Jaguars owner Shad Khan has ‘best team in franchise history’ and expects ‘win now’

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Addressing players and coaches on the eve of training camp, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan said his expectation is to “win now.”

He believes the same should apply to them.

“Make no mistake: This is the best team the Jacksonville Jaguars have ever assembled,” said Khan, whose comments were published in an internal document. “The best players. The best coaches. But most importantly, let’s prove it by winning now.”

Khan and the Jaguars are looking for an improvement after the worst late slump in franchise history, starting with Sunday’s opener at Miami, the first of four straight games against teams that made the playoffs in January.

Jacksonville watched the postseason at home after losing five of its last six games, a devastating blow after starting 8-3 and leading the AFC South for two months.

The Jaguars gave up 29.2 points per game during those five losses, and coach Doug Pederson responded by firing most of his defensive staff. Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke then turned to free agents for help.

And it’s not just about a few extra hands to patch up holes.

Jacksonville signed seven players with 59 combined playoff experience to contracts worth nearly $135 million, with $51 million guaranteed — significant paydays for veterans whose best days may be behind them.

This may also be the last time Khan spends big money in free agency.

“The bottom line is you have to develop young talent and the coaching staff has to change their priorities,” Khan told reporters in July. “The mindset has to change. We can’t have this dependence on free agents.”

Defensive end Arik Armstead (three years, $43.5 million) and receiver Gabe Davis (three years, $39 million) led the pack, with safety Darnell Savage (three years, $21.75 million) close behind. The class was rounded out by center Mitch Morse, cornerback Ronald Darby, returner Devin Duvernay and suspended safety Tashaun Gipson.

Their postseason experience ranges from four games (Duverney) to 13 games (Morse). Pederson believes their wisdom and experience will be most beneficial down the stretch and in the postseason, assuming the Jags get there with a revamped defense.

“These guys have captained their teams, they’ve been to the Super Bowl, they’ve been to the AFC championship game,” Pederson said. “These guys know how to win, and that’s the kind of influx of talent we want to bring to our young roster. The guys that have been there have done that.”

Khan wrote bigger checks in free agency and even committed to spending nearly half a billion dollars to re-sign quarterback Trevor Lawrence, pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen and cornerback Tyson Campbell this summer, marking the most expensive roster-building period in franchise history.

However, Khan expects a better return on investment.

“We have to do our part,” Hines-Allen said. “He’s done his part to give us what we need to be successful. Now it’s really all the players. We can come together as one team offensively, defensively, special teams. We can do it. We have the pieces. We just have to make it work.”

Jacksonville has made the playoffs twice in Khan’s 12 years. The Jags appeared poised to return in 2023 before injuries to Lawrence, Campbell, quarterback Christian Kirk and defensive end DaVon Hamilton derailed the season.

They are now healthy and ready to put last season’s December disaster behind them and start with a surprise in September that could put them back on top of the division.

“People aren’t talking about us the way they were talking about us last year,” Kirk said. “It’s not a bad situation. … It’s easier to block out the noise. I think we learned from that last year.

“We know the opportunity that’s in front of us. It won’t be given to us. We have to go out and take advantage of it.”