Coming off a successful 13-4 season – the second-best record in franchise history – the Jacksonville Jaguars did not have the usual revolving door that’s been prominent in many of their recent offseasons.

Instead, Jacksonville was uncharacteristically quiet as the offseason passed by, clearly comfortable keeping in place most of the squad that propelled the organization to its first AFC South title since 2022.

However, the team didn’t go completely untouched, with a few major losses, key additions and some notable draft picks doing some roster reshaping.

Departures

The biggest blow of Jacksonville’s offseason was the loss of running back Travis Etienne Jr.

Etienne had been a crucial piece of the Jaguars’ crew since the 2022 season, but the former first-rounder’s contract with the club expired in March, and he signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent after Jacksonville let him walk.

He was a staple of the Jaguars’ backfield for the past four seasons, while pacing last year’s squad with 260 carries for 1,107 rushing yards and seven touchdowns plus six scores on the receiving end.

“Obviously we’re going to miss Travis, but the show goes on, and we have to figure it out,” quarterback Trevor Lawrence said July 29. “It’s different, and it’s an opportunity for these guys to step up and get a great opportunity to make some plays and to play more. And I think our running back room is really talented and diverse and can do a lot of good things.”

Another major loss was Devin Lloyd, who also became a free agent after a standout campaign last season. The linebacker earned his first-career Pro Bowl selection, impressing with a team-leading five interceptions on the season and racking up 81 total tackles, good for third on the team. Lloyd signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Carolina Panthers in March.

Ranking just above Lloyd in tackles with 84 was safety Andrew Wingard, who the team also lost to free agency this offseason. Wingard, who landed with the Arizona Cardinals, spent the last seven seasons with the franchise, and last year was his most productive since his 2021 campaign. The departure is a major hit to Jacksonville’s secondary, and the loss of cornerback Greg Newsome II will only add insult to injury for the group.

Across 12 games last season, Newsome logged 29 total tackles (23 solo), six passes defended and an interception. The former Northwestern standout signed a one-year prove-it deal with the New York Giants in the offseason.

Additions

To make up for some of the losses, Jacksonville brought in fresh faces to help fill in the gaps.

To soften the blow of losing Etienne, the Jaguars picked up running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., signing him to a two-year deal. Across three seasons with the Washington Commanders as backup in the backfield, Rodriguez did not match Etienne’s level of production, but he posted a solid 112 carries for 500 yards and six touchdowns last year. Rodriguez will have a much larger role in Jacksonville than he did with Washington, considering he was in one of the largest committee backfields in the league. The 25-year-old sat behind Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols for much of the season.

After sustaining a left foot injury to open OTA’s, Rodriguez saw the field again during training camp, and the competition for the starting running back spot ensued.

Rodriguez faced tough competition from young returner Bhayshul Tuten for the starting role throughout camp, and they still appear deadlocked heading into Week 1, sharing the starting spot on the Jaguars’ depth chart released Tuesday. Both will need to take on a much larger role than they have seen in the past regardless of who takes the first snap.

While not an area hit hard by departures, the Jaguars also added defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons.

In Atlanta, Orhorhoro did not see much action in his first season but took on a larger role in 2025, starting eight games during the campaign. He’s unlikely to start for Jacksonville but adds significant depth behind Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton.

“He can make a great impact for us,” defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said Aug. 4. “He’s playing really hard, learning our system … a lot of this stuff is fresh, and now you’re starting to see him apply it, and I think he’s doing a good job with it.”

Notable Draft Picks

There are plenty of opportunities for newcomers to make an impact in their rookie seasons, especially with a second-round pick and three third-round selections in play.

With their second-round selection, the Jaguars grabbed Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher. While the starting tight end position is locked up by Brenton Strange, who is coming off his career year with 46 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns, Boerkircher slots in as the primary backup, making him a crucial pick. At Texas A&M, the former Aggie caught 19 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns in 2025.

Based on the Jaguars’ depth chart released Tuesday, Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon (No. 88) has proved the most crucial selection. He has secured the starting left guard role heading into Week 1.

Pregnon started all 15 contests for the Ducks last season and earned first-team All-America and first-team All-Big Ten honors.

For the same reason Orhorhoro was a crucial grab, third-round selection Albert Regis is one too. Like the former Falcon, the former Texas A&M defensive tackle will also take on a backup role coming off his career-best season, where he logged 49 total tackles (18 solo), three passes defended and two sacks.

Jacksonville also snagged defensive back Jalen Huskey (No. 100). Huskey logged an impressive 72 total tackles (58 solo) and four interceptions last season at Maryland, but his importance comes especially from the Jaguars’ lack of depth at safety. He saw decent reps through training camp and scraped by onto the 53-man roster in a third-string safety spot.