Roster purge feels like rebirth for Jaguars under Coen and Gladstone

By Hays Carlyon

The Jaguars became Liam Coen and James Gladstone’s team officially on Thursday.

That was the day Shad Khan’s new, dynamic pair of football leaders announced their presence.

They announced it with authority.

The Jaguars followed up the release (and then trade to Houston) of receiver Christian Kirk with a wave of moves Thursday afternoon. Things started with the retirement of center Mitch Morse. My bet is the Jaguars told 32-year-old Morse he wasn’t going to be the starter and would be counterproductive for cap reasons to be cut. So, Morse read the room and retired after a strong, decade-long career.

Tight end Evan Engram. Cut. A salary-cap savings of $6 million.

Kirk and Engram both being released is stunning. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has star receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and not much else now.

The Jaguars also saved another $7 million combined by cutting receiver Josh Reynolds and cornerback Ronald Darby. How those two players saved $7 million tells you all you need to know about Trent Baalke.

So, what’s coming?

Expect a frantic free-agency period starting Monday.

This is not a rebuild, although it felt like the start of one Thursday. I believe Coen and Gladstone intend to compete for the AFC South crown immediately.

I think upgrades are coming — at least in the eyes of Coen and Gladstone – and that’s exciting. It figures a bold choice for coach and GM would start with bold, decisive actions. This feels like the start to a well thought out plan.

The Jaguars went from having below-average salary cap space to now having the seventh-most in the NFL at $60 million.

Khan will allow them to spend to it.

If you figure the Jaguars need to preserve $10 million to sign their draft class, Coen and Gladstone are working with $50 million to spend with the festivities starting Monday when the legal tampering window opens. Teams can officially sign free agents at 4 p.m. on Wednesday when the new league year begins.

Expect fireworks.

A trade could certainly be coming as well. The Jaguars now have 21 picks over the next two drafts after getting a 2026 seventh-rounder for Kirk.

There are two paths Coen and Gladstone could take with free agency. They can probably sign two premier free agents (top 20) and three others of decent value or they could sign eight Plan B/Plan C guys. They radiate a confidence that they can find the hidden gems.

Don’t be surprised if quantity is prioritized over quality.

This team is going to win if Lawrence, Thomas, Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker and Tyson Campbell (the core) play at an elite level AND get good help from the second-tier players.

This is where Coen is fascinating. Is he the kind of offensive mind that can take a B-level player and make him an A-player?

There could also be some hidden gems already on the roster. Gladstone made a comment at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week in regards to tight end Brenton Strange that took on extra perspective after Engram’s release.

“I think he’ll have a part in the offense moving forward in a way that we haven’t seen yet,” Gladstone said.

Makes you wonder what other players on rookie contracts (if any) have caught their eye like that.

The Jaguars feel bold and unpredictable, which is refreshing, because it seems like they’ve been so lethargic for so long.

I have no idea what Coen and Gladstone have planned.

But I can’t wait to see it unfold.

(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter/X @HaysCarlyon)