![Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller (51) flexes as he is introduced at the start of the game against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium in the second preseason game on Friday night, August 21, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_654,y_201,w_1759,h_989/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ReutersImages/mmsport/55/01m38a60c1yxj44j9q9t.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller (51) flexes as he is introduced at the start of the game against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium in the second preseason game on Friday night, August 21, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]")
One of the biggest storylines in free agency was that the Jacksonville Jaguars let linebacker Devin Lloyd bolt for the Carolina Panthers on a three-year, $45 million deal. The decision raised eyebrows because Lloyd was a Second-Team All-Pro in 2025 and one of the team's biggest playmakers. But as good as he was, the Jags allowed him to leave because they believed Ventrell Miller could be a fine replacement. Two games into the season, he's proven them right.
Although Miller isn't nearly as great in coverage as Lloyd, he's a stud against the run. Moreover, he's shown an affinity for forcing fumbles. The former Florida Gator has registered a team-best 17 total tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble this season. If that wasn't enough, his Pro Football Focus overall grade of 91.0 is the highest among linebackers.
Make no mistake, the Panthers are already getting plenty of bang for their buck, with Lloyd posting a historic performance in Week 2. However, Miller has risen to the challenge of replacing him.
How did Ventrell Miller become a full-time starter for the Jaguars?
A fourth-round pick in 2023, Ventrell Miller suffered an Achilles tear that forced him to miss his rookie campaign. However, he started nine games the following season and even outplayed Devin Lloyd.
But despite his strong showing in 2024, Miller wasn't able to get a starting job full-time last year. Then again, Lloyd did more in training camp and went on to enjoy a breakout season, registering a career-best five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
Lloyd's stock rose so much after 2025 that the Jags braced themselves for his departure in free agency. Once he signed with Carolina, there were questions about how Jacksonville would fill his shoes, but head coach Liam Coen stated that Miller was up to the task, noting that he should feel good that the team didn't bring in anyone to compete with him.
Still, Miller had to fend off Branson Combs, an undrafted free agent in 2025, in training camp, and the Jags didn't truly name him the starter. With that said, it's fair to assume that they do see him as such because he's getting more playing time than Combs and is making more of an impact.
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Like Devin Lloyd, Ventrell Miller has become a defensive mainstay for the Jaguars
The downside of Ventrell Miller's success is that he could leave in free agency in 2027. If that's the case, Branson Combs would be his logical replacement. But the Jaguars will cross that bridge in due time. For the time being, they should be pleased with his performance.
Jacksonville had cap constraints (and still has) in free agency, which is one of the main reasons Lloyd left. And there's no doubt that the Jags could use him, but they've proven to be just fine without him. Sure, they probably miss his game-changing skills, but linebacker play is at the bottom of the list of reasons they lost to the Denver Broncos.
The truth is that Carolina gave Devin Lloyd the deal he wanted, and Ventrell Miller has turned out to be a fine player for the Jaguars, so you can make the case that this ended up being a win-win situation.
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