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Jacksonville Jaguars GM James Gladstone, coach Liam Coen break down 2025 draft class
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- Jacksonville Jaguars GM James Gladstone, coach Liam Coen break down 2025 draft class
It started with a blockbuster trade just minutes into the 2025 NFL Draft when the Jacksonville Jaguars traded for the Cleveland Browns second overall pick, and scored what they hope will be a generational athlete in Heisman Trophy winner and two-way star Travis Hunter of Colorado.
It ended nearly 72 hours later when the Jaguars selected Syracuse running back LeQuint Allen with their final pick in the seventh round.
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Jaguars general manager James Gladstone and coach Liam Coen had a final news conference on April 26 at the Miller Electric Center to give their impressions of a draft class with nine players at five offensive and five defensive positions, counting Hunter's expected contributions as a wide receiver and cornerback.
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, has a laugh during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. with General Manager James Gladstone, right. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
How does James Gladstone view the draft as a whole?
"The work doesn't stop, obviously, with our [undrafted free agent] process, come to a close. We're at 88 on the roster. Obviously got a couple spots open that will look to fill here in the near future. But certainly appreciate such a collaborative effort from so many different people, so many different departments, to bring this all to life, to make it so that we felt like we were making the best decisions for the organization moving forward, really looking forward to what comes next, and seeing the group of rookies get out on the grass with their teammates and begin making an impact here in Jacksonville."
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Many of the draft picks were at the Senior Bowl. Was there something to that?
"It's certainly something we leverage. So many of the guys are willing to do more than what the norm might be, right? Many are tapping out before they ever get to the game and to see somebody like [linebacker] Jack Kiser, opt in playing safety, when he is in fact, an inside linebacker, when that could make him look worse than he would like, but was productive in that setting. These are guys that love the game of football, regardless of if it might put them in a compromising position in the eyes of evaluators and decision makers by playing too many snaps or playing out position, etc. These guys love ball, and that's what we're hunting on."
How does Liam Coen evaluate QB Seth Hanigan of Memphis, who will an UDFA?
"Coach's kid, right? He's got a ton of production, does have a natural stroke, and seems like he's a great kid. He's just trying to get better and better. So felt like it was a good add for us at the time."
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Does Liam Coen believe that offense has taken a step toward being more dynamic?
"Yeah, I think we've definitely addressed the ability to strike from a distance, you know? I think that that's something that, you know, we struggled to do a little bit last year in Tampa, where you ended up having to go on 10-, 12-play drives a lot. It was efficient, right? But ultimately, you're looking to be as explosive as you can in both the run and the pass. And I think that was definitely addressed in both appropriate agency in the college draft landscape. So don't think we have to add any more at this point."
Does Liam Coen think the team will improve this season with the draft and free agents?
"I honestly haven't even thought that far. It's really got to be a completely one-day-at-a-time approach. You're always feeling like you're adding levels of competition and depth to the roster. We do feel like we got we got better and improved. We will not have a clue until we do this thing more than a week here, in terms of being on the grass. So the focus is so deeply rooted in the culture, the way that they're going to play, our style of play, teaching those elements. And now we have to go and get an entire rookie class on board, and that's a lot of work. We haven't though that far ahead."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars GM, coach discuss how NFL draft class will help
