The Jacksonville Jaguars dismissed head coach Doug Pederson because they didn't think his approach was working. However, they kept general manager Trent Baalke around because they believed he was the right man to oversee an overhaul. The decision raised eyebrows around the league, with a prominent candidate for their opening going as far as saying that the vacancy is less appealing. Nevertheless, an NFL insider opines that the Jags still have the best opening in the hiring cycle.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN says that Jacksonville will be looking for an offensive-minded coach who can get the most out of the playoffs, adding that the Jags will be one of the most appealing destinations in spite of Baalke's presence. Here's the skinny.
"I think Jacksonville will be looking at creative offensive minds to maximize Trevor Lawrence, so Ben Johnson will be probably No. 1 on that list," Fowler said during an appearance on 1010 XL. "You got guys like Tampa's Liam Coen, Buffalo's Joe, Brady, and some others that will fit that bill. So I do think there'll be a theme. They know they got to get the best out of Trevor and the offense and get that going again."
Fowler continued, "Certainly, will see, but I think Jacksonville, you could make an argument is the best job because you're playing in a weaker division, you have pieces, you have a quarterback, you've spent on players that can play, and it's just maybe the roster was a little oversold. You know, a lot of people thought it was a playoff roster. Then, it clearly was not this year, but there's enough to work with to win games. So all that being said, you could argue it's better than Chicago or New England."
The Jaguars dismissed Doug Pederson one day after the loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Folwer's comments came after owner Shad Khan had announced that Trent Baalke was staying, so he most likely took that into account. And one day after his exchange, the team announced the list of requests they'd placed for their opening. Below is the clip in case you want to look at it.
"You could make an argument Jacksonville is the best job." - ESPN's @JFowlerESPN 👀
— 1010 XL / 92.5 FM (@1010XL) January 6, 2025
The NFL insider believes the #Jaguars will be going after the top candidates on the market to find their new Head Coach.#Jaguars | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/EVIUuvVvRu
Trent Baalke notwithstanding, the Jaguars will be a top destination for head-coaching candidates
As Jeremy Fowler noted, the next Jaguars head coach will need to get the most out of Trevor Lawrence, and the organization will probably make it a top topic of discussion with aspiring candidates. For their part, they'll have many things that will allow Doug Pederson's replacement to succeed.
Leaving Lawrence aside, Jacksonville has enough talent to compete. On defense, they have the pass-rush tandem of Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, cornerback Tyson Campbell, and linebacker Foye Oluokun. On offense, they have a dependable left tackle in Walker Little and a superstar receiver in Brian Thomas Jr.
Add the fact that the Jags are set to have ample cap space and lots of draft picks to bolster the roster, and their next head coach should get going right off the bat. Granted, Trent Baalke will indeed be a turnoff for a handful of candidates, but they should still feel good about their odds of landing someone who could help them turn into a perennial contender.