Say what you want about former general manager Trent Baalke, but he managed to put together a pretty talented defensive core. That he failed to turn the Jacksonville Jaguars into a Super Bowl team is a whole different deal, and he was rightly fired for it in 2025. The Jags replaced him with James Gladstone, who realized he had inherited a solid foundation, so instead of tearing it down, he put the finishing touches to turn the Jacksonville defense into a top-10 unit last year.
Of course, the arrival of defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile shouldn't be underestimated. Under his watch, several underachieving players either bounced back or hit their stride.
The Jacksonville defense is now entering its second season (and possibly last) under Campanile. The group looks pretty good on paper, and there's a chance it could be even better than last year if several players take the next step. This begs the question, who'll potentially be the team's defensive MVP next season? Several Jaguars analysts weighed in.
Josh Hines-Allen ties Travon Walker for Jaguars defensive MVP
Several team reporters and announcers were tasked with choosing whom they thought is the Jaguars 2026 most valuable defensive player. To nobody's surprise, Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker were the top choices. On the other hand, it was a bit surprising to see Travis Hunter also earn consideration, but it's easy to see why.
After playing less than half of the team's snaps on defense last year, Hunter will tentatively play cornerback full-time in 2026. He's been dubbed a breakout candidate and a potential Defensive Player of the Year sleeper, with Benjamin Solak of ESPN going as far as saying that the former Heisman Trophy winner can truly reach his All-Pro potential at cornerback.
But as intriguing as Hunter's outlook for 2026 seems, he still hasn't taken off. That's probably why Hines-Allen and Walker got the most votes. In fact, they got three each. The truth is that both choices make sense for different reasons.
Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen both have compelling cases for Jaguars defensive MVP
Josh Hines-Allen had 10 sacks as a rookie but managed to only register a combined 17 the next three seasons. He took off during his contract year in 2023, registering a jaw-dropping 17.5 sacks. While the 2019 first-round pick hasn't been able to reach the 10-sack mark since then, he's still a highly productive pass rusher, racking up quarterback pressures at a high level.
Travon Walker, for his part, had a quiet rookie campaign, posting just 3.5 sacks. However, he quickly showed improvement, posting 10 sacks each of the next two seasons. The former Georgia Bulldog was off to a promising start to the 2025 season, but injuries hindered his performance and limited him to just 3.5 sacks.
Despite his drop-off in production last season, Jacksonville gave Walker a four-year deal worth $110 million. He's back at full strength and could be even better than before injuries derailed his 2025 campaign. This begs the question: Is he or Hines-Allen the defensive MVP?
Hines-Allen has shown that he can have more than 15 sacks in a season, but it's possible that Walker hasn't reached his potential, so a breakout season shouldn't be ruled out in 2026.
In the end, though, it may not matter. If Hines-Allen and Walker can combine for 27 to 30 sacks, the Jacksonville outside pass rush will be fine. Of course, the Jags would also love to get better pressure from the interior defensive line, but if Walker and Hines-Allen can hit their stride, they'll take tremendous pressure off the rest of the defense. That's what matters.
If I had to choose, though, I would pick Josh Hines-Allen, but just barely, because he's shown he can be one of the top defensive ends in the NFL, even if his sack totals the past two years don't reflect that.
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