Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd is ready to embrace a leadership role in 2024

Linebacker Devin Lloyd has been solid the past two years but could do more for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. He's aware of that and is focusing on having a bigger voice in the locker room.

Lloyd made an appearance on 1010 XL and said he's ready to take on a bigger leadership role, noting that he's ready after being an observer the last two seasons.

"That's one thing going into my third year now I want to embrace, my thoughts and my voice more, being heard," Lloyd said. "I think the first two years, I was just observing. We had good leadership on the team, so I was just playing my role, but now, going into my third year and even having talks with coaches and guys on the team, I plan on using my voice, and let it be heard and just trying to uplift the team the right way."

This would come in handy because Lloyd feels there was a leadership void in the locker room last year.

"We had talks, we had leaders come up and speak during team meetings towards the end of the year, but I think on a personal level, on rally the guys, no coaches involved, that leadership aspect was missing. Personally, that's why I want to do more too as well, put a lot of pressure on myself and not even pressure. You want to point the finger at yourself, self-accountability."

Lloyd continued, "You want to do more to help. You want to do more to lead. I know everybody feels the same way. You know Foye's on it before. He felt a real responsibility to come back and get this city what they deserve. It's the same feeling."

The Jaguars will be switching to a 4-3 front under Nielsen. Back at Utah, he was deployed as a blitzer often and there's a chance he'll once again play close to the line of scrimmage and rush the passer often in Nielsen's scheme.

Devin Lloyd has yet to reach his ceiling with the Jaguars

Devin Lloyd was the 27th overall pick in 2022. That year, linebacker was a need, but even though the Jags had already signed veteran Foyesade Oluokun in free agency, they didn't want to pass up the chance to take the California native.

Despite missing a good portion of training camp with a hamstring injury, Lloyd was a Week 1 starter. He began the season with a bang, registering two interceptions and six passes defensed in the first three games. However, he eventually cooled down and was benched in favor of fellow draftee Chad Muma.

Lloyd got his job back and was the starter next to Oluokun last year. While he was solid, he didn't take a leap. In fact, he didn't register a single turnover. While he wasn't the sole reason the defense collapsed down the stretch, he certainly played a role. He's aware of that, which is why he wants to be a more vocal leader.

The pieces are certainly there for the Jaguars defense to bounce back next season. With Ryan Nielsen at the helm, they'll have a chance to be a top-10 unit.

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