The Jacksonville Jaguars have yet to address the interior defensive line this offseason, largely because they do not want to interfere with their compensatory picks for the 2027 NFL Draft and risk cancelling one out by bringing in outside help. Ultimately, Jacksonville will likely look to address the position in the 2026 NFL Draft, hoping to land a solid pass rusher after finishing in the bottom half of the league in sacks. The upcoming draft could determine the fate of a 32-year-old starter.
Jacksonville Jaguars’ veteran DT could be on the chopping block
Jacksonville Jaguars, Arik Armstead
Jaguars director of football communications Dylan Morton talks with Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead (91) at the end of the organized team activity session Monday, June 3, 2024 at EverBank StadiumÕs Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
The draft next April could ultimately determine whether Arik Armstead remains with the Jaguars. He showed improvement in 2025, posting better numbers as a pass rusher after moving back to the interior following a rough 2024 campaign in which he primarily lined up as an EDGE rusher. Armstead totaled 32 tackles, seven TFLs, eight quarterback hits, 49 pressures, eight quarterback hits, 5.5 sacks, and one forced fumble across 17 games and 12 starts.
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Armstead enters the final year of his deal and is scheduled to earn a $14 million base salary and $14.5 million in cash while carrying a whopping $19.385 million cap charge in 2026, per Over The Cap. If the Jaguars move on from him, they would likely designate him as a post-June 1 designation, allowing his $17.1 million in dead cap to split into the next offseason.
The Jaguars may cut a 122-game starter
Jacksonville Jaguars, Arik Armstead
Jul 24, 2024; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead (91) participates in training camp at Miller Electric Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Michael DiRocco of ESPN highlighted three of the biggest team needs heading into the draft. He listed the defensive line as one of the biggest needs and how the pass rush was too reliant on EDGE rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker for sacks, though the unit finished as the top run defense. Lastly, DiRocco mentions that if the Jaguars draft a defensive tackle, they may designate Arik Armstead as a post-June 1 release.
“The Jaguars led the NFL in rush defense in 2025 but struggled rushing the passer (ranked 27th with 32 total sacks). Other than Arik Armstead (5.5 sacks), there was minimal pressure from the interior. That put the burden on edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, who combined for 11.5 sacks. Armstead is 32 with a $19.4 million cap figure, so there’s a chance the team moves on from him as a post-June 1 release,” DiRocco said.