The Jacksonville Jaguars were expected to address the interior defensive line in the NFL Draft, but that no longer appears to be the case after trading for Ruke Orhorhoro. Sure, they could add another defensive tackle, but it's no longer a priority, and the team's brass can plug other roster holes with the 52nd overall pick.
Of course, Orhorhoro isn't an All-Pro talent. Otherwise, the Atlanta Falcons wouldn't have traded him for Maason Smith. That said, he should give the Jags a boost at the line of scrimmage, specifically in the pass-rush department.
At the midpoint of the 2025 season, Orhorhoro's pass-rush rate of 15.5 percent was leading the league. He finished the year with 33 total pressures and 3.5 sacks. And in case there were any doubts about what Jacksonville is getting, the Black & Teal turned to a Falcons analyst to see what he brings to the table.
A Falcons expert says Ruke Orhorhoro gives the Jaguars a player with massive upside
Jason Kindel covers the Falcons at Blogging Dirty. Here's what he had to say about Ruke Orhorhoro.
"When the Falcons traded up to the 35th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft for Ruke Orhorhoro, he was expected to blossom into their long-term Grady Jarrett successor. He had the upside and the athleticism, but that never translated to the NFL," Kandel wrote. "Orhorhoro got off to a disappointing start for an early second-round pick, but he started to take steps in the right direction in 2025."
Kandel continued, "He had solid pressure numbers but was overshadowed by both Brandon Dorlus and LaCale London in 2025. For a player who was looked at as an elite run defender, that part of his game never developed, as both his PFF and run defense grade in 2025 were among the worst among all DTs. But that wasn't entirely his fault. The Falcons were playing him out of position at nose tackle, and Ohorhoro is more versatile than that."
"Perhaps a change of scenery to Jacksonville will help him live up to his potential, especially if Anthony Campanile uses him correctly."
Based on Kandel's assessment of Orhorhoro, he had plenty of untapped potential. And as he stated, it will be up to Anthony Campanile to squeeze every ounce of talent out of him. It's also worth noting that he dealt with injuries that hindered his growth as a rookie. It's fair to expect the Lagos, Nigeria native to make strides if he stays healthy next season.
What should the Jaguars expect from Ruke Orhorhoro
Ruke Orhorhoro alone won't fix the Jaguars' dearth of pass rush on the interior. Having said that, he could be part of the solution. The fact that he's played just two NFL seasons means that he's yet to reach his ceiling.
In Jacksonville, he should compete for the starting spot next to Arik Armstead come Week 1. Worst-case scenario if he doesn't improve against the run is becoming a pass-rush specialist on third down. And even in that role, the 2024 second-round pick would help Jacksonville.
The truth is that the Jaguars got an upgrade at defensive tackle in Ruke Orhorhoro. Then again, Maason Smith didn't set a particularly high bar.
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