The offseason for the NFL doesn’t really mean that everyone is “off.” Adjustments are being made with positions and the staff. Teams are hosting college football’s best draft prospects before the NFL draft. Also, players can voluntarily come in before the preseason to workout. The voluntary period of the offseason program began this week and will run from now until June 12.
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 18, 2017
With the Jacksonville Jaguars’ schedule being released on Wednesday as well, the Jags have gotten the ball rolling early.
On Monday, the Jaguars kicked off new coach Doug Marrone’s first offseason practices as the head coach.
With a 3-13 record last season and a fourth place finish in the AFC South, the Jags need all the help they can get, especially with their tough preseason schedule. Their first opponent will be the New England Patriots, the 2016 Super Bowl Champions.
#Jaguars finalize 2017 preseason schedule presented by @McGowansHVAC. #WinToday
Full details | https://t.co/VEHv8SMGp5 pic.twitter.com/m3v1hNjFam
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 19, 2017
Early Changes
Adjustments have already been made, even though we’re only in April. One big one is at the linebacker position. Paul Posluszny has been the Jaguars’ middle linebacker/defensive quarterback since 2011. He has now been moved to the strong side linebacker position.
“For 10 years I played middle linebacker. My entire perspective on how to play football in the NFL, my entire identity has been that” Posluszny says.
This decision has been speculated since March in order to make room for Myles Jack.
After a disappointing season, the Jaguars are just hoping to grow as a team. Former FSU Seminole Telvin Smith, now a linebacker for the Jags, is hoping for just that. “I hope to be the best teammate I can be. It’s not about me, it’s about this team and us trying to build something” Smith says.
2017 NFL Draft
With the NFL draft being a week away, a number of draft prospects have been in and out of EverBank Field recently. Jacksonville has the fourth overall pick in the first round and the third pick in the second round.
The Jags’ current quarterback Blake Bortles is still in limbo. The team still has until early May to pick up the 2018 option of his contract. The Jags could possibly draft a quarterback if they decide to opt out on Bortles’s future in Jacksonville. The Jags recently hosted Deshaun Watson from the National Championship Clemson squad. They also hosted other players such as FSU’s star RB Dalvin Cook, LSU RB Leonard Fournette, LSU S Jamal Adams, Alabama DL Jonathan Allen, Ohio State S Malik Hooker, Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett. and Alabama TE O.J Howard to name a few.