As free agency approaches, it looks like the Jacksonville Jaguars will allow linebacker Devin Lloyd to test the market. The silver lining is that they have a viable in-house replacement ready to fill the void in 2023 fourth-round pick Ventrell Miller. But even if the Jags are high on him, it wouldn't hurt to look for outside options.
If Jacksonville lets Lloyd walk, it will be because of cap constraints. Fortunately, there will be other linebackers in free agency who may not command as much as the 2025 Second-Team All-Pro. One of them has ties to defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and is expected to be available.
The Jaguars can target Quay Walker if the Packers let him go
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Green Bay Packers are bracing themselves for Quay Walker leaving [the article is behind a paywall], noting that they may not get into a bidding war for him if he gets an offer of $11 million or more per year in free agency. Here's the skinny:
"Then there's Quay Walker. He may be as good as gone," Silverstein wrote. "If he gets an offer in the $11-million-or-more (per year) range, the Packers probably won't try to match it."
Later in his column, Silverstein notes that Green Bay has done due diligence, pointing out that the team's brass has reached out to agents of other linebackers to have a feel of the market.
Walker has a market valuation of $8.3 million in free agency. Meanwhile, Devin Lloyd is projected to make an annual average of $17 million but could get as much as $20 million if teams get in a bidding war for his services.
As you can see, Walker would be an affordable replacement, but it comes with a catch. He's coming off an unremarkable season. Having said that, the former Georgia Bulldog may benefit from a fresh start, and he could get it with his former position coach.
It makes sense for the Jaguars to reunite Quay Walker with Anthony Campanile
Before Anthony Campanile became the Jaguars defensive coordinator, he was the run coordinator and linebackers coach in Green Bay. It was during his stint with the Packers that he got to coach Quay Walker. Having previously worked with the 2022 first-round pick, he knows his strengths and weaknesses better than other coaches across the league.
And precisely because Campanile has first-hand intel of Walker, he could pound the table for him. And that's the thing. If Jacksonville moves on from Lloyd, and cornerbacks Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown, the least the team's brass can do is get new pieces for his defefensive coordinator.
This makes sense when you take into account that, as much as the defense improved under Campanile last year, the unit is in need of upgrades on the defensive line and cornerback.
There's no doubt that losing Devin Lloyd in free agency would sting, but Quay Walker could soften the blow and may even bounce back if the Jaguars reunite him with Anthony Campanile. He already worked his magic with Lloyd in 2025, and he could do it again with Walker.