It’s a time of change for the Jacksonville Jaguars. New head coach, new general manager, and a draft ahead that promises to further strengthen their roster. James Gladstone joined the franchise as the new GM and issued a serious warning to the rest of the NFL teams about what Trevor Lawrence can do in the upcoming season.
In recent comments at the NFL Combine via the Florida-Times Union, Gladstone discussed the potential of former Clemson Tigers player and warned those present that the greatest brilliance of Lawrence in the league has yet to be seen.
“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Trevor. I’m really excited to get a chance to work with him, support him, and really bring the tools that he has in his arsenal to life,” Gladstone firmly stated.
Additionally, he shared his thoughts on the positions where it would be ideal to reinforce the roster, particularly in protecting the QB. The Jaguars’ offensive line was a headache last season, when Doug Pederson was still in charge.
“I think it starts by the protection. Making sure that he feels like he has as much time to work with as possible, and also that he’s comfortable with his pass catchers,” Gladstone added. “He’s going to feel that change both in the operation schematically and then the personnel that we invite in.”
Raising the bar for the roster, Gladstone’s goal
The arrival of Liam Coen as the new HC of the Jaguars came alongside James Gladstone, the new GM in Jacksonville, and perhaps one of the youngest to hold this position in the NFL. This doesn’t diminish his experience and talent to develop in the league, and among his first moves, he promised to raise the bar for the roster to make the team as competitive as possible.
“We’re going to elevate the floor of the roster immediately,” Gladstone said per the team. “We look forward to injecting this ecosystem with some intangible elements that Liam and I both covet.
“That’s rooted in things like mental and physical toughness, just elevating the floor of the roster and at the same time leaning into the guys that we have and knowing that we can put them in some good spots to really showcase their capacity and their attributes,” he stated to the press.
The goals for the upcoming NFL Draft
The past campaign of the Jacksonville Jaguars is meant to be left in the past, and with an eye on what’s ahead, the Florida franchise has an excellent opportunity to acquire top talent in the upcoming draft. Gladstone, without hesitation, made it clear what strategy they will use for this event.
“Where it stands right now, I think we’ll prioritize positions that really are across the front both offensively and defensively and those that put points on the board,” he said. “That’s where my mind goes when you ask a question like that. Beyond it, we’ll continue to round out.“