Jacksonville Jaguars

Aidan Hutchinson is the betting favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are still keeping their options open with three weeks left before they have to make the selection. 

NFL.com's Peter Schrager has the Jaguars taking Hutchinson with the top choice in his first mock draft, though he noted hearing from people around the league that the pairing is "far from a slam dunk" at this point. 

As the pre-draft process has gone on, the consensus among draft analysts is the Jaguars are leaning toward the University of Michigan edge rusher with their first pick.

DraftKings Sportsbook has Hutchinson as a -280 favorite (bet $280 to win $100) to be the first player off the board. He is the only player with a negative betting line at this point. 

Georgia defensive end Travon Walker has the second-best odds at +300 to go No. 1 overall. 

The Jaguars hosted multiple players in Jacksonville this week as the front office and coaching staff continues to evaluate options leading up to the draft.

Hutchinson and North Carolina State offensive tackle Ickey Ekwonu both met with the team on Monday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

Jacksonville is the sixth team in NFL history to have the No. 1 pick in back-to-back years. The last team to do it was the Cleveland Browns in 2017 (Myles Garrett) and 2018 (Baker Mayfield). 

Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, has all the makings of a franchise quarterback. He struggled amid all the chaos last year with 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions as a rookie. 

This is a crucial draft for the Jaguars as they look for a quick reset after Urban Meyer flamed out in spectacular fashion last season. Doug Pederson is taking over as head coach after going 42-37 in five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2016-20. 

Hutchinson finished second in last year's Heisman Trophy voting. The 21-year-old recorded 16.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in 14 games for the Wolverines in 2021. 

The Jaguars are 15-50 in four seasons since reaching the AFC Championship Game in 2017.    

The Jacksonville Jaguars and cornerback Darious Williams reportedly agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Wednesday the deal carries a $39 million maximum value and includes $18 million in guaranteed money.

The 29-year-old had been with the Los Angeles Rams since being claimed on waivers from the Baltimore Ravens during the 2018 season. He's been a full-time starter the last two seasons, compiling 71 tackles and nine passes defended in 2021.

L.A. brought Williams back this past season on a first-round tender, which paid him $4.8 million. His $10 million average annual salary in the new deal is more than he earned combined over his first four seasons ($6.6 million).

The Rams entered the offseason among the most cap-strapped teams in football, leading to the UAB product exploring the free-agent market after the team's triumph in Super Bowl LVI.

While Williams fared well opposite Jalen Ramsey, it's not clear whether he can function as the top corner on a depth chart. Pro Football Focus gave him a 65.1 overall grade last season, down from 80.0 overall the previous season. 

In Jacksonville, he'll likely slide in as a starter opposite Shaquill Griffin and could be thrust into that No. 1 role of facing an opponent's top wideout.

Former New York Giants tight end Evan Engram intends to sign a one-year, $9 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler. 

The deal can reportedly reach $10 million with incentives.

It's just the latest in what has been a busy start to free agency in Jacksonville:

The Jaguars' spending spree today (so far):

WR Christian Kirk: 4-years, $72M ($84M max)
LB Foye Olukon: 3-years, $45M
NT Foley Fatukasi: 3-years, $30M
G Brandon Scherff: TBD but definitely a ton of money
TE Evan Engram: 1-year, $10M max

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 14, 2022

The 2017 first-round pick has been up and down in the NFL but earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2020 with 63 catches for 654 yards plus two total touchdowns. He followed it up with 408 yards and three touchdowns on 46 receptions.

Thanks to injuries throughout the receiving corps, Engram's 73 targets were only three off the team lead.

Though the Giants have tried to get him more involved—including short passes and runs—drops and inconsistency has held him back.

The 27-year-old has still flashed potential, utilizing his 6'3", 240-pound frame with elite athleticism to make him a matchup problem. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds at the combine in 2017 and has used this skill set throughout his career to make plays after the catch.

Engram scored six touchdowns as a rookie, while his 58.4 receiving yards per game in 2019 was sixth among tight ends. 

Injuries have been a problem, however. He missed 14 games in his first three seasons, including eight in 2019 due to a foot injury. A calf injury then kept him off the field the first two games of the 2021 season.

It's clear the Jaguars still see Engram's upside and are hoping he can reach his potential in a new location.

 

NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu said Thursday he's met with the Jacksonville Jaguars and wouldn't be surprised if he's selected with the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

Ekwonu's stock is soaring and he's started to gain momentum as the potential top choice when the first round takes place April 28. The recent buzz includes being projected as the Jags' pick in the latest mock draft from ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.

"I wouldn't be shocked if I went No. 1 overall," Ekwonu told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I feel like that's something I've put the work in for it. I feel like when that time comes, I wouldn't be shocked by it."

Although most years there's either a consensus No. 1 selection or perhaps a two-prospect race for that coveted distinction, this year's class features a more wide-open feel.

Kiper noted there's at least four players still in contention for the Jaguars' atop the draft: Ekwonu, Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Ekwonu possesses an impressive combination of size (6'4'', 320 pounds), power, small-area quickness and versatility. Along with time at the all-important left tackle spot for the Wolfpack, he also spent time at guard.

The 2021 All-American will likely begin his NFL career at left tackle, but the ability to shift inside limits his bust potential if he's slow to progress in blocking the blind side.

Bleacher Report's Brandon Thorn explained in his predraft scouting report that Ekwonu has "A+ physical traits," and while he'll "need to learn to harness his aggressive nature," the outlook is highly promising.

"He has a special blend of size, power and athletic ability to go along with a tenacious, nasty demeanor as a finisher," Thorn wrote.

The North Carolina native confirmed Thursday he's ready to handle the spotlight that comes with being the No. 1 pick if that's how things play out.

"I wouldn't say pressure, but there's always expectations," Ekwonu said. "But with my work ethic ... ask any coach: I definitely put the work in. I do everything I can every day to fulfill those expectations."

Upgrading the protection around quarterback Trevor Lawrence, last year's first overall selection, is definitely on Jacksonville's to-do list to open the offseason.

Whether the Jaguars go with an offensive tackle or an edge-rusher at No. 1 could depend on if they're able to make a splash at either of those positions in free agency or via trade before the draft.

Ekwonu sounds ready for the challenge if the Jaguars call his name.

Fans will get the first look of Doug Pederson and Josh McDaniels with their new teams on Aug. 4.

Pederson's Jacksonville Jaguars will play McDaniels' Las Vegas Raiders in the annual Hall of Fame Game.

BREAKING NEWS: The @Raiders will take on the @Jaguars in the 2022 Hall of Fame Game at 8 p.m. ET Thursday, Aug. 4.

Tickets on sale this Friday at 10 AM ET.

More: https://t.co/975KLXg6Vi pic.twitter.com/jKHMuQEm0E

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 28, 2022

The preseason clash will fall two days before the Hall of Fame welcomes its 2022 class of inductees.

Prior to Monday's news, plenty of Raiders fans were probably already planning on making the trip to Canton, Ohio, to celebrate the careers of Richard Seymour and Cliff Branch. Jaguars fans will be able to honor one of their own as well with Tony Boselli due to receive a gold jacket.

This will be a homecoming for McDaniels. He attended Canton McKinley High School, which plays its home games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

For neutral fans, the Jaguars might be the bigger draw of the two teams for the Hall of Fame Game.

Hiring Urban Meyer was a disaster for Jacksonville as he generated drama away from the field and failed his biggest on-field objective: developing Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence, widely believed to be the best and most pro-ready quarterback in the 2021 draft, threw for 3,641 yards, 12 touchdowns and an NFL-high 17 interceptions.

Lawrence's time in the Hall of Fame Game will likely be limited to a series or two, but his brief time on the field will be carefully scrutinized.

After selecting quarterback Trevor Lawrence a year ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars are once again in a position to make the obvious and sensible choice with the No. 1 overall draft pick. Alabama's Evan Neal is the next logical step in the team's rebuilding process, as well as a prospect every bit worthy of the top selection.

Unlike Lawrence, Neal hasn't run the table as the class' premier talent. In fact, a blocker hasn't heard his name called first since Eric Fisher in 2013. Since then, teams selected only two blindside protectors among the top-five selections.

This year is a little different, though. Unlike other classes, quarterback prospects won't populate the top 10. A weak class of signal-callers pushes other positions of quality up the board. Besides, the Jaguars aren't in need of a quarterback, though the lack of such options makes the top pick less valuable from a trade perspective.

Neal shouldn't be viewed as a consolation prize. He fills a significant need for the Jaguars, addresses another premium position, provides first overall pick athletic traits and brings immense upside to any lineup.

From an overall perspective, Neal isn't the clear-cut top prospect among the incoming crop. Bleacher Report's Scouting Department ranks Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux slightly ahead of Neal, USC wide receiver Drake London and North Carolina State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu. However, all four are similarly rated as the class' elite options.

For Jacksonville, a slight edge to another position shouldn't overshadow the fact that the team doesn't have a long-term answer at left tackle to protect Lawrence. Cam Robinson is a pending free agent after the organization inexplicably placed the franchise tag on the middling veteran tackle last offseason. The 26-year-old never lived up to expectations after Jacksonville selected the Outland Trophy winner with the 34th overall pick in 2017. For most of Robinson's career, he's been a replacement-level performer.

As a rookie, Lawrence played behind one of the league's worst offensive fronts, as Jacksonville graded among the bottom 10 units, according to Pro Football Focus. Walker Little remains on the roster after being a second-round selection last year, but Neal's addition could create a ripple effect along the front five. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor is scheduled to be a free agent after the 2022 campaign. Either the Jaguars can retain three quality tackles or they'll have two in place if Taylor chooses to leave in free agency. Meanwhile, the continued development of Little, plus the addition of Neal, gives the organization significant flexibility at a hard-to-fill position.

Lawrence essentially endured a lost rookie season under a clueless head coach who helped implement an uninspired offensive scheme and didn't add enough talent around the highest-rated quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck.

From this point forward, the goal in Jacksonville is simple: place Lawrence in a situation where he can be successful. The organization failed on this front a year ago and can't squander the opportunity to field an elite passer capable of elevating the franchise. To do so, the right pieces must be placed around Lawrence.

Sure, Thibodeaux and Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson should be considered, but the Jaguars already have first-round investments in edge-rushers Josh Allen and K'Lavon Chaisson. It falls upon Doug Pederson's new staff to maximize their capabilities.

With Allen and Chaisson already on the roster, the Jaguars can concentrate on left tackle as one of the primary building blocks.

Very few humans are 6'7" and 350 pounds, but in the case of the consensus All-American, his athleticism belies a man with his gargantuan frame.

"At his size, he is the most impressive lower body power athlete we have ever seen," Alabama director of sports science Matt Rhea told The Athletic's Bruce Feldman. "His jumping power is in the top 1 percent we have ever measured. At 350 pounds, he routinely hits box jumps at 48 inches."

For some, Neal's weight could be a cause for concern since 350-plus-pound athletes often struggle with fluctuations. In this case, Neal was considered one of the hardest workers at Alabama—which is a statement unto itself. Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban explained to Feldman what he's seen from the former 5-star recruit:

"Evan is very unique. He has great size, great athleticism, but most importantly, he's a hard worker. He has a lot of goals and aspirations for how good he wants to be and what his expectation is. He's a bit of a perfectionist in terms of how he goes about things. He's also got good intangibles. He plays with good toughness. He's got mental toughness. He works hard to get in shape. He spent a lot of time getting his body right. He used to be even bigger than he is now, but now he can sustain better. He's very assignment-conscious. He doesn't make a lot of mental errors.

“This guy does just about everything that you would like for the best players in your program to do to set a good example for other players."

Neal entered the Alabama program as the nation's top-ranked tackle prospect. Yet he began his career at left guard and then moved to right tackle before finishing at left tackle. The fact that he's just 21 years old shows how much potential he still possesses.

"Neal has ideal size with very good athletic ability, power and a well-rounded game," B/R scout Brandon Thorn mentioned. "He played three positions over as many years at Alabama, which gives him proven versatility across the line. It also signals that he hasn't come close to reaching his ceiling at his most likely home as a pro (left tackle) due to not having back-to-back seasons at the position."

At the same time, Thorn views Neal as the class' most pro-ready tackle option. The underclassman allowed only 24 pressures over the last two seasons between right and left tackle, per PFF. As a run-blocker, Neal graded in the 96th percentile in percentage of positively graded plays, according to PFF's Eric Eager.

Neal already flashes dominance at a young age even though he's far from a finished product.

A similar argument can be made in favor of Ekwonu as a fellow tackle prospect. In this instance, Neal's size, while being a better pass protector, gives him the edge.

"As a pass protector, Neal explodes out of his stance with silky footwork to get to his landmark under control and square with the weight distribution and posture to effectively mirror and cut off countermoves," Thorn wrote. "He has excellent length and powerful, jolting strikes to punch through the hands of rushers into their frame and latch with overpowering grip strength."

Jaguars offensive line coach Phil Rauscher can continue to work on Neal's balance and consistency with hand placement—two technical aspects that should come along as he becomes more comfortable in a single spot—and potentially see the tackle prospect blossom into a dominant force.

A smart investment isn't always the sexy one. Neal's potential selection with the No. 1 overall pick isn't going to sell more PSLs or lead to impressive jersey sales. The Jaguars already made such a move in last year's draft. Jacksonville's rebuilding plan should now shift toward adding another foundational building block in Neal.

    

Denard Robinson is returning to Michigan.

Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh will reportedly add the former Michigan quarterback to his staff as assistant director of player personnel, per Ant Wright of On3.com.

Robinson, 31, spent the previous two seasons as an offensive assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He will work alongside Michigan director of recruiting operations Albert Karschnia, who was hired in December.

Known as "Shoelace" during his time at Michigan, Robinson is one of the most beloved Wolverines of the 21st century. He ranks second all-time in rushing yards by a quarterback with 4,495 and won the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award in 2010.

The Jaguars drafted Robinson as a running back in the fifth round in 2013, and he spent four seasons with the franchise. In 2019, he was part of the Atlanta Legends of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football.

Robinson's addition will fortify Harbaugh's relationship with the school. The former Wolverines quarterback flirted with the Minnesota Vikings' head coach vacancy this offseason before deciding to remain at Michigan and sign a contract extension.

Having a notable name such as Robinson on the staff could be helpful in recruiting efforts.

There is some confusion about a recent political filing that shows Tony Khan, AEW president and co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is running for Congress. 

Documents from the Federal Election Commission suggest Khan has filed to run for the House of Representatives in Florida's 4th congressional district. 

Khan took to Twitter to deny that he is getting involved in politics and used a famous wrestling angle involving Eddie Gilbert and Tommy Rich to emphasize his point:

The fact checking standard for @ProFootballTalk reporting is far lower than that of @AEW’s roving reporter @tonyschiavone24. I’m definitely not running for Congress; this filing is faker than Eddie Gilbert’s apology to Tommy Rich in 1984. PFT sources as trustworthy as @The_MJF. https://t.co/HPdU53GrfY

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) February 10, 2022

The filing with Khan's name had him running for the seat that is currently held by Republican John Rutherford. 

Rutherford was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2016. He assumed office in January 2017. The 69-year-old was re-elected in 2018 and 2020. He has defeated Democratic challengers by an average of 32.5 percentage points. 

Per BallotPedia.com, Al Robertson is the only Democrat currently in the race for Florida's 4th Congressional District. The 2022 primary will be held on Aug. 23. 

The winner of the primary will take on Rutherford in the general election on Nov. 8.    

Son of Jaguars owner Shad Khan, Tony has made a name for himself in the entertainment world as the founder of All Elite Wrestling. The promotion has had a rapid ascent since its launch in 2019 to become the No. 2 wrestling organization in the United States, behind WWE. 

AEW has two weekly primetime shows—Dynamite on Wednesdays and Rampage on Fridays. September's All Out pay-per-view became the first non-WWE show to generate at least 200,000 buys since 1999. 

Shad Khan has owned the Jaguars since 2012. Tony works with the organization as senior vice president of football technology and analytics. 

Trevor Lawrence will team up with Doug Pederson on the Jacksonville Jaguars this year, and he's ready to run his new head coach's most famous play. 

"I hope so," Lawrence told Bleacher Report with a laugh when asked if he is going to get to run the Philly Special that Pederson called during the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl LII win over the New England Patriots. "Maybe we'll dress it up a little bit differently. Who knows. That would be awesome."

While he doesn't know who will throw him the ball like Trey Burton did to Nick Foles, he knows it won't be former Clemson teammate Travis Etienne Jr.

"He threw me a couple in college, and it wasn't great," he joked.

Philly Special.#SBLII | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/UGN0hTRYrr

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 6, 2018

Perfecting the Philly Special may take some practice, but the presence of Pederson should be quite the boost for Lawrence heading into his second season in the NFL. After all, Pederson has an offensive background from his time as a quarterbacks coach for the Eagles and an offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs even before he was the head coach in Philadelphia.

He went 42-37-1 and reached the playoffs three times as Philadelphia's head coach from 2016 through 2020. The Super Bowl win during the 2017 campaign saw Pederson maximize his quarterbacks with Carson Wentz playing like an MVP candidate before Foles took over and outdueled Tom Brady following the starter's torn ACL.

"I haven't watched a ton of their tape yet. I think going back and watching some of those games in Philly will be big," Lawrence said. "They had a lot of success offensively, early with Carson and then when Carson got hurt and Nick Foles came in they ended up winning the Super Bowl and still kept it rolling. That's impressive from a coaching standpoint for your starting quarterback, who was an MVP candidate at that point of the season, for him to get hurt and for them to still be able to win the Super Bowl is pretty impressive. I think that says a lot about Coach Pederson and that staff."

It comes as no surprise then that Jacksonville targeted Pederson, who was also a quarterback himself before coaching, given how important it will be for the franchise that Lawrence fulfills his potential as the No. 1 pick of the 2021 NFL draft.

Their relationship already got off to a great start when Lawrence welcomed his new coach to Jacksonville with some ice cream:

Y’all… 🥲🍦 https://t.co/4vBTPwTltj pic.twitter.com/UBxXXfj9mL

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) February 5, 2022

"Being able to talk to him on the phone, and I met him in person last week, I really like him," the quarterback said. "I think his personality fits well with mine. I think we're going to get along great. Just talking a little bit about football, I can tell he's really smart and knows what he's doing. So I'm really excited to learn this new offense and get going."

There's nowhere to get going but up for the Jaguars after a 3-14 campaign that featured plenty of adversity. 

Etienne was lost for the year to injury before he even played a game, and wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. suffered a season-ending injury after just four games. As if losing his weapons wasn't a big enough challenge for the young signal-caller, head coach Urban Meyer was fired after a 2-11 start and a saga of headlines that included allegations he kicked former kicker Josh Lambo and video circulating of a woman who wasn't his wife dancing on him at a bar.

Those were far from easy circumstances for a rookie quarterback, and Lawrence struggled at times while completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 3,641 yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

However, he ended on a high note while leading the Jaguars to a victory over the Indianapolis Colts that knocked their division rivals out of the playoffs.

"I learned a lot," he said. "Obviously it wasn't an easy year. There were some good things that happened but a lot of challenges and a lot of adversity. Learning how to deal with that and trying to be consistent and be the same person every day is something that was really challenging this year because of all the uncertainty. Not winning a lot of games and trying to be that same guy every day, I learned a lot about myself. I'm really proud of the way we finished, and I think that's something to build on next year with the way we played in that last game."

His next game after the Colts win didn't come on an NFL field but at Lafayette Park in Los Angeles.

Lawrence partnered with Gatorade and fellow athletes J.J. Watt, DK Metcalf, Robert Woods and Todd Gurley to join Los Angeles children in a flag football game as part of an initiative to make sports more accessible for youth.

The Gatorade athletes joined Laureus USA—which strives to use the power of sport to "end violence, discrimination and disadvantage against young people and children"—and the Woodcraft Rangers—which helps youth in Los Angeles through different experiences, programs and initiatives—to provide a grant to cover field cost times until 2024 for local children.

"It was just fun being out there with the kids," he said. "Gatorade is doing some really awesome things in the community, and it's great being able to be a part of that. ... Giving back to the community is important to me and my wife [Marissa]. That's something we love to be a part of. Really glad we were able to be here today. It's really cool seeing those kids, and the impact sports has on those kids is really special, so it was a lot of fun."

While Lawrence is making an impact with his work off the field, he will be expected to make a second-year jump on it in 2022.

That is especially true after he played a full 17-game schedule as a rookie ahead of what should be more franchise stability with a Super Bowl champion and veteran coach in Pederson instead of Meyer.

"There's a lot of things I want to get better at," he said. "The biggest things when you look at the game: I want to work on my accuracy, consistency and then just the way I play the game. I thought as the year went on I got a lot better, but that's such a big part of the NFL that is different from college, the situational football is so much more important. Every game comes down to one or two possessions, so you just really have to take advantage of them. And then just consistency, there's a lot of games where I played really well in the first half and didn't play great in the second half, or vice versa. Playing more complete games and giving us the best chance to win. Those are things I really want to work on and improve on this year."

The perfect blueprint for doing just that will take the field during Sunday's Super Bowl.

After all, Lawrence and Joe Burrow will always be connected considering they faced each other during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game to end the 2019 campaign and were No. 1 overall picks in back-to-back years in 2020 and 2021.

Burrow's rookie season was also far from ideal considering he suffered a torn ACL, but he made quite the second-year leap and led the Cincinnati Bengals all the way to the sport's biggest stage by defeating Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game.

"It's really impressive what he's doing, really cool to watch," Lawrence said. "That's obviously a positive thing for me looking at that. The changes they made, the improvements they made in one year is really unbelievable. ... That's obviously the plan. Every situation is different, but that's the goal is to make it to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl. For us, who knows how fast that will be. We have a lot of improvements to make, but I know we can make a lot of them rather quickly. So I'm excited to just get back and go to work on those things we can improve on. I know it's going to be a much better year this year."

Perhaps it will be Lawrence's turn to take the football world by storm in his second season in 2022.

The Jacksonville Jaguars backed their way into the ideal setup despite numerous mistakes along the way. Doug Pederson is the right hire to stabilize the franchise and develop last year's No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

The Urban Meyer debacle simultaneously showed how not to handle a coach spiraling out of control and completely in over his head while providing a silver lining for the next hire.

How is that possible?

Well, the Jaguars should have moved on from Meyer as soon as he decided not to fly home with the team after a Thursday night loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4. Instead, he was caught in a precarious position at a local bar, but owner Shahid Khan didn't make a move at the time. Khan gave his coach every opportunity to right the ship until multiple controversies bubbled to the surface forcing Meyer's dismissal.

Even so, patience among an ownership group can be a huge selling point because NFL coaches understand the league operates under a "What have you done for me lately?" business model. Pederson knows exactly what he's walking into after previously inheriting a team in disarray when the Philadelphia Eagles chose to fire Chip Kelly following Week 16 of the 2015 season.

"This is not going to be an overnight fix," Pederson told reporters at his introductory press conference with Jacksonville.

Everyone in and around the Jaguars understands the franchise has a long way to go, and it starts with the organizational setup. Khan originally hired Trent Baalke to serve as the team's director of player personnel prior to the 2020 campaign. Eventually, Baalke replaced Dave Caldwell as the franchise's general manager. However, Baalke has a history of being difficult to work with, and his retention in his current role changed Jacksonville's approach to the hiring process.

At one point, many considered Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator and former Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich the leading contender for the open position. But Leftwich expressed concern about an arranged partnership with Baalke and preferred to see Arizona Cardinals vice president of pro scouting Adrian Wilson hired as general manager, according to the Florida Times-Union's John Reid.

Khan has stressed a collaborative effort throughout his organization's new hierarchy, and the additions aren't complete. The owner already confirmed upcoming changes within the front office.

"We have filed the request to the NFL for an EVP (executive vice president)," Khan said during Pederson's introductory press conference. "And so we'll be doing that process."

Basically, Khan is looking for a new head of football operations, who will supersede Baalke's authority.

"We got a great insight into it," Khan said after Tom Coughlin previously served in the same role from 2017 to 2019. "So strengthening the football operations, more staff, definitely, that's part of our goal. So I mean, we've had too flat an organization, and we want to add brainpower and more people to strengthen that."

As of now, former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is believed to be the leading candidate for the position, per ESPN's Dan Graziano. Graziano also noted Pederson's initial aversion to the front-office structure after receiving the franchise's first official interview for the position. Whatever initially worried the coach seems to be set aside, particularly with the announcement of a front-office shakeup.

"I'm excited, one, to have this opportunity to lead your organization, but two, to be able to get in here, develop a coaching staff, develop our philosophies, develop our schemes to be successful on the football field," Pederson said. "... Our goal is to win football games, but we're going to do it one player, one coach, one person in the organization at a time."

Most importantly, Pederson falls on the opposite side of the spectrum from Meyer. He's a former NFL player, not a locker room authoritarian. He understands the professional game, dealing with veteran players and how to set up successful schemes. He's won at the highest level as both a backup quarterback and head coach.

"We wanted someone who knows exactly what it is to be the last team standing in February and is passionate about doing it and doing it again," Khan said.

Jacksonville is well-positioned to be successful in the near future. The turnaround may take a year or two, but the most important piece of the puzzle is already in place with Lawrence behind center.

The previous Jaguars staff let Lawrence down. The same prospect who ran the table as QB1 and projected No. 1 overall pick didn't look the part in the cycle of suck that encircled the Jaguars organization.

The fact that Jacksonville fielded one of the league's weakest rosters didn't come as a surprise simply because the Jags were the league's worst team a year prior. How the previous coaching staff set him up for failure might have been the most damning aspect of the campaign.

"The Jaguars offense is about as standard as an NFL system can be as far as concepts and scheme. Nothing revolutionary for better or worse," Bleacher Report scout Nate Tice observed after 11 weeks into the rookie's initial campaign.

"If there was some criticism of what they're doing, it would be throwing in more wrinkles from a formation perspective to vary up looks, put more routes on the move and add more 'gimme' throws such as bootlegs, sprint-outs and run-pass options.

"While Lawrence can handle everything, he shouldn't be placed in a position to be the hero every time he drops back, even though he has flashed signs of doing it anyway."

Pederson should immediately step in and make the offense more quarterback-friendly by adding some of those easier reads to get Lawrence into a rhythm. He's also gone through this process with 2016 No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz, though the two ultimately had a falling out that partially caused both of their departures from Philadelphia.

Lawrence is happy with the hire, and that's vital. The 22-year-old knows he's going to be coached differently with a better understanding of what's being asked of him.

"His resume kind of speaks for itself," Lawrence said during an interview on the Jaguars' official site. "He's an offensive guy, played quarterback in the NFL. All of those things make me really excited, and it's something that I'm just excited to get to work with him and see what he brings to the table."

He added, "He played the quarterback position, so he sees it through my lens more so than a lot of coaches that haven't played the position."

Synergy between a head coach and his quarterback is critical. From there, the Jaguars must do everything in their power to make life easier for the face of the franchise, and they have both the assets and financial means to do so.

Jacksonville once again owns the No. 1 overall pick. The Jaguars have the opportunity to address another premium position or trade the selection to create a long-term war chest. Although, the latter option is less desirable since no quarterback prospect appears worthy of the selection, thus lowering the slot's overall value. The Jaguars should instead stand pat and select either Alabama's Evan Neal or North Carolina State's Ikem Ekwonu. Both are considered elite offensive tackle prospects, and Lawrence needs a new bodyguard.

The team has four picks among the first 70 selections, as well as the top choice in each of the rounds.

While the draft will serve as the foundation for the ongoing rebuild, the Jaguars must sell themselves as a destination franchise with their new direction. The club can do so with $57.3 million in projected salary-cap space, third-most in the NFL, per Spotrac.

The new-look brain trust shouldn't splurge in an attempt for a quick return. Instead, smart signings to elevate the roster's overall talent level while continuing to properly build around Lawrence can make the franchise viable over the long haul. But the team's decision-makers have the flexibility to attack selected target areas of need such as wide receiver, tight end and safety.

Instead of pursuing elite free agents at their respective positions like Davante Adams, Robert Tonyan Jr. and Tyrann Mathieu, who are unlikely to sign anyhow, the Jaguars can target options in the next tier, such as Cedrick Wilson Jr., David Njoku and Justin Reid, to improve those spots without breaking the bank. 

Pederson brought instant credibility to a franchise stuck in a vortex of mismanagement. His presence alone should immediately help with the Jaguars' chain of command and quarterback development while making Jacksonville a more desirable destination. The Super Bowl-winning head coach may not have been the franchise's first choice, but he should prove to be the correct one.

      

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.