Now that the Jacksonville Jaguars know that defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile isn't going anywhere (at least in 2026), they'll need to get him more ingredients to cook next season.
Campanile's unit was among the best in the NFL last year, but it could most definitely use upgrades. In particular, the Jags need to add reinforcements at cornerback, defensive tackle, and the pass rush. How they address all three remains to be seen, but they'll most definitely need to prioritize one over the others. A local beat writer just offered his two cents.
The Jaguars need to get Josh Hines-Allen help this offseason
Ryan O'Hallaran of The Florida Times-Union made an appearance on Duval Rundown and argued that the Jaguars need to bolster the pass rush, noting that they didn't get much production from their 2025 group aside from Josh Hines-Allen.
"Their pass rush just wasn't very good," O'Hallaran stated. "The NFL had them at about a 26 percent blitz rate, which is five or more middle of the pack. But I had Josh Hines Allen with 65 disruptions, a combination of sacks, knockdowns, pressures. The next closest player was 32. [That] can't happen again."
O'Hallaran continued, "They've got to address it, either inside with the defensive tackle or outside, getting more from the edge, so those are the two main things, and we can dig into the run defense. But you know, if I'm the Jaguars, the pass pressure has got to be a priority."
Josh Hines-Allen was fine in 2025, but he wasn't elite. He certainly did a good job of bringing the heat but didn't make enough game-altering plays. Some of that was due to teams devoting extra attention to him because Jacksonville didn't have anyone else on the defensive front last year.
Travon Walker was a stud against the run but left a bit to be desired as a pass rusher. In his defense, he dealt with injuries that hindered his performance in 2025. He's entering a contract year and should be back at full strength. Those two factors may help him post a banner season. But even if the former Georgia Bulldog takes the next step, the Jags need to bolster the pass rush.
Sure, undrafted free agents Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II are in the mix, but expecting them to develop into high-end pass rushers in just their second season may be unrealistic.
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The Jaguars have several paths to bolster the pass rush
As noted before, the Jaguars are $13.9 million over the cap, so they'll need to free up space before they can get to work. Once they do, though, there will be several ways they can address the pass rush. The easiest path would be to sign Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. He's coming off an injury-marred season, but he would be the best option available in free agency (if he's available).
The Jags could also try to trade for Maxx Crosby. It would be costly, but they would get one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL. Another route would be the NFL Draft. Jacksonville will have four picks on Day 2. General manager James Gladstone could use one of them to round out the rotation.
Of course, the Jags also need to make upgrades at defensive tackle. Their best player in the interior trenches is currently Arik Armstead, and there's a chance that he'll be a cap casualty. If Jacksonville wants to take pressure off Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, getting help inside would be huge, as they would no longer draw double teams.
All things considered, the Jags achieved big things in 2025, but the playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills showed that there's still plenty of work left. It's abundantly clear that among the things they'll need to focus on, the pass rush should be at the top of their to-do list this offseason.