Even though Trent Baalke has holding back the Jacksonville Jaguars during their head-coaching search, it wasn't until Liam Coen shunned them that they took action and dismissed the embattled general manager. The decision paid off as the Jags quickly struck a deal with Coen.
Looking at how things played out, Jacksonville must be thrilled that it managed to land the head coach it had set its sights on. After all, the process took several twists and turns, and for a brief moment, it looked like the Jags were going to have trouble attracting candidates.
As of this writing, the Jaguars haven't introduced Coen yet, but they've already announced his hiring. Nobody would bat an eye if he's already gone to work, as he'll have his work cut out. Working in his favor is that he inherited lots of talent.
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports recently talked about Baalke's exit and how he wasn't a terrible talent evaluator, pointing out his inability to get along with the coaching staff as one of the reasons Jacksonville gave him the boot.
"The reality is Baalke isn't a terrible football man. If he were a scout or personnel director in your building, he'd be fine. Does he make all the right moves? Not even close. But he knows the scouting world."
Throughout his article, Prisco notes that Baalke kept his job longer than he should have because he knew how to play office politics. On the other hand, he did have his fair share of misses, including the 2024 free-agency class.
Baalke did have a few hits, such as Brian Thomas Jr., who had a banner season for the Jags and is a finalist for the NFL 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Thomas will be an intriguing piece to build around, but he's far from the only one that Coen will have a this disposal. Here's what Prisco had to say.
"But there is a good nucleus. They have the quarterback, two good pass rushers, two solid tackles, a good corner in Campbell and the big-play receiver in Thomas. They need to fill in some key spots, but this isn't a team that far off, provided Lawrence can be unleashed."
On offense, Coen will be tasked with getting the best out of Trevor Lawrence and having him play like the top-10 quarterback he is. He'll also work with a handful of ascending players such as tight end Brenton Strange, running back Tank Bigsby, and wide receiver Parker Washington.
On the other side of the ball, the Jaguars have edge rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, cornerback Tyson Campbell, and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun. This is to say that the cupboard isn't entirely bare. Having said that, the Jaguars also have a handful of roster holes on offense and defense.
What roster holes do the Jaguars and Liam Coen must focus on in the offseason?
The biggest priority for the Jaguars this offseason must be beefing up the offensive trenches. As B&T's own Joel Lafevre pointed out, the team's brass needs to fix the offensive line if Liam Coen wants to successfully run his offense.
Back in Tampa Bay, Coen bolstered the running game and turned the offense into a juggernaut with creative play design but also sharp execution.
In Jacksonville, Coen has some talent up front. The Jags have a pair of bookend offensive tackles in Anton Harrison and Walker Little. Moreover, Mitch Morse is a serviceable center. That said, he's entering a contract year and will be 33 in the opener. The Jags need to look for his replacement sooner rather than later.
Similarly, right guard Brandon Scherff is 33 and set to become a free agency. It would be a good idea to replenish the position. The same is true for the other guard spot. Ezra Cleveland is ok, but nobody would bat an eye if he was given the boot. The bottom line is that the Jaguars' interior offensive line could use upgrades.
On defense, the Jaguars will need to find a cornerback opposite Tyson Campbell and a starting safety if Andre Cisco leaves in free agency.
The bottom line is that there's plenty of work, but Liam Coen also has several intriguing pieces at his disposal. That's one of the main reasons he took the job.