Like all other 29 teams in the NFL, the Jacksonville Jaguars will get to watch the New England Patriots face off against the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. They would surely want to be the ones playing rather than being observers, but they can definitely learn a handful of lessons.
For instance, the Jags can take a look at all the things the Hawks and New England did to reach the championship game. Similarly, they should pay attention to the traits all three share. For instance, Jacksonville has an ascending head coach just like the Pats and Seattle. It also has a franchise quarterback. Both things should give the Jaguars a chance to make a deep run next year.
On the other hand, the Patriots had one huge advantage that the Jags didn't have in 2025 and won't have next season.
The Patriots had the most cap space in the league, the Jaguars had a limited budget
Jared Dubin of CBS Sports drew up a list of the reasons the Pats were able to reach the Super Bowl. Hiring Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye were among the top ones, but there's another one that stood out.
"The Patriots entered last offseason with more salary cap space than any team in the NFL, and they put that space to incredibly good use," Dubin wrote. "They spent more money on free agents than any team in the NFL by a significant margin, handing out over $377 million in free agent deals, according to Spotrac. The next-closest team, the Minnesota Vikings, spent around $270 million on free agent signings."
New England had the most cap space in the NFL last year and used it to acquire key contributors such as defensive tackle Milton Williams, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, cornerback Carlton Davis, edge rusher Harold Landry, linebacker Robert Spillane, and pass rusher K'Lavon Chaisson.
Aside from Diggs and maybe Landry, none of those players qualified as game-changers. Yet, they brougth something to the table, and helped the Patriots address key needs last year.
Make no mistake, the Jaguars also had several signings, and a few of them had a big impact. Center Robert Hainsey, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, and safety Eric Murray solidify their respective positions. However, Jacksonville also had a few misses, including Chuma Edoga, Dyami Brown, and the jury is still out on right guard Patrick Mekari.
Moreover, the Jags didn't spend as much as the Patriots because they didn't have nearly as much cap space. In total, they had $43.1 million after making a few roster moves. Meanwhile, New England had around three times as much at $130 million. Of course, that limited Jacksonville's ability to sign free agents.
The Jaguars will once again have a cap crunch in 2026
Of course, you cannot truly blame general manager James Gladstone or the new regime for their inability to spend in free agency last year. Trent Baalke left the team in bad shape before he was ousted. He made pricey signings that didn't have a big impact and overpaid to lock up a handful of players. In fact, some of the moves he made are still hurting Jacksonville.
Gabe Davis, Tyson Campbell, and Darnell Savage are no longer on the team, but they will have a dead money hit of around $40 million in 2026. Sure, Gladstone moved on from all three, but Baalke gave them bad deals. That money could come in handy right now, as the Jags are $13.9 million over the cap.
Set to have limited cap space, the Jaguars will have to be selective with their signings and turn to free agency to replenish the roster. That could hurt their chance of making a deep playoff push in 2026. The good news is that James Gladstone is around, and he'll know how to best navigate the Jags' challenges this offseason.