According to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated, Tuten’s “role and opportunity is going to see a major hike… He is an effective rusher who can create plays on his own with his physically, while also having legit home-run speed.”

Even with the arrival of Chris Rodriguez, Shipley assures Tuten will be seen as a key player on the Jaguars offense after the 2026 NFL season. Tuten had 307 yards and seven total touchdowns during his rookie season.

Chris Rodriguez is a solid backup

Chris Rodriguez had to share snaps with Jeremy McNichols and Jacory Croskey-Merritt on the Commanders. He still had 500 yards and six touchdowns. Hence, while Tuten is expected to be RB1, Rodriguez will not make it easy.

We could perfectly see this become a run-by-committee in Jacksonville. Rodriguez has proven to be a productive option. Under the guidance of Liam Coen, who loves a good, deep running game, this rushing game could be a sleeper problem.

Can Rodriguez and Tuten be better than Travis Etienne?

With Etienne now on the Saints, the question is if these two running backs can have a better production than the 1,107 yards and 13 total touchdowns the now-Saint had in 2025. If they can’t, it will be quite a heavy mistake by the team to not address the issue.

“That’s not something we’ve gone into,” Gladstone told reporters , via the New York Post. “Obviously, he’s under contract with them, so not at liberty necessarily to even talk about it.”

A few days ago, the nose tackle requested a trade out of East Rutherford, even though Jim Harbaugh had shown interest in keeping him. What will ultimately be his destination this NFL season?

Current situation of Dexter Lawrence

The New York Giants and Dexter Lawrence have reached a breaking point following his recent trade request on April 6, 2026. Although he has two years remaining on the $90 million extension he signed in 2023, the market for elite interior defensive linemen has skyrocketed, with top salaries now exceeding $30 million annually.

Lawrence is currently seeking a contract adjustment to reflect his status as a premier player, as his current deal lacks guaranteed money for the final two seasons and ranks him outside the top 10 at his position. Despite his dip in statistical production last season, his high double-team rate remains vital to the defense, yet the Giants’ front office under GM Joe Schoen has shown little appetite for an immediate raise.

Several teams interested in Lawrence

While the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears have surfaced as the primary contenders looking to anchor their defensive fronts with Lawrence’s power, other early suitors have already pivoted. Specifically, the Jacksonville Jaguars were initially linked to the star, recently pulling out of the race.

Despite this, the Giants’ front office remains under pressure, as league insiders suggest they could still be swayed by a too good offer from Bengals if Cincinnati decides to outbid the NFC North rivals with a superior package of draft capital.

While the initial plan left the door open for both wide receiver and cornerback snaps, the latest reporting suggests the team believes a full-time defensive role is the most sustainable path forward. According to Ian Rapoport, the decision also aligns with Hunter’s recovery timeline as he works his way back from a right knee LCL injury.

“Travis Hunter is doing exceptionally well from that LCL tear. He has been running. They really do believe he’ll be fully healthy by training camp, but, when he comes back, they expect him to be a full time cornerback, part time receiver.”

Jaguars make final decision on Travis Hunter

The update effectively signals the end of the true two-way experiment with Travis Hunter, at least for now. Jacksonville had explored a rotational workload that would allow Hunter to contribute offensively in packages, but the physical toll and developmental priorities have pushed the coaching staff toward a more traditional role.

With training camp approaching, the expectation is that Hunter’s primary focus will be mastering coverage responsibilities, while any offensive usage becomes situational rather than foundational. For example, gadget plays.

Jaguars face criticism after Travis Hunter role decision

The reported plan has already fueled criticism toward general manager James Gladstone, particularly because of the aggressive move Jacksonville made to secure Hunter.

The Jaguars traded with the Cleveland Browns to climb to the No. 2 overall pick in 2025, surrendering significant capital that included their 2026 first-round selection. That type of investment typically signals a franchise cornerstone expected to impact multiple phases immediately.

If Hunter ultimately plays almost exclusively at cornerback, evaluators argue the value proposition becomes more complicated. His uniqueness as a two-way star was a major part of his appeal, and limiting him defensively could make the trade package appear steep in hindsight. While elite cornerbacks still carry premium value, critics believe the Jaguars effectively paid a dual-threat price for a single-position player.

Per Alessandra Pontbriand of WJXT4, Gladstone assured Hunter “will be a limited participant” throughout the offseason workouts. Hunter suffered a season-ending LCL injury during a practice on October 30.

The Jaguars’ running back room is settled trusting Bhayshul Tuten. However, Hunter is different, as he can play wideout and cornerback. He covers two positions and in both offense and defense.

Travis Hunter is trending towards one side of the football

While he had 67% of the snaps played on offense to just 36% on defense, the fact is Hunter was way more effective as a cornerback according to metrics. Also, there’s been rumors that Liam Coen, head coach of the team, is trending towards giving him more of a defensive output.

Having wideouts like Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, and Parker Washington also makes the decision easier. The Jaguars have depth, while the scenario is not alike on the corners. Hunter will be undoubtedly a CB1 if fully dedicated to defense.

Hunter is a boom-or-bust player

Being such a talked-about prospect, coming from Colorado, trained by Deion Sanders, and being a Shedeur Sanders teammate with big personality, Hunter has a lot of pressure on his shoulders.

His first season was underwhelming, and then he suffered the injury. Hence, now the pressure is even bigger. He was a second overall pick after all, plenty of hype was around him. He either delivers, or his career might spiral down.

Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday, Coen lauded Lawrence’s “toughness and humility,” noting that the quarterback’s durability throughout a grueling 17-game season was a major factor in Jacksonville’s AFC South title run.

“Four new systems, multiple different head coach situations, OCs, whatever it is,” Coen said. “Go throughout the season, and you find out, I mean, doesn’t miss a single practice, doesn’t miss a single throw in practice, played the whole season. MVP finalist, Comeback Player of the Year finalist, did some great things. There is so much room to continue to improve, and I think that’s what we’re excited about attacking.”

A stabilized foundation in Jacksonville

When Liam Coen joined the Jaguars in early 2025, he inherited a franchise that had struggled to find stability. The team had endured frequent coaching turnover, and the roster lacked the continuity and elite weaponry necessary to elevate Lawrence to the next level.

The landscape in Jacksonville has since shifted dramatically. Lawrence now benefits from a formidable supporting cast, including Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Mayers, and the versatile sensation Travis Hunter. This improved arsenal helped the Jaguars secure their third AFC South title and established the offense as one of the most explosive units in the conference.

Coen emphasized that his continued presence provides Lawrence with the rare luxury of system continuity, sparing him from the “relearning” process that hampered his early career. However, the path ahead remains difficult; the AFC South is arguably the most competitive it has been in years, with both the Colts and Texans coming off strong 2025 campaigns.

The cost of franchise success

The Jaguars’ commitment to Lawrence is reflected in the massive five-year, $275 million contract extension he signed in 2024. Although he dealt with a left shoulder AC joint sprain and a concussion during the initial year of that deal, his resilient and impressive 2025 campaign silenced any doubts regarding the investment.

With $200 million in total guarantees and an average annual salary of $55 million, the expectations for Lawrence are at an all-time high. The ultimate question remains: Can he lead the Jaguars to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history?

While not compelled to trade Lawrence, New York may find it best to move on from its star defensive lineman rather than drag out the drama and risk tension inside the locker room. If that’s the case, a report indicates the Giants have established their asking price for Lawrence to the rest of the NFL. As a result, the Bills and Bears may have a significant advantage over the Packers and Jaguars.

The Giants are reportedly asking for a late first-round or second-round 2026 selection in return for Lawrence. Chicago and Buffalo both have late first-round picks (25th and 26th overall picks, respectively) for the upcoming NFL Draft, whereas Green Bay and Jacksonville have both traded their first-rounders (20th and 24th overall, respectively).

The Packers and Jags could always make a trade to get back into the first round of the draft, but the odds of them making a move for a first-rounder only to send it to the Giants are slim. Thus, the Bills and Bears could be in pole position to make a trade for Lawrence happen. Both teams could really use a powerful nose tackle, and “Sexy Dexy” may be the best option out there, even as he comes off a down year in East Rutherford.

If it comes down to a second-round pick

In case the Giants settle for a second-round pick in a move involving Lawrence II, then the Bills could be in trouble. Buffalo traded its second-rounder (60th overall) to none other than Chicago, that has two picks in the second round (57th and 60th overall).

As for the Jaguars and Packers, they could tilt the scale in their favor thanks to their second-rounders. Still, it seems Jacksonville (56th) and Green Bay (52nd) would have to give up something more to come away with Lawrence. Especially if Chicago is in the mix, and is serious about bolstering its defense that recorded just 35 sacks last season—tied for fifth-least in the NFL.

Lawrence’s stats in 2025

Coming off a career year in 2024, Lawrence seemed to be missing a gear in the 2025 NFL season. He followed his career-high 9-sack campaign in 2024 with a measly 0.5 sacks the following year. Considering Lawrence missed five games in 2024 and didn’t miss a single outing in 2025, his low production definitely raised concerns in New York.

Now, he is looking for a fresh start elsewhere. Lawrence isn’t interested in seeing what John Harbaugh can make happen in the Big Apple. Whether the feeling is reciprocal or not remains to be seen. One thing is clear, though: the Giants won’t give Lawrence away. If New York trades him, it won’t be for peanuts.

According to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated, the team is perfectly fine with letting their running back room as it is. This means Bhayshul Tuten will replace Travis Etienne as the starter, while newly-signed Chris Rodriguez will serve as the backup.

Etienne himself is going to see his snaps shared with Alvin Kamara in New Orleans. Still, it’s somewhat surprising to see the Jaguars content with what they have right now, given how important was Etienne for them last season.

Tuten is poised for a breakout season

Tuten had 83 attempts for 307 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season. The fact is that was enough for head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone to convince them to give Tuten the spotlight.

To be fair to Tuten, he is a strong, powerful runner who is very hard to bring down. However, he is not as elusive or as swift as Etienne is. This is a golden opportunity for him to prove his worth.

The Jaguars are not done

Jacksonville has signed just one free agent this season, but he was notoriously busy after the draft last year. According to Shipley, this year could be the same as he reported that the Jaguars will be “swinging this offseason.”

“Probably not long considering you look at guys like Brandon Aubrey, (Jake) Bates, (Harrison) Butker, those guys are freakin’ phenomenons,” Little said in a recent interview with The Schmo. “They’re gonna break that probably in no time, or I’ll break it again, so who knows.”

The kicker also reflected on that iconic moment—not just for his career, but for the history books: “We needed to put three points on the board,” he stated. “No, it was a long one, but I was excited about it.”

While Little is confident his record won’t stand for long, the reality is it won’t be easy to surpass. In fact, his feat ended a 55-year drought, breaking a mark previously held by Tom Dempsey, who drilled a 63-yarder for the Saints back in 1970.

A year of great kickers

As the 2026 NFL season approaches, the quest to break Cam Little’s staggering league record has become a primary focal point for fans and analysts alike. Leading the charge is Brandon Aubrey, the Dallas Cowboys‘ standout who has already proven his elite range with a career-long 66-yard connection.

He is joined in this pursuit by Jake Bates of the Detroit Lions, who gained national attention after booming a 64-yard field goal, and the ever-reliable Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs, whose personal best stands at 62 yards.

While some might lean toward the raw power of younger legs or the precision of seasoned veterans, the league has never seen a more talented group of specialists capable of rewriting the history books from beyond midfield.

According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Seattle Seahawks matched the Jaguars‘ offer sheet for restricted free agent Jake Bobo. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media also reported the terms of the contract. Bobo’s new deal is worth $5.5 million for two years, with $4.5 million guaranteed.

Bobo has been used in a very low profile by the Seahawks. Actually, when the Jaguars sent their offer sheet and the Seahawks made Jaxon Smith-Njigba the highest-paid WR of all time, it wasn’t clear if Bobo was on the team’s plans.

Jake Bobo has plenty of upside

Bobo has a great frame standing at 6’4″ and 207 lbs, so the wideout is a huge target and especially strong in the red zone. He is a great blocker, which is an underrated feature for a receiver, yet one that is deeply appreciated.

He also has quite an underrating good route-running. Add that to a cheap price tag, and the potential to become a more prominent player on the roster, and then Bobo is looking at a possible breakout year.

Is Jake Bobo the WR2 of Seattle?

It’s clear that the Seahawks have their WR depth chart really sorted out. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the undoubted WR1 of the team. However, Bobo is not exactly the WR2, that’s Cooper Kupp. Also, Rashid Shaheed is still there. However, Kupp is ageing and Shaheed is a deep threat, maybe Bobo gets more targets in 2026.

Jake Bobo is a restricted free agent, which means that the Seahawks have the opportunity to match the Jaguars offer (unknown at the moment) to keep him on the roster. They have five days to match it.

If Seattle decides to match it, it’s the same terms that the Jaguars offer. Bobo is a very good receiver, though it has been underutilized by the Seahawks so far in his career. Still, he is a very talented receiver that could thrive with Trevor Lawrence as quarterback.

Bobo came from nothing

Bobo was an undrafted free agent out of UCLA in 2023 and stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 207 pounds. He is also a big-time blocker on offense. Bobo is great in the red zone, and that’s why the Jaguars are looking into him.

Bobo has played 45 games, catching 34 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns. He has quite a high potential, and Jacksonville might want to exploit those talents. Now it’s time to see if the Seahawks will allow him to leave.

The Jaguars have moved a lot of names

The Jaguars signed running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. but saw how Travis Etienne left the team. The tight ends also moved as Quintin Morris and Johnny Mundt also left the roster. However, the wide receiving corp is very good. They have Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Travis Hunter.

Gladstone had an interview with Mia O’Brien of ESPN Radio where spoke in detail about Brian Thomas Jr. “We haven’t gotten an offer for him, and there hasn’t been a lot of dialogue on that front,” Gladstone said. “We have no interest in disrupting the momentum [of the offense from the end of last year]. We look forward to continue to build… Know that Brian Thomas is a big piece of that puzzle.”

Thomas had a decline in production as his rookie year was stellar, racking up 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. Meanwhile, his sophomore season saw him go down to only 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns. However, Gladstone is not one to overreact, hence BTJ is not on the market.

The Jags must protect their offense

The Jaguars already parted ways with one key weapon from last year, prompting a farewell message from Trevor Lawrence. However, the Jaguars will try to keep the receiving corp intact, as they helped Lawrence have one of the best years of his career.

Brian Thomas Jr. will share targets with Jakobi Meyers, and Parker Washington. Also, Travis Hunter, will be back, though it’s likely that he will play more as a cornerback than a wideout.

Trevor Lawrence must shine again

Trevor Lawrence is entering his sixth season in the NFL, and he has had just two good years. He was one of the most hyped up prospects of all time and was picked first overall. He hasn’t lived up to those expectations. However, he showed glimpses of that elite talent last year under Liam Coen.

Now, Lawrence’s challenge is to be consistent, and by Jacksonville keeping all the weapons, they are giving him the chance to prove he is ready to become the franchise quarterback the Jags have always hoped he’d be.