The Jacksonville Jaguars are making waves in the NFL with the hiring of a new head coach. Reports indicate that Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen is set to leave Tampa Bay and take the reins in Duval County. This move is generating excitement, especially given Coen’s impressive track record. Last season, his offense ranked third in total net yards and fourth in points scored, making it a fantasy football powerhouse.
So, what does this mean for the Jaguars? Coen’s arrival is expected to breathe new life into an offense that struggled last season, finishing 25th in total net yards and 26th in points scored. The good news is that he will be working with some serious talent. Trevor Lawrence, who missed the end of last season due to a shoulder injury, is poised to return. Alongside him, the Jaguars have one of the league’s brightest young wide receivers in Brian Thomas Jr. Plus, they’ll have Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis back, and Evan Engram still has a year left on his contract, although the team could decide to move on from him.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a new head coach, as reports suggest Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen will be leaving Tampa Bay to take over the reins in Duval County. Coen’s offense was among the best in the league last season, as it ranked third in total net yards and fourth in points scored. It was also amazing from a fantasy football perspective.
The Jaguars’ offensive line adds another layer of optimism. It performed better than what Coen had in Tampa Bay, allowing just 32 sacks compared to the Buccaneers’ 40. In fact, no offensive line in the entire league allowed fewer player pressures than Jacksonville’s. This solid foundation will be crucial as Coen implements his offensive strategies.
The Jaguars offense line was better than what Coen had in Tampa Bay, too. It gave up just 32 sacks of its quarterbacks, compared to the Bucs allowing 40 sacks. What’s more, no line in the entire league allowed fewer player pressures last season than Jacksonville’s.
Now, let’s talk about the potential impact on fantasy football. While Coen’s presence is undoubtedly a positive for the Jaguars, it might not lead to a massive jump in rankings for individual players. Trevor Lawrence could still be viewed as a fantasy QB2, but with Coen at the helm, he becomes a more appealing option. Brian Thomas Jr. is already ranked among the top 10 wide receivers, while Christian Kirk might present a solid draft bargain in 2025.
Coen’s presence in Jacksonville is good for all involved, but it won’t result in a huge upward bump in the rankings for anyone. Lawrence will remain a fantasy QB2, but he’ll be a bit more attractive with Coen calling the shots. I already had Thomas Jr. ranked in the top 10 among wideouts, though Kirk could turn into a decent draft bargain in 2025.
However, the backfield situation is still a bit murky. Coen will need to figure out how to best utilize Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby, who were somewhat unpredictable last season. The silver lining is that Coen successfully used Bucky Irving in a featured role during the latter part of the previous season, even with Rachaad White still on the roster. Etienne Jr. is entering a contract year, which could serve as motivation for him to elevate his game.
It remains to be seen how Coen handles a backfield that was tough to gauge between Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby this past season. The good news is he used Irving in more of a featured role during the second half of last season, despite Rachaad White still being on the roster. Etienne Jr. is entering a contract year, which could motivate him to improve.
On the flip side, what does this mean for the Buccaneers? With Coen’s departure, there are some concerns for fantasy managers looking ahead to next season. Baker Mayfield, who thrived under Coen’s system, will now be working with a new offensive coordinator. While it’s likely that the offense won’t change drastically—after all, if it’s not broken, why fix it?—there’s still a chance that Coen’s absence could negatively impact the team’s performance.
Mayfield, who knew Coen’s system from their short time together in Los Angeles (2022), will have a new coordinator calling the shots. And while I can’t see the offense changing much (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it), Coen’s absence could have a negative effect.
Additionally, the future of Chris Godwin is uncertain. Coming off a severe ankle injury and set to become a free agent, there’s a possibility he might not return to the team next season. Mike Evans, on the other hand, has shown no signs of slowing down but will be entering his age-32 season. Until a new coordinator is appointed, it’s tough to predict what the Bucs’ offense will look like moving forward. This uncertainty leaves fantasy managers questioning whether the team’s stars can shine without Coen’s guidance.
Godwin, coming off a gruesome ankle injury and set to become a free agent, might not even be back with the team next season. And while Evans has shown no signs of slowing down, he will be entering his age-32 season. We won’t get a clear picture of what the Bucs offense will look like until a new coordinator is hired, but for now, there’s at least some cause for questioning whether the team’s fantasy stars will shine without Coen.
In summary, the NFL landscape is shifting with Coen’s transition to Jacksonville. While the Jaguars are poised for an exciting season ahead, the Buccaneers face an uncertain future. Will Coen’s magic translate to Duval County? Only time will tell!
