4 Jacksonville Jaguars who cannot afford to regress in 2022

No. 2 Jaguars player who can’t regress in 2022 – Foyesade Oluokun, LB.

The Jaguars decided to give their linebacker corps a makeover this offseason. They let Damien Wilson walk away in free agency and also released team captain Myles Jack. They then signed Foyesade Oluokun and drafted Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma in the selection meeting.

Looking back, it made sense for the Jaguars who move on from Jack, who had been a mainstay of their defense for more than five years but had a down year in 2021. The front office had to pay a premium for Oluokun in free agency but Jacksonville’s linebacker corps should get a boost if he can play the way he did for the Atlanta Falcons these past two seasons.

A sixth-round pick by the Falcons in 2018, Oluokun made just 10 starts in his first two NFL seasons but logged 31 in the last two. In that span, he amassed 309 total tackles, five forced fumbles, five interceptions, and five sacks. This should be great news for a Jaguars defense that was last in takeaways last season.

Oluokun got a poor run grade from Pro Football Focus last year because many of the tackles he made were once the ball-carrier had crossed the line of scrimmage. 0n the bright side, 2021 was the only year when he earned such a low mark, so as long as it’s the exception and not the start of a trend, the Jaguars’ defense should be alright. Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell needed playmakers in his system and the front office got him one in Oluokun.