Story by
Will Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd price himself out of Jacksonville?
- Story by
- Will Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd price himself out of Jacksonville?
As the Jacksonville Jaguars evaluate their roster over the next couple of months in anticipation of NFL free agency, they will face a couple of vital decisions.
One of the most important decisions will be what to do with linebacker Devin Lloyd . Lloyd enjoyed a career season, earning second-team All-Pro honors and making it to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games as an alternate.
Advertisement
Lloyd's success was largely due to how the team, and specifically defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile , utilized him, something he spoke about multiple times throughout the year.
HE'S (likely) BACK: Jaguars expected to retain OC Grant Udinski after Bills hire Joe Brady
"I think it starts with Camp, obviously, in the message he preaches. And then over time, you start to see, like, okay, how is he going to coach us as players? What is he asking us to do? Does it make sense?" Lloyd mused when asked when he realized he would like Campanile's defense.
"Does it fit each guy's kind of play style? Does it fit us as a whole? Over time, you really start to see it unfold as you stack practices, stack weeks."
Advertisement
Campanile's coaching style and scheme fit Lloyd perfectly, and after initially splitting time with third-year linebacker Ventrell Miller , he secured the position on a full-time basis.
This year, Lloyd started 15 games, totaling 74 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, seven pass breakups, six tackles for loss, five interceptions (one for a touchdown) , 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery to go along with seven special teams tackles.
He became the second player in the last 20 seasons to have at least 10 quarterback hits and five interceptions in a single season, since LB Lavonte David in 2013.
After being drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft , Lloyd is set to hit free agency. In 2024, the team led by general manager Trent Baalke opted not to pick up Lloyd's fifth-year option, making him a free agent this March.
Advertisement
As Times-Union sports columnist Ryan O'Halloran put it, losing Lloyd could be the price for success . Let's break it down.
How much will Devin Lloyd get in free agency?
Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) enters the field before an NFL football game at EverBank Stadium on Dec. 14.
The first decision Jacksonville must make regarding Lloyd is whether to place the franchise tag on him. The deadline to do so is March 3 at 4 p.m., and it would lock Lloyd into a one-year, fully guaranteed contract.
The issue, however, is that the price tag will almost certainly be too high for the club to bear. Last year, the franchise tag for linebackers was set at $25.452 million, inflated by the way the league uses both on- and off-ball linebackers in the formula.
Advertisement
The next evaluation Jacksonville should conduct is to see how much other linebackers around the league are going for. The top end of contracts is currently $21 million, given to San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner .
Here are the top contracts by annual salary signed by linebackers in recent history:
-
Warner (49ers): $21 million
-
Zack Baun (Eagles): $17 million
-
Nick Bolton (Chiefs): $15 million
-
Jamien Sherwood (Jets): $15 million
-
Patrick Queen ( Steelers ): $13.667 million
STICKING AROUND: Jaguars retain both Grant Udinski, Anthony Campanile with new deals
Though he enjoyed a better rookie season than Lloyd did, Pittsburgh 's Queen boasts a similar career trajectory. In four years with the Ravens to start his career, Queen started 67 games, accounting for 454 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 33 quarterback hits, 13.5 sacks and four interceptions.
Advertisement
Queen made his first Pro Bowl in 2023, his fourth season with Baltimore , and earned second-team All-Pro honors, just like Lloyd.
Lloyd's value likely aligns somewhere between Queen and Baun on the list.
Why Jaguars should re-sign Devin Lloyd
Jacksonville's success last season, particularly against the run, was largely due to its front seven, including Lloyd in the middle of the defense alongside LB Foye Oluokun .
Replacing Lloyd could prove challenging for Jacksonville, given the team's lack of a first-round pick and other issues that could be viewed as more important.
Lloyd's breakout year could be an anomaly, but if he can play to the level he did in 2025 on a consistent basis, he has the makeup of one of the best linebackers in the sport.
Advertisement
Perhaps the team can get Lloyd to agree to an incentive-heavy deal to protect the team. It's unlikely Lloyd would take a deal like that unless the free-agent market dictates it, however.
YOUR TURN TO VOTE: Should Jaguars star Travis Hunter play both ways? Hear both sides
Jacksonville could also want to have continuity heading into the 2026 season with its Super Bowl window wide open.
Why Jaguars shouldn't re-sign Devin Lloyd
Before the 2025 season, Lloyd left much to be desired in his utilization under previous leadership. In three years, Lloyd accounted for 46 starts, 355 total tackles, 19 pass breakups, nine tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits and four interceptions. He added two sacks and four fumble recoveries.
Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) chases down Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1), making the tackle just short of the goal line.
That production worked out to just over an interception per season, three tackles for loss per season, and around six pass breakups.
Advertisement
This year, for instance, Lloyd posted five interceptions, 1.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits and six tackles for loss. His up-and-down career thus far could cause hesitation for Jacksonville's staff.
The team also drafted linebacker Jack Kiser last year in the fourth round, and has Miller as the team's backup, who could be worth a look before hitting free agency in 2027.
The team will also need to do some roster manipulation ahead of the new league year. They're currently expected to be about $21 million over the salary cap, according to OverTheCap.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky at Demetrius .
Advertisement
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Should Jaguars re-signing Devin Lloyd? The case for, and against
