Jaguars fans should keep an eye on one area of growth for Foyesade Oluokun

When discussing the linebacker position for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the conversation routinely centers on the decision to let Devin Lloyd walk in free agency. The expectation is that Ventrell Miller will step into his place. However, it's easy to forget that Foyesade Oluokun is still around.

Oluokun originally signed with the Jags in 2022. He's since become a defensive mainstay and a prominent voice in the locker room, serving as a team captain the past four years.

Surprisingly, Oluokun isn't often mentioned as one of the top linebackers in the NFL despite the fact that he excels at stopping the run. That mostly stems from the fact that he isn't nearly as good in coverage as his peers. However, the Yale product has worked on that area of his game in the offseason, something head coach Liam Coen has wasted no time recognizing.

Foyesade showing improvement at Jaguars mandatory minicamp

Liam Coen met with the local media after Day 8 of minicamp. He said that Foyesade Oluokun has gotten substantially better in coverage, noting that the improvement is noticeable in practice.

"I think it showed up actually last week as well," Coen told the press corps (14:34 mark). "We were actually in a two-minute situation, and he blew one of the running backs on an optional route, and I think Foye is, obviously, his brain works very at a high level, and he can understand release patterns of whether it's a tight end or the running back, he understands the release, and maybe what that route could look like."

Coen continued, "I also think vision zone coverage helped him, right, not being maybe in man match all the time, and having your eyes on the on the receiver, having your eyes on the quarterback, and being able to kind of read his eyes, see the route start to distribute, and then his studying and training and habits can just go allow him to play fast, having vision on the quarterback. I mean, I thought he was a very underrated past defender last year, and I think he's getting better and better."

A sixth-round pick in 2018, Oluokun never posted a Pro Football coverage grade higher than 66.8 during his four-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons. Similarly, he never recorded more than six passes defensed in a season. Since joining the Jags, though, the St. Louis, Missouri native has steadily improved in coverage, registering a career-best 78.4 in 2025.

Foyesade Oluokun could post a banner season with the Jaguars

Foye Oluokun is a grizzled veteran, so it would be a bit strange to call him a breakout candidate at this stage in his career. That said, he could legitimately have a banner season.

Even though he's already racked up more than 1,000 career tackles, he's yet to make the Pro Bowl. He could buck the trend if he does improve in coverage and makes a handful of big-time plays. On top of that, he would lessen the exit of Devin Lloyd in free agency.

Because Foyesade Oluokun is so consistent, it's easy to forget that he has such an important role on the Jaguars defense. However, he's positioning himself to show everyone that he's one of the best linebackers in the NFL.

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