The Jacksonville Jaguars dismissed defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell one day after losing to the Tennessee Titans in the 2023 season finale because they thought changes were necessary. After a thorough search that lasted two weeks, the Jags found their guy in Ryan Nielsen, who held the same position for the Atlanta Falcons last year.
Although the Falcons didn't have one of the best defenses in the league, they ranked in the top 10 in several categories, including passing yards allowed, third-round success, pass defense, and yards per play allowed. While it may be a bit too early to draw any meaningful conclusions, it's fair to say that the Jaguars nailed the hire.
Head coach Doug Pederson, for one, is excited about Nielsen's arrival, noting that the units he's coached have been "fundamentally sound in both their physicality and concepts. There's a chance the Jaguars' defense will go through an adjustment period early on, but they should be better off in the long run. And once these four players get acclimated to the new system, they will thrive under Nielsen.
4. DaVon Hamilton, defensive end
One of the biggest questions surrounding Ryan Nielsen's arrival is whether he'll switch to a 4-3 defense. When he landed in Atlanta, he said that he wasn't concerned with labels but rather stopping people. In Jacksonville, Nielsen will put an emphasis on the defensive line, his area of expertise, which should benefit Davon Hamilton.
A third-round pick in 2020, Hamilton played defensive tackle early in his first two seasons but made the switch to 3-4 defensive end last year. The Jaguars expected big things from him after seeing him get progressively better, so they gave him a three-year deal worth $34 million before the draft.
Throughout training camp, Hamilton was one of the most dominant players and seemed poised to have a breakout campaign. Unfortunately, a non-football back injury forced him to miss several games early in the season. When he came back, he wasn't still 100 percent physically or mentally, so he was made inactive a couple times.
With enough time to recover, Hamilton should get back to his usual self, and Nielsen will find a way to get the most out of him. Eight-time Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Jordan, who played for Nielsen from 2017-2022, can attest to that.
3. Chad Muma, linebacker
It's been nearly two years since the Jaguars chose to double-dip at linebacker in the draft. So far, the decision hasn't played out the way they expected. In case you forgot, they traded back into the first round to select Devin Lloyd after picking Travon Walker first overall. Two rounds later, they used another pick to take Chad Muma. In theory, the move made sense. Teams should never draft for a need and should instead go after the best player available.
If Muma had turned into a steady contributor, nobody would've batted an eye, but that hasn't turned out to be the case the past two seasons. Right off the bat, the coaching staff named the starter opposite Foyesade Oluokun despite the fact that he missed a good chunk of training camp with a hamstring injury. Not surprisingly, Lloyd eventually hit a rookie wall and was benched in favor of Chad Muma.
During his brief stint as a starter as a rookie, Muma flashed potential. However, he suffered a knee injury that paved the way for Lloyd to get back into the starting lineup. The following offseason, the coaching staff named Lloyd the starter. That was telling since they could've had both compete in training camp but opted not to. Once you see how Muma fared in 2023, the decision is easier to understand.
Lloyd missed a bit of time early in the 2023 season, which gave Muma a chance to shine. It didn't go well, as he struggled in coverage and run defense. To make matters worse, he missed 33 percent (three out of nine attempts) of his tackles in the two starts he made. That's simply too many. Not surprisingly, he spent most of the remainder of the year on the bench. But as much as he's struggled, he should get a clean slate under Nielsen.
Muma will get a chance to make an impression in training camp. And if he makes the most of his new chance, he should get more time regardless of the scheme the Jaguars run in 2024.
2. Antonio Johnson, defensive back
One of the most pleasant surprises to come out of the draft was fifth-round pick Antonio Johnson. Projected to go in the first or second round, he had to wait until Day 3 to hear his name called. Either way, he proved in his rookie season that he shouldn't have slid. Back at Texas A&M, he lined up at defensive back and safety and he put on display his versatility right out of the gate.
Although the team's original plan was to have Johnson line up at safety, as he was listed in college, he quickly got snaps at nickel in training camp. Unfortunately, the East St. Louis native suffered a hamstring injury before the start of the season and had to wait until Week 5 to make his NFL debut. Even then, he didn't get playing time on defense until Week 8, when he showcased his playmaking skills by registering an interception.
Johnson earned more playing time down the stretch and he rewarded the Jaguars by tallying another interception, a forced fumble, three passes defensed, and one sack. While he could have most definitely benefited from having Caldwell around for another season, he's talented enough that Ryan Nielsen will find how to best deploy him.
Last year, Johnson mostly got playing time at nickel. With incumbent Tre Herndon set to hit the open market, maybe the Jaguars will leave him in the slot but it wouldn't be shocking if they move him to safety full-time. Either way, he should be able to put it all together under Nielsen.
1. Travon Walker, outside linebacker
While the jury is still out on Travon Walker, the Jaguars should be pleased with the growth he experienced in his sophomore campaign. After a relatively quiet rookie campaign, the former Georgia Bulldog tallied 10 sacks and was a force against the run. Even though he's still got room for improvement, he's proving that the decision to draft him first overall in 2022 wasn't as bad as it seemed at the time.
Heading into the draft, the pick was going to come down to Walker, Aidan Hutchinson, Evan Neal, or Ikem Ekwonu. Ultimately, the Jags went with Walker. Hutchinson landed with the Detroit Lions while Neal and Ekwonu fell to the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers respectively. The fact that Hutchinson made an impact right off the bat and finished his rookie season with nine sacks cast doubt on the decision to take Walker.
On the other hand, Neal and Ekwonu have struggled, so the Jags should get a bit of credit for passing on both. Add the fact that Walker still has plenty of untapped potential and the pick looks much better than it did two years ago.
Nielsen's specialty is the defensive line. While Walker moved to outside linebacker full-time in the NFL, he thrived when he played in a three-point stance. It's also worth noting that outside linebacker Bill Shuey was one of the few assistants Jacksonville retained, so there will be some carryover in Walker's development.
Whether Walker lines up with his hand on the ground or rushes the passer from a standup position, Nielsen, along with Shuey, should be able to unlock Walker's talent. Don't be surprised if he has a breakout season in 2024.