The Jacksonville Jaguars did a good job of raising the team's floor last offseason. The challenge will now be to keep the core that made their 2025 success possible while trying to make as many upgrades as possible. That may not be a walk in the park when you consider that the Jags are currently $13.9 million over the cap.
Even if general manager James Gladstone restructures a few deals and makes a few roster cuts, he probably won't have enough to keep all the team's pending free agents or make a big signing in free agency. This begs the question: What is the Jags' top pressing need ahead of free agency? An NFL writer shared his thoughts.
The Jaguars are being urged to make a stance on Devin Lloyd
Kevin Patra of NFL Media drew up a list of moves he would love each AFC team to make this offseason. For the Jaguars, he chose re-signing or replacing Devin Lloyd, noting that he'll leave a glaring hole on defense if he walks in free agency. Here's the skinny.
"The LB was all over the field, generating five INTs (including one that was returned for a 99-yard TD), seven passes defensed, a fumble recovery, and 81 tackles in 15 games," Patra wrote. "He fit perfectly in Anthony Campanile's defense. The Jags seem unlikely to use the franchise tag on Lloyd (projected at $28.2 million, per Over The Cap). If he prices himself out of Jacksonville, there will be a gaping hole in the middle of Campanile's D that needs to be filled."
Lloyd is scheduled to hit the open market because the Jags opted not to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal last offseason. He went on to have a banner season, and his stock is soaring just before free agency.
Spotrac projects him to get a three-year deal worth $60.1 million in free agency. If he gets that kind of contract, it would put him in the top 3 of the highest-paid off-linebackers in the NFL, only behind Fred Warner and Roquan Smith.
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The Jaguars may have bigger needs than keeping Devin Lloyd
As pivotal as Devin Lloyd was for the Jaguars' defensive success in 2025, they might have bigger needs to address this offseason. Sure, losing him would sting, but the team's brass may prioritize making upgrades at cornerback, the pass rush, and defensive tackle.
In case Lloyd leaves, the Jags have a viable replacement in 2023 fourth-round pick Ventrell Miller. Granted, there would be a drop-off at linebacker, but Miller has proven to be reliable when called upon.
Another possibility would be to find Lloyd's potential replacement in the draft. This year's class will be stacked at the linebacker position, and there's a strong chance that Senior Bowl standout Jacob Rodriguez will be available when Jacksonville is on the clock at No. 56.
Of course, the Jaguars would love to keep Devin Lloyd, but is re-signing him truly their top priority? If they thought he was going to show out, they would've picked up his rookie option. They probably didn't because they didn't think he was going to have a banner season. Then again, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Precisely because the Jaguars expected Devin Lloyd to leave, they already put together a contingency plan in placeto replace him. This doesn't mean that they won't miss him. Simply, they're prepared for his potential departure.