The Jacksonville Jaguars chose not to pick up the fifth-year option on linebacker Devin Lloyd's rookie deal. Nobody batted an eye despite the fact that they did exercise that pass rusher Travon Walker. While there are plenty of reasons behind the Jags' decision, a trusted NFL analyst recently explained why they may feel comfortable letting him play 2025 without a new deal.
Joel Corry of CBS Sports recently took a deep dive into the reasons why salaries for off-linebackers have stagnated while other positions have exploded.
Corry points out that salaries for cornerbacks have seen a 50 percent increase, with Derek Singley averaging $30 million per year, since Jalen Ramsey got an extension in 2020 that paid him an annual average of $20 million. Similarly. Similarly, the three-year deal worth $60 million that Julio Jones signed in 2019 pales in comparison to the $161 million extension Ja'Marr Chase signed this offseason. Heck, you don't have to go too far to see that salaries for wide receivers have skyrocketed.
Just a few months ago, the Jaguars gave Dyami Brown a one-year, $10 million deal in free agency despite the fact that he's never crossed the 500-yard mark in his career or scored more than two receiving touchdowns in a season. Granted, the front office is betting on his upside, and there's a chance he'll pick up where he left off last season. That said, how many other positions get paid based on potential rather than production? Certainly not off-linebackers.
Zach Baun is coming off a banner season but got a contract that makes him the fourth-highest-paid off-linebacker in the NFL. That's by no means spare change, but as Corry pointed out, he "would have stood a good chance of resetting the market," if he had played another position.
Aside from Baun, Corry does bring up several off-linebackers who have gotten massive deals the past six years: Bobby Wagner, Kwon Alexander, C.J. Mosley, and Shaquille Leonard. They all have one thing in common, though: they were at the peak of their game-changers who can do anything on the football field. Devin Lloyd doesn't fit the description.
Why the Jaguars won't be inclined to make a long-term investment in Devin Lloyd
As a rookie, Devin Lloyd experienced the ups and downs that come with the transition from college to the pros. By Year 2, he was more consistent but has never truly become the difference-maker the Jacksonville Jaguars expected when they made him the 27th overall pick in the 2022 draft.
Sure, the former Utah Ute excels at stopping the run but struggles in coverage. On top of that, he's failed to create many big plays the past two years. For that reason, it wasn't surprising to see the Jags decline his fifth-year option. Why would they commit $14.7 million to Lloyd in 2025 when they can get similar production from a player on his rookie deal? As a matter of fact, the team's brass may already have his replacement in place.
One off-linebacker spot is earmarked for Foyesade Olukun. Lloyd would compete with third-year pro Ventrell Miller for the other, and there's no guarantee that he would come out on top. Couple that with the arrival of Jack Kiser, who's getting rave reviews ahead of the regular season, and it's easy to picture Jacksonville either trading Lloyd in 2025 or letting him walk next year.
The bottom line is that all signs point to Devin Lloyd leaving Jacksonville sooner rather than later. Granted, he could stick around and try to put it all together. The Jaguars would be thrilled if he pulled it off, but the deck is currently stacked against him.
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