playoffs and a division title like he did in 2022.
Why the worst-case scenario for the Jaguars is less likely to happen
The Jaguars traded up in the NFL Draft to select Travis Hunter. Although the move was costly, the top brass believes it was worth it because he's got the potential to change the landscape of the team and the sport as well. So far, he's been everything the team has bargained for and then some. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner isn't the only player Jacksonville expects to make an impact next season.
On the off chance Hunter isn't able to hit his stride as a rookie, the team's brass made enough additions in the offseason to potentially make up for it. Whether it's Dyami Brown at wide receiver or Jourdan Lewis on defense, someone will be ready to step up.
Circling back to Lawrence, the Jaguars surely want him to prove he's the long-term answer behind center and reclaim his place as a top-10 quarterback. However, he doesn't have to be elite for Jacksonville to seize the division. Let's say he's a game-manager, avoids making mistakes, and lets his receivers make plays. That would be good enough to potentially make a deep playoff run. The San Francisco 49ers have most definitely had success with that formula in recent years.
Last but not least, players are buying into Coen's approach, and he would need to come crashing down to reach Doug-Pederson levels of disappointment.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars are trending in the right direction. After a disappointing end to 2024, it's easy to understand why expectations are tempered. Then again, they have the pieces in place to take the AFC South by surprise.