(05-29-2022, 11:41 AM)NYC4jags Wrote: Attempt at a chronological overview of Baalke through the lens of a semi-reasonable Jaguars fan:

• Came to us with a bad track record, but began at director of player personnel under Caldwell
  
• When promoted to GM, Jags fans had the track record to consider and initial concern understandably began, but so many were eager to be rid of Caldwell it wasn't widespread
  
• Urban Mayer happened - and while many excuse Baalke of blame for this - I think he should have/probably could have done more to show Khan it was a bad idea. It's not his fault necessarily - but it was his job to inform on a better decision. 
  
• 2021 free agency:  It was mostly bad.  Factor in Meyer all you want. Baalke is complicit. Several bad moves.
  
• 2021 Draft:  Not so bad. Jury is still out, but may end up pretty good and a reason to have a glimmer of hope for the guy.
  
• • The twitter rumor mill stirred up a lot of stuff about Baalke's nature as a snake in the grass, bad-faith-negotiator, eager to throw colleagues under the bus for his own advantage. No idea how much of that is true or not. 
    
  
  
• Pederson hire:  Kudos to Baalke/Khan on this one. Well done. I don't care about the weeks-long process and all of the ire it drew from fans. They got a good thing done. 
  
• 2022 free agency: You can nitpick how much he directly helped Trevor or not, but he and Pederson clearly had a plan to build a run stuffing defense that covers well enough and can rush the passer better than before. They have done that on paper. They also managed to add what should be moderate help for Trevor. 
  
• 2022 draft: Looks pretty good on paper to me. Questionable trade value will only haunt them if those picks don't pan out. Doubling down on ILB will draw criticism if other areas struggle - but could also turn out to be very helpful to the defense. Way too soon to know much on this bullet point. 
  

Synopsis: Since arriving in Jax - He's done some bad things, he's done some good things. As tough as it is to wait it out, 2023 is probably when we will have a good grasp on which outweighs the other. 

That's a good attempt at being fair.  The one thing that you don't specifically mention that I consider highly relevant is the fact that his promotion came after one year with the team and that team went from 6-10 in the prior season to 1-15 under Baalke.  In his one year as Director of Player Personnel, the Jaguars drafted C.J. Henderson and Chaisson in the first round.  In what sane universe does this earn him a promotion?  

I will say that I am one that believes people sometimes learn from their mistakes and can get better at their jobs.  Hopefully, Baalke is one of those people.  However, it didn't make a lot of sense to give Baalke that opportunity when so many much more deserving and better qualified people were available.

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