Story by
Jacksonville Jaguars GM search: What must Shad Khan look for in the team's next GM?
- Story by
- Jacksonville Jaguars GM search: What must Shad Khan look for in the team's next GM?
(This story has been updated to provide new information.)
The Jacksonville Jaguars will be scrambling to find the team's next general manager after owner Shad Khan made an about-face, firing GM Trent Baalke after initially retaining him for a couple of weeks after the season.
Advertisement
Khan is moving forward with interim GM Ethan Waugh , who operated as the team's assistant GM under Baalke for the past three years.
Waugh is another franchise member whom Khan has personally named as someone he confides in and seeks guidance from.
The team is slated to hire Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen as the next head coach, and the early outlook appears to center around a model that will hire a head coach before making a permanent GM hire.
WHAT DO THEY NEED? Jacksonville Jaguars firing Trent Baalke underscores coaching search failures
While Coen's looming hire is the most important aspect of Jacksonville's plans moving forward, the general manager hire will be equally as important to create a stable franchise for the long-term future.
Advertisement
There's no question that whoever Khan decides to hire must have extensive NFL experience and understand the game inside and out. The less Khan has to be an equal voice in discussing the team's decisions, the better.
But, what else exactly must happen and what qualities should Jacksonville look for in its next general manager?
Jaguars should act quickly in search of a new general manager
Jets co-owner Christopher Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan and Jets co-owner Woody Johnson speak before a Dec. 15 game.
The Jaguars are already behind the proverbial eight-ball.
There have already been two general manager hires during this year's cycle. The Las Vegas Raiders hired Tampa Bay 's John Spytek, while the Tennessee Titans have hired Kansas City's Mike Borgonzi.
Advertisement
The New York Jets , who just hired former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as the team's head coach, are also expected to hire a general manager soon.
The Jaguars have not brought in any general manager candidates, but they're following the Jets' model of allowing the coach to choose or at least play a heavy hand in choosing the team's next shot caller.
GENE FRENETTE: Shad Khan looks bad for waiting to fire Trent Baalke
If the team wants to get a GM in before free agency and the NFL Draft, they'll need to start the process as soon as possible to avoid missing out on future candidates.
Advertisement
There is a chance Jacksonville doesn't make a move to hire a GM until after the draft. Sometimes teams opt to retain their front office to get through the draft since the bulk of the work has concluded at that point.
Trevor Lawrence must remain at the forefront of any hiring decision
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 15: Shahid Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, talks with Trevor Lawrence #16 before the game against the New York Jets at EverBank Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Any general manager Jacksonville brings in must be fully on board with Trevor Lawrence as the team's starting quarterback and focus on drafting and acquiring talent to promote his growth.
Lawrence signed a five-year, $275 million deal with $142 million guaranteed at signing and $200 million in total guarantees. He's locked in as the team's franchise quarterback through at least the 2027 season and likely beyond.
Advertisement
During Baalke's tenure , the team attempted to surround Lawrence with talent but failed at establishing cohesion on the offensive line. The team also has dealt with numerous injuries over the past three years, making it harder for Lawrence to find his groove.
Until Thomas last year, the Jaguars hadn't selected a receiver in the first three rounds of the draft since 2020 when the team drafted Laviska Shenault . In fact, Thomas was the fourth-highest receiver draft pick in team history behind Matt Jones (21st overall, 2005), Reggie Williams (ninth overall, 2004) and Justin Blackmon (fifth overall, 2012).
The team also neglected the offensive line, moving players around in 2023 before adding a stopgap center in 2024 while keeping the rest of the line intact. That resulted in Lawrence posting the highest sack percentage of his career at 5.96%. He's also sustained numerous injuries in the last two seasons.
A general manager must be aligned with the team's head coach in moving forward with Lawrence.
Advertisement
Jaguars general manager should make long-term future a priority
In addition to surrounding Lawrence with talent, the next GM for Jacksonville can't be short-sighted.
During Baalke's tenure, the team would often use band-aids or take shortcuts to fix situations. In 2023, the team moved Walker Little from tackle to guard during starting LT Cam Robinson 's four-game suspension. That project failed, and was noted as a disservice to Little and the team by Jaguars coaches.
The team also opted to acquire stop-game corner Ronald Darby in 2024 rather than draft a corner early or bring in a player with more talent. Darby was benched by season's end and his future with the team is in question.
Advertisement
This occurred with center Mitch Morse 's signing, too. Instead of finding a long-term, young solution, the team turned to a 31-year-old center nearing the end of his career to replace Luke Fortner — a third-round pick in 2022.
This philosophy can be stretched out to the team's defensive line and safety groups, too. Jacksonville entered 2024 with major question marks at defensive tackle. The team drafted Maason Smith in the second round and Jordan Jefferson in the fourth, but never made a move for immediate help. Arik Armstead , who could have helped in that area, was relegated to defensive end, primarily.
There can't be any more band-aids or quick fixes in Jacksonville. The team's next general manager must be able to accurately identify and solve problems for longevity.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
Advertisement
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars GM search: What Shad Khan needs in candidate
