After the Jaguars have found ways to keep their top stars and solidify the offseason with spending sprees, Jacksonville owner Shad Khan has expressed his desire to move his investments to in-house players moving forward as opposed to coming up with deals from free agents. It does seem that the focus shifts to another side of rebuilding if the team is going to make the most of its assets in the long run.

It is clear that Khan’s commitment to coming up with a competitive roster is clear, and it cannot be denied that extending players and signing free agents is a considerable move, but investing in rookies through the NFL Draft should actually net them bigger hauls for the foreseeable future, especially if you are considering to build a winning dynasty in the NFL.

In a league where not a lot of teams have succeeded in establishing a period of dominance in the game, it does seem that Khan’s new focus is the right move to consider if the Jaguars are going to compete at a high level with the hopes of making it back to the playoffs and then the Super Bowl.

A Commitment to Rebuilding Efficiently

Since the 2022 offseason, the Jaguars have already found their way toward massive free-agent signings. These includes the likes of wide receiver Christian Kirk, tight end Evan Engram, guard Brandon Scherff, and linebacker Foye Oluokun. The 2024 offseason was not really that different at all, with the team moving to bring in talents such as WR Gabe Davis, guard Ezra Cleveland and defensive lineman Arik Armstead.

On top of that, the Jaguars went on to sign Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen with major extensions this offseason, which guaranteed them their franchise cornerstones for the next set of years. For Khan, however, it is clear that there has to be a lot of changes to be made in their approach to upgrading the squad.

"I think there's a sea change for us -- and this is for our coaching, that they have to develop young players," Khan said. "Our solution isn't going to be we're going to be signing free agents every year. We don't have the ability. Bottom line is that young talent has to be developed. The coaching, the coaching staff, their priorities have to change. Their mindset has to change. That's where we're going to get our future players.

A Proof of Success in the Draft

In case you are wondering, the Jaguars do not solely rely on free agents to build its squad. It is worth noting that the franchise’s main pieces – Lawrence and Allen – are both drafted. Lawrence was selected as the 1st overall in 2021, and Allen as 7th overall in 2019. Both players were extended with five-year deals, and this just proves that the Jaguars aren’t new to bringing in massive talents in the game via the draft.

It is worth noting that not all drafts are successful for all teams. Bringing in the right player that will address the squad’s needs is harder than most people think, and while the Jaguars managed to snag two massive talents off the Draft, there are definitely chances that they will either end up with players who end up underwhelming in the game, or a bust at the end.

Still, Khan wants to take the risk, and this is what makes teams even better in the long run. There are plenty of opportunities for the Jaguars to build via the draft, and while they won’t be stuck there in the long run, one can say that they made the right decision on that end.