The Jacksonville Jaguars' two most important free agents are star linebacker Devin Lloyd and dynamic running back Travis Etienne. Both are prior first-round picks who the new regime could very well move off of this offseason.
Lloyd didn't get his fifth-year option picked up for 2025, yet he responded with an All-Pro season. Meanwhile, Etienne piled up 1,399 scrimmage yards and 13 total TDs.
Jaguars GM James Gladstone doesn't have the cap room to use the franchise tag on Lloyd. That'd all but guarantee Etienne's departure, and strap Jacksonville for cash to pursue other free agents.
Assuming a Lloyd extension is worked out, what's stopping the Jags from targeting Seattle Seahawks star Kenneth Walker IIII for about the same price as Etienne? Not to mention a couple other short-term, big-name free agents who are flying under the radar?
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is Jaguars' ideal Travis Etienne replacement
Perhaps it's because he was in such a split timeshare situation with Zach Charbonnet in Seattle's backfield, but for someone who just won Super Bowl LX MVP, Walker's open market value isn't as robust as expected. Or at least that's how it's being forecast as of now.
Here are a few of the major contract projections for Walker and Etienne from various outlets:
- The Athletic — Etienne: 3 years, $37.5 million / Walker: 4 years, $52 million
- Spotrac — Etienne: 2 years, $14.6 million / Walker: 4 years, $36 million
- PFF — Etienne: 3 years, $34.5 million / Walker: 3 years, $27 million
In other words, the difference between Walker and Etienne is expected to be financially negligible. If anything, Walker averages out as cheaper than Etienne — and is implied to have more longevity.
This makes sense, of course, because if you really zoom out, Walker (499) had far fewer college touches than Etienne (788) — and he's been in the NFL one season less. It's clear who has more tread on their tires to date.
Walker turns 26 in October; Etienne turns 28 next January. And as far as their skill sets, other than pass protection, name one thing Etienne is clearly better at than Walker. You can't.
I would've thought pass-catching would be a big edge for Etienne. Come to find out, Walker has a superior catch rate (82.6% vs. 75.7%) and a slight advantage in yards per target (6.2 to 6.0). Again, a negligible difference in a perceived area of Etienne's superiority.
Plus, rising second-year Jags backs Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen flashed nicely as pass protectors in their rookie campaigns.
The following poll from CBS47/FOX30 sports director Brent Martineau reflects how beloved Etienne is in Duval County.
Do you want to see Travis Etienne back in a Jaguars uniform? @ActionSportsJax
— Brent Martineau (@BrentASJax) February 23, 2026
Doesn't mean Jacksonville should pay big money to him when a literal Super Bowl MVP is out there to be had at around the same cost.
A couple other notable free agents for Jaguars GM James Gladstone to consider
Leonard Floyd is the perfect DE3 stopgap option
Dre'Mont Jones is a fine fit, but not as much of a household name as Leonard Floyd. Gladstone was in the Rams front office when Floyd was part of a terrifying, Super Bowl-winning LA defensive front that also starred Aaron Donald and Von Miller.
Floyd is at the stage of his career where he's fine being a situational pass rusher on a one-year deal. He turns 34 in September. His prior team, the Atlanta Falcons, drafted two edge defenders in the first round last year.
Between Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, and Floyd, the Jags' defensive end rotation would be looking pretty nice in 2026. Even in limited action at his advanced football age this past season, Floyd's pressure rate (12.5%) was a little better than Walker's (12.2%).
Darren Waller brings another red zone threat to Jags passing attack
This move has "one last ride" vibes written all over it. The only really good organization Darren Waller ever played for was the Baltimore Ravens. That's where he began his career. Unfortunately, he was battling substance abuse issues at the time and couldn't find his footing there.
Think about it. Jon Gruden did give Waller his real shot to be a star, but those Raiders teams were utter chaos. Gruden hijacked control of the draft, whiffed on a bazillion picks, and ultimately flamed out.
Waller stayed loyal as long as he could to the Silver and Black. Ultimately, injuries caught up to him, and the Raiders decided to trade him to the New York Giants. An iconic franchise. Not exactly a model organization. They were a disaster when Waller was there in 2023.
After retiring for the 2024 season, Waller returned to play for the Miami Dolphins. His quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, proceeded to — channeling my inner Max Kellerman — FALL...OFF A CLIFF!!!!!!!
Still, Waller managed to haul in six TDs on just 24 receptions. Is that any good? Yes. Yes, it is.
What if Waller actually went to a brilliant offensive mind like Liam Coen, with a studly quarterback like Trevor Lawrence? And an absolutely stacked receiving corps that has contributed to pushing the uber-talented Travis Hunter to play cornerback full-time?
Darren Waller is well worth a one-year flier — assuming he decides to play, of course. Zero chance he remains in Miami as the Dolphins embark on a massive rebuild. Not far for him to go to Jacksonville.
Have y'all had a look at the Jags' tight end depth chart behind Brenton Strange, who by the way, is also entering a contract year? It ain't pretty! And again, Jacksonville doesn't have a ton of money to throw around in free agency.