The Jacksonville Jaguars managed to retain cornerback Montaric Brown and linebacker Dennis Gardeck just before the start of the legal tampering period. But as proactive as the Jags have been, it may be a matter of time before they lose linebacker Devin Lloyd to another team.
Lloyd is projected to get a top-market contract, and Jacksonville may have trouble meeting his salary demands. That's why it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that he'll walk. Having said that, the 2025 Second-Year All-Pro nod will need to wait a bit more as fellow linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean got new deals first.
Passing on Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean shows LB isn't a priority for the Jaguars
Even though the Jags re-signed Dennis Gardeck (tentatively to a two-year deal worth $6 million), they haven't made further additions to their linebacker corps. Sure, they were expected to let Devin Lloyd walk, but Jacksonville didn't make an aggressive effort to land either Nakobe Dean or Quay Walker, even though signing both of them was cheaper.
Surprisingly, Dean and Walker signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. The former got a three-year, $36 million contract, while the latter inked a three-year deal worth $40.5 million. That's far from chump change, but Lloyd, for comparison, is projected to get a deal that pays him $15 million to $20 million.
If the Jags had wanted to, they could've easily targeted either Dean or Walker, but it looks like they felt comfortable passing on them even though they are viable starters. It's also worth noting that Jacksonville has barely any cap space, and that might also play a role in their
Gardeck may see an uptick in playing time next season. Moreover, Jacksonville already has an heir apparent for Lloyd in Ventrell Miller. A fourth-round pick in 2023, Miller has shown game-changing potential when he's been thrust into action. He could be the first in line to compete for the starting job next to Foyesade Oluokun.
But even if the Jaguars want to add reinforcements at linebacker, they'll have more affordable options beyond Walker and Dean.
The Jaguars may not make further moves at LB after re-signing Dennis Gardeck
The Jaguars could still make a move at linebacker, but they appear to be set at the position after re-signing Dennis Gardeck. In fact, they may not address the position until the draft, and even then, they may not invest their second-round pick when you take into account that they must also make upgrades at defensive tackle and the pass rush.
Sure, Jacob Rodriguez and Anthony Hill Jr. (if they're still available) at No. 56 could offer plenty of value, but defensive tackle prospects such as Peter Woods or Lee Hunter may make more sense.
Either way, the Jags are making it clear with their early moves in free agency that fortifying their linebacker corps isn't a top priority. This doesn't mean they won't make any moves down the road, but they're showing that they're focused on addressing more pressing needs.