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EspañolDaily Prowl: Jaguars not expected to tag RB Travis Etienne
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According to a report by John Shipley of Jaguars on SI, “there have been zero indicators of Etienne getting franchise or transition tagged” ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET tag deadline. As Shipley noted, this is not a definitive sign that the running back will not be returning to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team is simply letting Etienne test the open waters of free agency before beginning any contract negotiations, rather than cratering to the franchise tag cost of $14.3 million. That’s probably a much higher figure than whatever Etienne will end up signing for… but it does lower the chances of him being in Duval County going forward. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Now, for the full roundup.
Jacksonville Jaguars News
Study up before your next trip to the watercooler.
Reacts Survey Results: Jaguars Fans Want to Run it Back (Big Cat Country)
Getting the band back together after one hit song (i.e., one good season) isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If the Jags want to keep the good vibes rolling by re-signing Lloyd and/or Etienne, sure, go for it. They’re incredible players and seem to be respected voices in the locker room.
Jaguars Mid-Combine Mock Draft: Targeting Needs on Day 2 (Big Cat Country)
One name that offers starter potential in the third round could be FSU’s Darrell Jackson, a two-year starter for the Seminoles who thrived against the run but also flashed the ability to get into the backfield. His size and play strength translate well to the NFL, and whilst he’s not the most explosive tackle in this draft his motor and tenacity, coupled with his measurables, suggest he could be a ten-year pro.
Expectations Beginning to Be Set for Jaguars’ Travis Etienne’s FA Market (Jaguars on SI)
Sources with knowledge of the situation have told Jaguars On SI that there have been zero indicators of Etienne getting franchise or transition tagged. This does not mean the Jaguars would not be open to a return, but the more likely sce nario is that he will be able to see what the market has for him. And due to the Williams deal, that market will likely be north of $8 million a year.
Jaguars’ James Gladstone explains why top brass skipped NFL combine (Florida Times-Union)
“The Combine is a significant annual event on the NFL calendar, one that we value greatly. The information and data gathered in Indianapolis are integral to our process. We have significant and influential personnel in Indianapolis, inclusive of our scouts conducting interviews with a full allotment of prospects, and our medical staff is, of course, present and gathering player data,” Gladstone explained.
Everything we learned about all 32 teams at the 2026 NFL combine (The Athletic)
Coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone didn’t attend the combine, instead trusting their scouting staff to handle business. While wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has been viewed as a potential trade candidate, teams have mostly just been checking in on his availability. Nothing appeared imminent, though that could certainly change. Thomas, a 2024 first-round pick under former Jags GM Trent Baalke, had a steep statistical drop-off with the new regime, which has led to the predictable inquiries.
2026 NFL combine buzz: Intel on free agency, trades, QBs (ESPN)
Don’t be surprised if Carolina makes some big moves on defense for the second consecutive year. The Panthers will be looking at edge-rush help and might be open to offering a lucrative contract. They need linebacker and slot corner help, too. Devin Lloyd would be an ideal fit in the middle of the defense.
Albert Breer’s Takeaways: Heeding the Lessons of the Lions’ 2023 Draft Class (Sports Illustrated)
I’d lean toward a Maxx Crosby trade happening, and maybe this week. But there’s going to have to be some needle-threading. I don’t think the Raiders want to go through the song-and-dance of shopping him, nor do I believe Crosby wants it advertised that he’s looking for suitors, given his bond with owner Mark Davis, and his view of himself as a Raider.
Big Cat Country Editor’s Pick
Drumroll, please!
NFL combine participation rate keeps dropping, especially agility drills (Acme Packing Company)
There was an immediate dropoff when on-field combine drills returned in 2022, as participation dropped below 50 percent for the first time, but there was a solid bounceback in 2023. In the last three successive combines, though, the participation rate has dropped year-over-year, and the 2026 combine looks to be the worst, in terms of participation, ever.
Today’s NFL Media
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Let us know your thoughts in the comments below — and be sure to check our social media and The Feed for more Jaguars conversation!
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2025 Season in Review: Justin Foscue
With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.
Today we are looking at infielder Justin Foscue.
Not a great 2025 season for Justin Foscue.
In a year in which the Texas Rangers saw numerous position players go down — particularly in the final two months of the season — it seemed like there should have been opportunities for Justin Foscue to get a decent amount of major league playing time.
Instead, Foscue appeared in four major league games — two in June, two in July — going 1 for 9.
His one hit was a double, though. So that’s something.
And yet it was still an improvement over his time in the majors in 2024, when he had that ridiculous hitless streak and ended the year 2 for 42 with two walks. His 2025 OPS of 333 more than doubled his 2024 OPS of 162.
In case you are curious, Justin Foscue is currently sporting a career .059/.094/.098 major league slash line in 53 plate appearances.
What had to be particularly disappointing was that Foscue went backwards in AAA. Foscue has now spent three seasons with Round Rock, and after putting up an 862 OPS in 2023 and an 897 OPS in 2024, he dropped to 814 for the Express in 2025.
That’s a problem, particularly for a guy who is supposed to be a bat-first guy without a firm defensive position.
And so the clock is ticking for Justin Foscue. He is entering 2026 with one option year remaining. He needs to show that he can stay healthy — something he’s consistently failed to do as a pro — and that he can hit well enough to deserve a major league roster spot despite his defensive limitations.
It is worth noting that Foscue performed well against lefthanders in 2025, slashing .288/.367/.629 against them in 150 plate appearances. He slashing .265/.390/.500 against them in 2024, and .282/.415/.504 in 2023.
For a Texas Rangers team that needs a righthanded bench bat, someone who can platoon with Joc Pederson at DH, there’s an opportunity for Foscue this year to try to carve out a role as a righty bench bat. Of course, taking advantage of that opportunity requires him to stay healthy, and Foscue has already been sidelined this spring due to a hamstring strain.
The 2020 first round has been not terribly productive thusfar. Spencer Torklelson went first overall, and despite being a college bat who got an $8M plus bonus and was supposed to be close to major league ready, 2025 was his first decent season. The eight players selected immediately after him — Heston Kjerstad, Max Meyer, Asa Lacy, Austin Martin, Emerson Hancock, Nick Gonzales, Robert Hassell III, and Zac Veen — have all disappointed. Garrett Crochet and Pete Crow-Armstrong are easily the standouts of the 2020 first round, with Jordan Westburg, Reid Detmers, Patrick Bailey, Garrett Mitchell and Tyler Soderstrom also providing some value.
Interestingly, three of the top nine players taken in the first round that year are catchers — Bailey, Soderstrom, and Austin Wells.
There was a pandemic going on in the world that year, and so it shouldn’t exactly be surprising that that draft shook out kind of weird.
Previously: