The Jacksonville Jaguars can't afford the franchise tag for star linebacker Devin Lloyd, and they're really hurting for cap space to make free-agent signings of any kind.
Retaining Lloyd should be the No. 1 objective for Jacksonville. He was so crucial to the team's 13-win season, and is not easily replaceable. However, the current Jags regime declined his fifth-year option before his career-best 2025 season. That seemingly sound decision has created all kinds of complications.
While Jacksonville can look to the draft for help at defensive tackle, in the pass rush, and at cornerback, landing a linebacker of Lloyd's caliber feels unrealistic. And one needy team in particular is predicted to snatch him up.
Panthers projected to steal Devin Lloyd from Jaguars in free agency
FanSided.com's Jake Beckman recently provided predictions on where the NFL's top 25 free agents would land this offseason. Here's what Beckman had to say about Lloyd spurning the Jags' best offer in favor of the Carolina Panthers:
"The Panthers are a team that’s right there, defensively. They might be losing Christian Rozeboom in free agency, but they have an opportunity to upgrade at linebacker if they go after someone like Lloyd, who’s an actual weapon in coverage."
Lloyd was steadily progressing through the 2024 campaign, but really broke out this past season as a second-team All-Pro. As Beckman alludes to, Lloyd is indeed a weapon in coverage, with five interceptions in 2025 and a top-five PFF coverage grade.
Allowing a 69.2 passer rating is almost unheard of for a linebacker. Even if Lloyd's interception total is something of an outlier, it still speaks to his instincts and knack for being in the right place at the right time.
Since Carolina quarterback Bryce Young is still on his rookie contract, Carolina must capitalize on this window to add as much talent as possible.
Young doesn't feel worthy of a top-market QB contract anyhow, which should free up the team to invest in lucrative long-term deals. Whether Young or another signal-caller is the Panthers' future at the position, they have a chance to restructure lots of contracts this offseason and make a big splash on the open market with someone like Lloyd.
It's obvious that Carolina is a flawed football team beyond the oft-pedestrian, oft-fringe starter level of play they get from Young at the most important position on the field. The reigning NFC South champs only had an 8-9 record last season.
Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson give the Panthers an awesome boundary cornerback tandem. Derrick Brown is a dominant anchor on the defensive line. Adding Lloyd to the mix would solidify every level of Carolina's defense with exceptional star power.
One could argue the Panthers are on the rise since they almost beat the mighty Rams on Wild Card Weekend. Nevertheless, their division is wide-open. If they can't continue progressing from their 8-9 mark, and Young's passer rating stays below 90 as it has for his whole career, Carolina could be at a major crossroads, staring down yet another pseudo-rebuild.
In other words, you won't find a more desperate reigning division champ than the Panthers.