There's been chatter that the Jacksonville Jaguars could keep controversial general manager Trent Baalke beyond 2024. However, they'll probably need to get rid of him if they want to have a legitimate chance to replace Doug Pederson with Ben Johnson. According to a recent report, they may just do that to give themselves a chance to land the coveted head-coaching candidate.
Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports that the Jags will undergo a complete overhaul, noting that the team is willing to dismiss Trent Baalke if that's what they need to attract top coaching candidates.
The #Jaguars' decision-makers have kept a low profile in recent weeks, but there's a league-wide understanding that a complete overhaul, including parting ways with GM Trent Baalke, would be necessary to attract top coaching candidates to Jacksonville, sources tell @NFLonFOX.… pic.twitter.com/4MRs6MlzgI
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 5, 2025
This echoes a report from Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN that stated the Jacksonville head-coaching job will be more appealing if Baalke is gone.
You could make the case that Schultz's report isn't necessarily news, but it does show that speculation about Baalke losing his job is growing louder. Conversely, there's not been much banter about the Jags keeping him around.
Baalke is in his fourth-year on the job. He originally joined the Jags as the vice president of player personnel in 2020 but was promoted to interim general manager later that year when Dave Caldwell got the boot. After conducting a search, the team kept him full-time.
While he has had a solid track record in the draft, Baalke has had several flops in free agency. But the biggest reason he's on the hot seat is his inability to get along with the coaching staff. He doesn't have a stellar reputation around the league and is known for being difficult to work year.
It's possible that Baalke's rocky relationship with the coaching staff has played a role in Jacksonville's regression the past two years, which is why it's not particularly shocking to hear that owner Shad Khan is ready to move on from him.
The Jaguars must dimiss Trent Baalke if it's what it takes to land Ben Johnson
There will be several intriguing candidates in the next hiring cycle, and the Jacksonville Jaguars must conduct a proper search if they want to end up with the best. Having said that, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson appears to be the favorite to replace Doug Pederson, and if that's the case, they must do whatever they can to outbid other teams for his services.
And that's the thing, Johnson is the crown jewel of this hiring cycle, and there's a strong chance several clubs will make a run for him, so the Jags will need to dismiss general manager Trent Baalke to give themselves a legitimate chance.
By moving on from Baalke, the team would be getting rid of one of the things that has held them back while also paving the way for a general manager who is on the same page as Johnson. This may seem like a small thing, but it isn't.
For instance, Johnson is seemingly interested in the Chicago Bears opening, but it doesn't look like he's enthused about the prospect of working general manager Ryan Poles. Nevertheless, the Bears apparently want to keep him around, which will probably hurt their chances of poaching the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator.
Fortunately for the Jaguars, they are aware Trent Baalke could scare away Ben Johnson and other candidates, so they will dismiss him if that helps them become one of the most appealing destinations.