![\"Jacksonville](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/01kh0pnynt6h99k3c7e3.jpg\" "\\"Jacksonville")
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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) catches a touchdown pass during the second quarter in an NFL football game at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle\/Florida Times-Union] | Doug Engle\/Florida Times-Union \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Jaguars have to upgrade their secondary this offseason<\/p>\n
The Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a> and the Seattle Seahawks were incredibly similar in a lot of ways throughout the 2025 NFL season. They’re both led by upstart head coaches, with Mike MacDonald and Liam Coen being honored as finalists for the Coach of the Year award. They each have a well-balanced roster that equally values offense and defense. However, the Seahawks just had more talent in one crucial area.<\/p>\n Coach of the Year voting:<\/p>\n Mike Vrabel: 19 \u2014 Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n On the offensive side of the ball, the Jaguars and Seahawks were eerily analogous. They were both committed to the ground game, even if they didn’t have the most efficient rushing attacks. Jacksonville and Seattle featured talented blue-chip quarterbacks who had come into the season as unproven and doubted figures. Trevor Lawrence<\/a> had a better overall campaign than Sam Darnold, but the latter ended up hoisting the Lombardi. <\/p>\n The difference wasn’t Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Offensive Player of the Year would have been a huge boon for the Jaguars’ attack \u2014 for any team, really \u2014 but Jacksonville was able to replicate his production as a receiver in the aggregate, especially after acquiring Jakobi Meyers. No, the distinction was on the other side of the ball.<\/p>\n Touchdown JSN! 61 yards.<\/p>\n SEAvsJAX on FOX\/FOX Onehttps:\/\/t.co\/HkKw7uXVnt<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2RqhCoOuX4<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Like Seattle, Jacksonville featured a stout defensive line and athletic, versatile linebackers in its front seven. Neither team was especially lethal in rushing opposing passers, but both generated tons of pressure and neutralized ball-carriers on the ground. The true separator between the Seahawks’ defense and the Jaguars’ was their secondary. <\/p>\n Between Nick Emmanwori, Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Josh Jobe, Julian Love, and Coby Bryant, Seattle fielded the deepest and most talented defensive backs in the NFL. That unit led them to a Super Bowl. Jacksonville has some talented young pieces in place in its secondary with Antonio Johnson, Jarrian Jones, and Travis Hunter Jr. on the roster, but it needs to round out its back end this offseason, especially with Montaric Brown, Greg Newsome II, and Andrew Wingard all hitting free agency.<\/p>\n To see if the Jaguars can replenish their secondary this offseason, sign up for our 100% FREE newsletter that comes straight to your email with the latest news. \u00a0SIGN UP HERE NOW.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on X (Twitter)\u00a0@JaguarsOnSI\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0@_John_Shipley<\/a>\u00a0and make sure you like our Facebook page,\u00a0WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n
Liam Coen: 16
Mike Macdonald: 8
Kyle Shanahan: 6
Ben Johnson: 1 https:\/\/t.co\/UIMmQqYW1Q<\/a><\/p>\n