Jacksonville Jaguars position-by-position breakdown: Linebacker
By Billy Long
Part seven of breaking down each positional group for the Jacksonville Jaguars heading into 2018.
The linebacker position is up next in analyzing the roster for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Linebacker is another group for the team that has top-end talent but not particularly the strongest supporting cast.
Let’s examine the position for the Jaguars- how it looks now, and what it could look like in 2018:
As it stands right now
Telvin Smith, Myles Jack, Paul Posluszny, Blair Brown, Lerentee McCray, Donald Payne
Telvin Smith continued to prove to be one the best linebackers in the league, garnering second team All-Pro accolades in 2017. Smith is the quintessential linebacker, providing both lock down defense with vocal and emotional leadership effortlessly.
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Myles Jack, in just his second season, showed the playmaking ability expected when drafted by the team in 2016. Jack possesses the traits wanted from an outside linebacker, and had 66 tackles in 2017.
The veteran of the group, Paul Posluszny, in his seventh season with the team continued to see his impact on the defense shrink last season. Posluszny’s tackle output decreased by 55 from 2016 to 2017, and he continued to be a liability in pass coverage.
What could happen for 2018
Telvin Smith and Myles Jack will both return as the anchors of the linebacker unit. The Jaguars locked up Smith during the season with a four-year, $50 million contract extension. Jack will be playing out the third year of his four-year rookie contract.
On the opposite end, Paul Posluszny is set to be a free agent in 2018. Posluszny could walk this offseason, but the Jaguars may opt to offer a backup type deal, accenting Posluszny’s continual slide in playing time and production.
With or without Posluszny, Jacksonville will probably shore up the depth with a fresh face or two heading into 2018. But don’t expect a big name signing at linebacker in free agency, or a high draft selection. There’s frankly much bigger needs for the team, on the other side of the ball.