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What's next for the Jaguars? Trevor Lawrence progress, Trent Baalke decision at forefront
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- What's next for the Jaguars? Trevor Lawrence progress, Trent Baalke decision at forefront
The Jacksonville Jaguars have parted ways with head coach Doug Pederson after three years at the helm.
Though not particularly unexpected, the decision raises more questions for the future of the franchise.
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What does it mean for general manager Trent Baalke? Who are the Jaguars' coaching candidates for 2025 and beyond? What is the Jaguars ' vision for quarterback Trevor Lawrence going forward? And how can the team begin to re-open its window for playoff contention?
Of those four questions, only one seems to have an immediate answer. The answers for the rest will only become more clear in the months to come as the Jaguars begin a long offseason of decision-making.
Here's what to know:
JAGUARS COACHING CANDIDATES: Who should replace Doug Pederson?
Will the Jaguars fire general manager Trent Baalke?
The answer to the first question – the one about Baalke's future – appears to have been answered already. In team owner Shad Khan's statement announcing Pederson's firing, he also mentioned Baalke by name as a collaborator in the search for a new head coach.
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The statement concludes with: "I will collaborate with General Manager Trent Baalke and others, within and close to our organization, to hire a leader who shares my ambition and is ready to seize the extraordinary opportunity we will offer in Jacksonville."
So for now, Baalke's job appears to be safe. He'll be entering his sixth year in charge of Jacksonville's personnel decisions in 2025.
The biggest one to fill now is at head coach.
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Jaguars head coach candidates
Whoever takes over the head coaching job will be part of a new structure of things in Jacksonville. Fox Sports writer Peter Schrager reported Monday morning that the new head coach will report directly to Khan, the owner, rather than the general manager, even though Baalke is staying.
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When it comes to the options, the Jaguars have a plethora to choose from to replace Pederson.
Assuming they want to continue to get more out of Lawrence, the quarterback entering his fifth season, Jacksonville could bring in another offensive-minded head coach. After all, the Jaguars finished eighth-worst in offensive yards per game and seventh-worst in scoring offense.
Some top offensive minds who could fit that mold include Ben Johnson of the Detroit Lions , Liam Coen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Todd Monken of the Baltimore Ravens .
Johnson is one of the hottest names this offseason and likely to be somewhere on the wish list of every team that needs a new head coach after leading the Lions to the top of the NFL's scoring offenses in 2024. Coen's offense was third-best in the league at gaining yards and fourth-best at scoring this year. And Monken's Ravens finished the regular season with the most offensive yards per game and third-most points per game.
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Alternatively, the Jags could pivot to a defensive mind to lead the team, a move they haven't made since hiring Gus Bradley in 2013 before his firing in 2016.
The top name for that mindset would be former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, who spent a bulk of the 2024 season as a coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns . Another option could be Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who was able to keep Detroit in the top seven in NFL scoring defenses this year despite a rash of injuries to some of the Lions' key defensive contributors.
What comes next for Trevor Lawrence ?
Jacksonville extended its former No. 1 overall pick with a five-year, $275 million contract last offseason.
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The extension begins in 2026 and could keep him in Duval County through 2030, though it includes a potential out after the 2028 season that would leave the team with zero dead cap in the next two seasons.
Lawrence's 2024 season was far from the encouraging sign the Jaguars were likely hoping for when they made the fourth-year starter the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time of signing.
He experienced a second straight year of regression under Pederson according to various metrics. His completion rate, completion percentage over expected, EPA per play and passer rating were all worse than they were in 2023, and he'd already taken a step back from 2022 career highs last year.
Both Lawrence and his team will need to figure out how to get things moving in the right direction before his contract becomes an albatross that hamstrings Jacksonville's future personnel decisions. That could start with hiring another offensive-minded head coach or with work to improve the team around Lawrence.
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How can the Jaguars improve in 2025 (and beyond)?
With an overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 18, the Jaguars finished the season 4-13 and hold the No. 5 pick in the NFL draft.
Defensively, they could use help in the secondary. Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter is likely off of the board by pick No. 5, but Michigan's Will Johnson is another intriguing option.
On offense, building up the offensive line should be one of the team's top priorities. The Jaguars traded left tackle Cam Robinson to the Minnesota Vikings during the season but extended tackle Walker Little shortly after, and he mostly held his own down the stretch. If they want to take a swing at further improving the position early, LSU's Will Campbell is a top prospect at tackle in this year's draft class.
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Later in the draft, Jacksonville could use some help in the interior to keep the pocket clean for Lawrence and help push the run game forward further with the two-headed backfield of Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby .
Regardless of any picks they make, one of the biggest factors that will determine the Jaguars' future is Lawrence and whether he can improve with the aid of a new head coach. His cap hit increases significantly in 2026 and only builds from there, so the clock is ticking for Baalke and Co. to build a team around him and figure things out.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's next for the Jaguars after firing Doug Pederson?
