The Jacksonville Jaguars failed to make the playoffs or win the AFC South in 2023. General manager Trent Baalke may want to point fingers at the coaching staff as much as he wants and downplay his role in the team's regression but he most definitely played a part.
Fans rightfully want to see Baalke walk the plank because he hasn't performed his job to the best of his capabilities. Last year, he had the chance to make upgrades to the roster throughout the offseason but stayed put. That dearth of urgency came back to haunt the team when injuries exposed their inadequate depth.
That said, not every move Baalke has made since becoming the general manager full-time in 2021 has been awful. In fact, he's hit it out of the ballpark several times, finding key contributors such as offensive tackle Anton Harrison or wide receiver Christian Kirk, to name a few, over the last three years. And if the embattled general manager wants his seat to cool down next year, he should make the next four moves.
4. Giving Josh Allen a top-market extension
Giving Josh Allen a new contract should be a no-brainer after proving he's one of the top pass rushers in the NFL. Then again, Trent Baalke doesn't seem to be bothered that the Jaguars' best defensive player isn't pleased they have yet to begin contract talks. Maybe the general manager isn't operating with a sense of urgency because he knows he could use the franchise tag on Josh Allen and buy himself more time to get a deal done.
If that's the case, Baalke should be upfront with Allen, but the truth is that striking a deal shouldn't take that long if both parties want to make it happen. Just last year, Rashan Gary got a contract that will pay him an annual salary of $26.8 million. Allen is as good if not better than Gary, so the Jaguars shouldn't mind giving him a top-market contract. The sooner they do it, the cheaper it will be and the faster they can turn their attention to fixing other holes.
In any case, you can score a $150 bonus from FanDuel Sportsbook with any $5 winning bet today! Jaguars fans who deposit at least $10 and bet $5 or more on any game will get an additional $150 in bonus bets if the wager wins. Sign up for FanDuel now!
3. Using free agency to bolster the offensive line and the pass rush
The Jaguars were content to watch other teams go into a spending spree in free agency last year. Although they did make a few acquisitions, none of them would be filed under the earth-shattering category. Sure, Brandon McManus did a solid job as the kicker and D'Ernest Johnson was a fine addition to their running back rotation. However, Trent Baalke had several chances to address areas of need but opted not to.
In particular, the Jaguars could've used a left guard while Ben Bartch recovered from the season-ending knee injury he suffered in 2022. Had they signed a capable replacement, the coaching staff wouldn't have had to press him back onto the field before he was fully healthy, which is what they did. Bartch was phased out in favor of veteran backup Tyler Shatley in Week 4, and he was released once Jacksonville acquired Ezra Cleveland via trade.
Then again, by the time the Jags brought in Cleveland, it was a bit too late. The left guard position went on to experience a revolving door the rest of the season. Something similar happened with the pass rush. Although Josh Allen went on to have a career season and Travon Walker made a leap in Year 2, the Jags were missing a No. 3 who could round out their rotation.
While Allen and Walker combined for 27.5 sacks between the two, the rest of the defense had 12 sacks. The fact that the Jaguars passed on several chances to address the pass rush last offseason makes this frustrating. Even if Baalke didn't want to give up draft picks for Danielle Hunter, he could've easily inked Jadeveon Clowney or Calais Campbell to affordable deals but chose not to.
Meanwhile, teams who made the Super Bowl or came close to it weren't afraid to swing for the fences, adding playmakers via trade or free agency. Baalke needs to follow that blueprint and acquire a couple of impact contributors in the open market.
2. Sign Calvin Ridley, or draft his replacement (Brian Thomas Jr.?)
The Jaguars could make changes to the wide receiver corps this offseason. Calvin Ridley crossed the 1,000-yard mark in 2023 but he's set to hit the open market. Zay Jones, on the other hand, was hampered by a PCL injury that limited him to eight games. He's entering the last year of the contract he signed in 2022 and he could be a cap casualty.
Ridley dealt with drops last year, and his communication with Trevor Lawrence wasn't optimal. However, there's a chance he'll be even better in 2024 if they spend another offseason together working on their rapport.
The Jaguars may not feel tempted to part ways with the second-round pick they would own the Falcons if they re-sign him, but they'll have an extra compensatory selection in the third round, so the team's brass could afford to give up the second-rounder.
Another reason the Jaguars should re-sign Ridley is that the Cincinnati Bengals are expected to use the franchise tag on fellow receiver Tee Higgins. A second-round pick in the 2020 draft, he would've been one of the top receivers to hit the open market his offseason. The fact that he's previously caught passes from Trevor Lawrence would've made him a priority target in free agency.
Cincy poured cold water onto their plan, so the Jaguars will have to either keep Ridley around or find his (or Jones') potential replacement. One prospect they've routinely been linked throughout the draft process is LSU Brian Thomas Jr. who would be a solid pick in the first or second round, maybe even in the first. The trouble with going after Thomas in the first round is that the Jags might not then be able to select the player in the next entry.
1. The Jaguars take care of business and draft Jackson Powers-Johnson
You have to win the battle in the trenches if you want to win football games. Teams who cannot effectively protect their quarterback will have a harder time coming out on top. Conversely, your chances of winning will go up if you can routinely bring the heat.
Not surprisingly, one of the reasons the Jags failed to make the playoffs in 2023 was because they couldn't keep Trevor Lawrence upright and they struggled to consistently get after the quarterback. That wouldn't have happened if Trent Baalke had appropriately addressed the line of scrimmage. Knowing how costly it turned out to be, he should be incentivized to pour resources into both lines this offseason. And he should start with the center position.
Luke Fortner, a third-round pick in 2022, has made 34 consecutive starts at center for the Jaguars and has played every possible single snap the past two years. That's most definitely a feat worth achieving but he doesn't have much else going for him. He was a liability in pass protection and run plays last year.
Baalke has previously stated that he believes Fortner has the tools to play well, but the eye test doesn't lie. He was the Jaguars' weakest link in the offensive trenches last season, and he doesn't deserve to be handed the starting job for the third straight year. If the Jaguars are serious about protecting Trevor Lawrence, they should then bench Fortner and draft Jackson Powers-Johnson.
Powers-Johnson is the top center prospect in this year's draft, and he could be a Day 1 starter for the team that takes him. He's projected to go into the first-round and the Jags could be in a position to select him at No. 17. By doing so, they would take care of Jacksonville's biggest need this offseason.
The ball is in your court, Trent Baalke.