- Head Coach: Liam Coen (first season)
- PFF projected win total: 7.9
- 2024 Record: 4-13 (third in AFC South)
Biggest strength: Wide Receivers
Jacksonville could soon have one of the NFL’s best wide receiver duos: 2024 rookie sensation Brian Thomas Jr. and 2025 first-round pick Travis Hunter. Thomas stunned the league by turning in an 83.4 PFF receiving grade, a top-20 mark, last season. Meanwhile, Hunter's 89.0 PFF receiving grade placed seventh in the FBS last season despite his playing nearly 800 snaps at cornerback.
If Trevor Lawrence is protected and kept healthy, he could put up huge numbers with his array of weapons on the outside.
Biggest weakness: Secondary
The Jaguars may need rookie Travis Hunter to help out in the secondary, considering their struggles last season. The team ranked 26th in PFF coverage grade, and their deficiencies at safety were particularly costly. That unit ranked dead last in PFF coverage grade.
Hunter, Tyson Campbell, Jourdan Lewis and Jarrian Jones could provide stability at cornerback, but safety may be a problem once again for this defense.
Quarterback spotlight: Trevor Lawrence
- 2024 PFF Grade: 76.8
- Key Stat: 9.9-yard average depth of target (second highest in NFL)
Lawrence turned in his worst passing performance since his rookie season. He posted a career-high 9.9-yard average depth of target and a career-low 70.0% adjusted completion rate. New head coach Liam Coen did a spectacular job of reeling in Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay and allowing him to have his best season. Perhaps he can do the same for Lawrence.
Offensive player: WR Brian Thomas Jr.
Playing among a loaded rookie wide receiver class, Thomas made his mark on the NFL early and often. His 83.4 PFF receiving grade ranked 19th among qualified wide receivers and third among rookies at the position, behind Malik Nabers and Ladd McConkey. His newfound ability to win after the catch was perhaps the most surprising part of his game, as he finished the regular season with the fourth-most yards after the catch in the NFL.
Defensive player: EDGE Josh Hines-Allen
Hines-Allen was once again the Jaguars’ highest-graded player in 2024. His 83.4 PFF pass-rush grade ranked him 11th among qualified edge defenders, while his 63 regular-season pressures tied him for 10th. Over the past three seasons, Hines-Allen ranks seventh among qualified edge defenders in PFF pass-rush grade and total pressures.
He should continue to strike fear in opposing offenses, particularly in obvious passing situations.
Rookie to watch: WR/CB Travis Hunter
The Jaguars made the bold decision to trade up to the second overall pick to draft Heisman trophy winner Travis Hunter, and he could get significant playing time on both sides of the ball. Hunter placed seventh in the FBS in PFF receiving grade among wideouts and third in PFF coverage grade among cornerbacks.
Hunter’s athletic feats had never been seen before at the college level. Significant contributions on both offense and defense in the NFL could one day make him the most valuable non-quarterback in the league.
Fantasy spotlight: QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence has been a somewhat inconsistent fantasy quarterback for the Jaguars over his four seasons, experiencing a peak in 2022 with 25 passing and five rushing touchdowns but seeing his value fluctuate due to varying play quality and injuries.
While he boasts a high big-time throw rate, averaging 1.8 per game over the past two seasons, he also struggles with a high turnover-worthy throw rate. There's optimism that Lawrence can improve entering the 2025 season under new head coach Liam Coen, drawing comparisons to Baker Mayfield‘s success in Coen's system. Brian Thomas Jr.’s emergence, as well as Travis Hunter‘s addition, are more reasons for optimism. Lawrence is a high-upside second option in both single-quarterback and superflex leagues.
Best bet: WR Travis Hunter — Over 725.5 receiving yards (-110)
Although Hunter profiles as a bona fide two-way player, the expectation is that he will be more heavily used on offense to start his NFL journey. Lining up next to Brian Thomas Jr. will put pressure on defenses, giving Hunter the space to gash defenses. Having logged 28 receptions of 15 or more yards in 2024, Hunter can rack up yardage in the blink of an eye.
Bottom Line
An offensive mastermind in Liam Coen, a healthy Trevor Lawrence and the addition of Travis Hunter give Jacksonville hopes for a bounce-back. However, they need major improvements on the offensive line and in the secondary to jump into AFC South contention.
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