JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars' 2025 training camp runs from Wednesday to Aug. 21 at the Miller Electric Center football facility.
The Jaguars did a complete reset after last season's disappointing 3-14 record, with owner Shad Khan firing GM Trent Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson, and replacing them with James Gladstone and Liam Coen. Khan also hired Hall of Famer Tony Boselli as the team's executive vice president of football operations.
The new regime wasted little time reworking the roster, trading receiver Christian Kirk, cutting tight end Evan Engram, signing 12 free agents, and trading up in the NFL draft to get two-way player Travis Hunter. That last move, in particular, has brought an excitement around the franchise that has been missing for a long time.
Here's a closer look at what we are watching at camp -- and a 53-man roster projection:
Can Coen fix the offense like he did with Tampa Bay?
Coen spent just one season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator, but he improved the run game from last in the NFL in 2023 (88.8 yards per game) to fourth in 2024 (149.2). He also helped QB Baker Mayfield set career highs in passing yards (4,500) and TDs (41, second only to Joe Burrow's 43) despite receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans missing a combined 13 games.
The Jaguars added six new offensive linemen, including immediate starters Patrick Mekari (right guard) and Robert Hainsey (center), signed receiver Dyami Brown, and drafted Hunter. If Coen can get consistent play out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars might be able to have the same kind of success.
Three players to watch
WR/CB Travis Hunter: He spent the majority of the spring on offense because the Jaguars wanted to give him more time to pick it up. He'll start flip-flopping from offense to defense during practices in camp, which will give us a chance to see how and in what packages coordinator Anthony Campanile likes to use him.
DT Maason Smith: Smith admitted that he didn't take care of his body or prepare well enough in the first half of his rookie season, but he came on late -- recording two sacks, 12 tackles and two pass deflections in the final six games (five starts). The Jaguars didn't address interior defensive line in free agency or the draft so they need Smith to continue to progress.
LB Devin Lloyd. The Jaguars didn't pick up Lloyd's fifth-year option, so he's on the last year of his rookie deal. He's had issues in coverage and getting caught out of position in the last three seasons. How Campanile opts to deploy him is one of the more interesting defensive storylines of camp because the Jaguars don't have much experienced depth at linebacker.
Key position battles
Right tackle: Anton Harrison didn't improve much in his second season, and the Jaguars expected more growth out of the 27th overall pick in 2023. He missed one of the OTAs open to the media because of an illness and when he was healthy, he rotated with free-agent signee Chuma Edoga with the starters. Coen had this to say about Harrison, "When Anton wants to go, he can go." That should send a message to Harrison to pick it up.
Safety: It appears Eric Murray has secured one of the spots, and for now, Andrew Wingard has the other. However, the Jaguars drafted Caleb Ransaw in the third round and planned on him eventually starting alongside Murray. Wingard was having a great camp in 2024 before a knee injury cost him nine games. He has played solid football when he has been on the field. Ransaw may have to significantly outplay him in camp to win the job.
Running back: After rushing for more than 1,000 yards in 2022 and 2023, Travis Etienne Jr. was surpassed as the lead back last season by second-year player Tank Bigsby. Etienne's name was mentioned as a potential trade candidate before the draft, but Coen said in the spring that he's happy with Etienne's consistency and ability to make plays in space. The Jaguars also drafted Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr., so there will be competition for carries.
Keep an eye on: Josh Hines-Allen returning to form
Hines-Allen has dropped the weight that former coordinator Ryan Nielsen had him gain in 2024, and Hines-Allen was particularly happy about it. His production dipped from a franchise-record 17.5 sacks in 2023 -- which earned him a five-year extension -- to eight in 2024. He said the approximately 20 pounds he put on negatively impacted how his body felt all season. Hines-Allen, who needs just 2.5 sacks to set the franchise career record (Tony Brackens has 55), is re-energized. Will that result in double-digit sacks again?
53-man roster projection
QB (2): Trevor Lawrence, Nick Mullens
RB (4): Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby, Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen Jr.
TE (3): Brenton Strange, Hunter Long, Johnny Mundt
WR (6): Brian Thomas Jr., Dyami Brown, Travis Hunter, Parker Washington, Chandler Brayboy, Austin Trammell
OL (10): Walker Little, Ezra Cleveland, Robert Hainsey, Patrick Mekari, Anton Harrison, Chuma Edoga, Jonah Monheim, Wyatt Milum, Cole Van Lanen, Fred Johnson
DL (9): Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, DaVon Hamilton, Arik Armstead, Maason Smith, Dawuane Smoot, Emmanuel Ogbah, Tyler Lacy, Jordan Jefferson
LB (5): Foyesade Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, Ventrell Miller, Jack Kiser, Dennis Gardeck
CB (5): Tyson Campbell, Jourdan Lewis, Jarrian Jones, De'Antre Prince, Montaric Brown
S (6): Andrew Wingard, Eric Murray, Daniel Thomas, Rayuan Lane III, Antonio Johnson, Caleb Ransaw
Specialists (3): Logan Cooke, Cam Little, Ross Matiscik