The Jacksonville Jaguars signed several players last year because they thought they were just a few pieces away from becoming a contender. Heck, owner Shad Khan went as far as saying that the 2024 team was the best in franchise history and that winning was the expectation. Unfortunately, the signings didn't have the impact the Jags envisioned.
The signings the Jags made in 2024 didn't move the needle when you take into account that they went 4-13. To make matters worse, they'll have an adverse effect in this year's draft.
While several teams received more than one compensatory pick in 2025, Jacksonville didn't get any. More often than not, it's because teams sign more players than the ones they let walk. In the case of the Jaguars, they did lock up fewer players than the ones that became free agents but still didn't qualify for any compensatory picks.
In case you were wondering, the Jags signed Arik Armstead, Gabe Davis, Devin Duvernay, Joey Slye, Darnell Savage, Ronald Darby, Trevis Gipson, Josiah Deguara and Mitch Morse. On the other hand, they allow the following players to become free agents: Jamal Agnew, Angelo Blackson, Matt Barkley, K'Lavon Chaisson, Tre Herndon, Brandon McManus, Shaquille Quarterman, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Shatley, and Dawuane Smoot
Last year, they got two compensatory selections: a third-round for right tackle Jawaan Taylor going to the Kansas City Chiefs and one in the sixth round because pass rusher Arden Key signed with the Tennessee Titans. In 2023, they also got two.
The NFL has a complex formula to award the selections, but they all are assigned from Rounds 3 to 7 depending on the value of the player they lost. This year, the Miami Dolphins, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Dallas Cowboys got four picks, the most a team can get.
The Jaguars still have plenty of picks to make noise 2024
Trent Baalke deserved to go because he couldn't co-exist with Doug Pederson. Moreover, he failed to put together a Super Bowl-caliber team. Having said that, he left a parting gift for the Jags in the 2025 NFL Draft: three extra selections, a third, and a fourth after reaching a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to move from pick No. 17 to No. 23. On top of that, the Jaguars former general manager got a sixth when he sent Trevis Gipson to the Seattle Seahawks before the start of the 2024 season.
This is to say that Baalke's free agency moves in 2024 didn't pan out. On top of that, he left the roster with several glaring holes, but he also left his successor, James Gladstone, enough ammo to acquire talent in this year's draft.
Gladstone is aware that he's got his work cut out and one offseason won't be enough to turn things around. That's why he refrained from making splash signings and instead focused on ways to address needs without having to break the back. It's fair to say that he pulled it off.
The Jaguars have a new slot cornerback in Jourdan Lewis, and the offensive line got much-needed reinforcements when Gladstone signed Robert Hainsey, Patrick Makari, and Chuma Edoga.
Of course, there's plenty of work left, but the Jacksonville Jaguars should be able to keep making further upgrades to the roster even if they didn't get any compensatory picks.
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