One of the most intriguing storylines surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason is whether they'll be able to re-sign linebacker Devin Lloyd before free agency starts. This is understandable when you take into account that the 2022 first-round pick is coming off a banner season, and the Jags may not have enough cap space to bring him back.
Couple that with the fact that Lloyd is projected to get a top-market deal, and nobody will be shocked if he joins a linebacker-needy team (that pays him handsomely). If the former Utah Ute does walk, Jacksonville could find his potential replacement in free agency.
The Jaguars could target Devin Bush in free agency if Devin Lloyd leaves
Heading into free agency, Pro Football Focus drew up a list of the top 250 players slated to hit the open market in 2026. Devin Lloyd pops at No. 4, and PFF projects he'll sign a three-year deal worth $48 milion. Devin Lloyd shows up four spots later, and he would be slightly cheaper than his Jaguars counterpart, with a market valuation of $36 million on a three-year contract.
That isn't by any means team-friendly, but it's definitely less than what Jacksonville would need to fork out for Lloyd. In a different article, Bradley Locker of PFF suggests that the New York Jets go after Bush, pointing out that he would give them a centerpiece at linebacker.
"Bush has played like one of the premier linebackers in the NFL since 2024 with an 88.9 overall PFF grade as well as a 90.6 FF run-defense grade," Locker wrote. "More specifically, his 80.4 PFF coverage grade from last year would aid a defense whose linebackers posted the fourth-worst coverage grade. Glenn had a centerpiece linebacker in Jack Campbell in Detroit, and he could attract another in the 27-year-old Bush this spring."
The 10th overall pick in the 2019 draft, Bush spent his first four NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He didn't get his rookie option picked up and became a free agent in 2023. The Michigan Wolverine joined the Seattle Seahawks that year and spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
Bush was fine but not great early in his pro career. It wasn't until he landed in Cleveland that he put it all together under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. The Browns would like to keep him, but like Lloyd, he may be available in free agency.
Why the Jaguars may not re-sign Devin Lloyd or target Devin Bush
If the Jaguars could, they would surely retain Devin Lloyd. However, they haven't even begun contract talks because they know that it won't be a walk in the park. Currently, Jacksonville is $13.9 million over the cap. The Jags will need to restructure a few deals and make some roster cuts to free up cap space. But even after that, they might not be able to meet the Second-Team All-Pro's salary demands. Devin Bush would then become a viable replacement in free agency.
The issue is that even though Bush will likely be cheaper than Lloyd, he may not fit Jacksonville's spending budget. And if Lloyd does leave, the front office may either turn to 2023 fourth-round pick Ventrell Miller to take his place or use a draft pick on a potential replacement. Senior Bowl standout Jacob Rodriguez would be an intriguing option in Round 2.
Simply, keeping Devin Lloyd around is a matter of finances, and the math doesn't work for the Jaguars. It probably won't work with Devin Bush either.