Four weeks into the NFL season, the Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves facing a handful of tough decisions. Arguably, the biggest one is what to do with Devin Lloyd, who's slated to become a free agent in 2026.
Lloyd was somewhat underwhelming in his first three seasons, which is why nobody batted an eye when the new regime opted not to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. The decision might've served as a motivation to prove the Jags made the wrong call, as the former Utah Ute is having an All-Pro caliber season.
Devin Lloyd has become a game-changer for the Jaguars in 2025
A first-round pick in 2022, Devin Lloyd got off to a strong start to his rookie campaign, registering two interceptions and six passes defensed the first three weeks. However, he quickly cooled down and struggled so badly that he was benched in favor of then-rookie Chad Muma. The Kansas City, Missouri, native built a bit of consistency the following year and developed into a solid player against the run. However, he struggled in coverage and didn't make nearly as many plays as the team would've liked.
Then, 2024 came, and Lloyd was stuck in neutral. Sure, he thrived against the run, but didn't do much of note. Looking back, though, virtually the whole defense struggled under Ryan Nielsen, so it's possible that inadequate coaching held No. 0 back. This is a feasible theory when you take into account that he's thriving under Anthony Campanile.
With Campanille calling the shots on defense, Lloyd has registered 22 total tackles, eight pressures, three passes defensed, three interceptions, and a forced fumble. To nobody's surprise, he made Pro Football Focus' quarter of the season All-Pro Team. On top of that, the fourth-year linebacker was named the Defensive Player of the Week after picking off Brock Purdy twice in the 26-21 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
AFC DPOTW DEV ‼️#DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/COkln2Gd2r
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 1, 2025
Simply put, Lloyd is raising his stock ahead of 2026, and if it isn't the Jaguars, another club will gladly pay retail for his services.
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The Jaguars must decide what to do with Devin Lloyd
At least six off-linebackers have an annual salary of $15 million or more in 2025, with Fred Warner and Roquan Smith averaging over $20 million. Devin Lloyd will surely want to be on that echelon, which is why he might want to bet on himself and wait until 2026 to see what his market is.
The Jaguars could step in and make an offer that he cannot refuse. The issue with that approach is that the team's brass must also decide what to do with running back Travis Etienne, who's also having a career year, and pass rusher Travon Walker. Jacksonville may not be able to pay all three, so it needs to decide who'll stay.
Sure, Walker's contract runs through 2026, but the more the Jags wait, the more they'll have to fork out. Meanwhile, Etienne and Lloyd are set to hit the open market next year, so they may be bigger priorities.
If Lloyd leaves, though, the Jags have Ventrell Miller and Jack Kiser in the fold. The former has come through when called upon but may not be nearly as dominant. The latter, on the other hand, is still unproven, so it will be interesting to see what the front office does.
Ultimately, Devin Lloyd has become the player the Jaguars envisioned. Now, they need to choose whether he'll be a staple of their defense for years to come.
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