New Jacksonville Jaguars GM James Gladstone is coming in with intent and is not messing around. No one is safe and Gladstone is going to do whatever it takes to win. After a brutal season like 2024, the Jaguars need to revamp their roster to return to contention. After Gladstone got rid of five veteran players, it seems as if no one’s job is 100% safe.
Center Mitch Morse retired and Gladstone cut Evan Engram, Ronald Darby, Devin Duvernay, and Josh Reynolds while also dealing Christian Kirk to their in-division rivals, the Houston Texans. Gladstone wants to bring in his guys and to do that he had to get rid of the old players. NFL fans and Jaguars fans took to social media to react to Gladstone’s house cleaning.
Fans React to Gladstone’s Early Moves
Fans were ready on social media to judge Gladstone on his first moves as a GM. The reaction to his moves was generally positive and left fans intrigued about what might come next.
“Gladstone making a statement early,” said Daniel Griffis on X.
#Jaguars & James Gladstone today:
– Mitch Morse retires
– Christian Kirk traded
– Evan Engram released
– Ronald Darby released
– Devin Duvernay released
– Josh Reynolds releasedGladstone making a statement early. pic.twitter.com/Is7UkK0s3b
— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) March 6, 2025
To say Gladstone was making a statement isn’t the most controversial take, but Gladstone is ready to do what it takes to change the direction of the franchise.
An X user, Andrew Gibson, decided to poke fun at the reversal of former GM Trent Baalke’s signings by Gladstone with a GIF of an astronaut with a flamethrower seemingly burning all of Baalke’s previous work.
James Gladstone to the 2024 Trent Baalke free agent class:#Jaguars pic.twitter.com/2h8vPuUwm5
— Andrew Gibson (@1010XLAG) March 7, 2025
It wasn’t all just comedic jokes on social media when it came to evaluating Gladstone’s moves. Fans were pleased with the work Gladstone did and are excited about the new direction of the Jaguars franchise. The Christian Kirk trade made one user much more excited about what Gladstone can provide to a team that needs to find a new identity.
“I like James Gladstone even more after this Christian Kirk trade. His first true transaction as Jaguars GM he moves a player within the division to a rival. It’s about making the team better, not hanging onto the past,” said @RealMBB on X.
I like James Gladstone even more after this Christian Kirk trade. His first true transaction as Jaguars GM he moves a player within the division to a rival. It's about making the team better, not hanging onto the past.
— Matthew (@RealMBB) March 6, 2025
Gladstone was not afraid to ship off Kirk to a team within the division. He did what he had to do in finding a worthy trade partner to help benefit the team and even if that meant sending Kirk to the Texans, he was willing to do what it took to set the team up for success in the future. Since this wasn’t his only move, he was still the talk of the town and at the center of fans intrigued to see what he could pull off next.
“The Jags might’ve just set a record for cuts in an hour. Fascinated to see what [Liam] Coen & James Gladstone do in the draft. Really making this THEIR team,” said Nico, @elitetakes_, on X.
The Jags might’ve just set a record for cuts in an hour
Fascinated to see what Coen & James Gladstone do in the draft. Really making this THEIR team
— Nico (@elitetakes_) March 6, 2025
The new leaders in Jacksonville are making this team the way that they want the team to be built rather than trying to fit old pieces into their new vision. The draft will be a great indicator of how the Jaguars want to shape their new identity and Gladstone will likely be active during free agency and the NFL Draft to get the Jaguars back in contention in the AFC.
“Personally, I think James Gladstone is Dialed in,” said X user Saverio Loiacono.
Personally, I think James Gladstone is Dialed in
— Saverio “Sonny” Loiacono (@sonny_CB_WR) March 6, 2025
Gladstone is dialed in and ready to pounce on whatever move is best for his vision of the franchise. The Jaguars GM has been showered with praise by fans and is shaping up to be one of the more aggressive GMs this offseason. He’s had years of success as a scout and Director of Scouting Strategy with the Los Angeles Rams and is searching for the right talents to take Jacksonville back to the top.