Although the Jacksonville Jaguars have a scary pass-rush tandem in Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, the rotation behind them leaves a bit to be desired. This is why the Jags were expected to add reinforcements in the offseason. They kind of did but probably not nearly enough.
Jacksonville drafted Wesley Williams and Zach Durfee in Rounds 4 and 7, respectively. They'll join a pass-rush group that includes sophomores Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II. There's a chance one of them will separate himself from the bunch, but it may be a while before they make an impact. As a local beat writer states, this could be an issue if either Hines-Allen or Walker has to miss time next season.
The Jaguars pass rush missed Josh Hines-Allen at OTAs
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated drew up a list of the good and not-so-good of Day 1 of Jaguars OTAs. He praised several strong showings but also highlighted Josh Hines-Allen's absence at practice, pointing out that the pass rush could be in trouble if he (or Travon Walker) misses time next season.
"The Jaguars did not have veteran defensive end Josh Hines-Allen on the field for the first OTAs practice, which gave one of the NFL's youngest defensive end depth charts a chance to get more reps," Shipley said. "On one hand, it does give key backups like Danny Striggow a chance to get valuable reps ahead of training camp. On the other hand, it certainly showed what the Jaguars' defensive line would be like if Hines-Allen is ever out of action, and it certainly was a bit concerning."
Now, it's not time to press the panic button just yet, but it's certainly a situation worth monitoring. Striggow got the most reps during Day 1 of OTAs. Things could change down the road, but that could be an early sign he's the favorite for the No. 3 job behind Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.
It's also worth noting that Walker dealt with knee and hand injuries last year. If he's back at full strength (he should be), the pass rush will get a massive boost. On the other hand, the fact that there isn't a clear-cut No. 3 is definitely a reason for concern.
What can the Jaguars do to bolster the pass rush?
The Jaguars have a wide array of external options to fortify the pass rush. For the moment, though, it seems like they want to see what their young players bring to the table. That approach kind of makes sense because bringing in a veteran would take away snaps from the youngers, and in turn, potentially hinder their development.
On the other hand, if Jacksonville decides to add reinforcements to the pass rush, there are a handful of intriguing options out there. The team's brass could either sign Cameron Jordan or Jadeveon Clowney. Both of them remain available after becoming free agents in March, and they are coming off productive seasons.
The Jags could also trade for Josh Sweat. The Arizona Cardinals have been getting calls about him because he's missed OTAs. He could be on demand if he's available, but making a push for him makes sense when you take into account that he just posted a career-best 12 sacks in 2025.
Another trade, albeit a bolder one, would include Nick Herbig, who's entering a contract season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's an ascending star, and he could most definitely turbocharge the Jacksonville pass rush. The issue is that acquiring him would take way more resources, and the Jags would have to give him a new deal, so it would be a long shot.
Maybe this turns out to be a non-issue in the regular season, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken lightly. The good news is there's still time for the Jaguars to take a swing if they need to.
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