Jaguars' Linebacker Corps Faces Transition in 2026 Offseason

Key departures and young talent create competition at linebacker for Jacksonville

Mar. 20, 2026 at 12:56am

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The Jacksonville Jaguars' linebacker group was a strength in 2025, led by standout seasons from Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd. However, the unit faces transition this offseason with Lloyd signing with the Carolina Panthers in free agency. The Jaguars have several young players looking to step up and fill the void left by Lloyd's departure, including Ventrell Miller, Jack Kiser, Yasir Abdullah, and Jalen McLeod. Competition at the weakside linebacker spot will be a key storyline in training camp as the Jaguars aim to maintain the productivity of their linebacker corps.

Why it matters

The Jaguars' linebacker group was a driving force behind the team's defensive improvement in 2025, and their ability to replace the production of Devin Lloyd will be crucial to the unit's continued success. With several young and unproven players vying for increased roles, the Jaguars will need to identify the right mix of talent to maintain their defensive identity.

The details

Oluokun continued his streak of 100-tackle seasons, registering a team-high 143 tackles, 69 solo, with five tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. Lloyd earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection, recording 74 tackles, 31 solo, six tackles for loss, five interceptions, seven passes defensed and a fumble recovery. Gardeck emerged as a solid edge defender and special teams contributor in his first season with the Jaguars. Miller, Kiser, Abdullah, and McLeod all saw limited action but will look to carve out bigger roles in 2026.

  • The 2026 NFL League Year began on March 11.

The players

Foyesade Oluokun

A four-year starter at linebacker for the Jaguars, Oluokun has registered over 100 tackles in each of his six NFL seasons, the fifth-longest active streak in the league.

Devin Lloyd

The former Jaguars linebacker signed with the Carolina Panthers in free agency after earning second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection in 2025.

Dennis Gardeck

Gardeck signed with the Jaguars as a free agent in 2025 and emerged as a solid edge defender and special teams contributor, recording 37 defensive tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 11 special teams tackles.

Ventrell Miller

Miller saw limited action in 2025 but could be a candidate to fill the void left by Devin Lloyd's departure, having started twice for Lloyd during the season.

Jack Kiser

A fourth-round pick in 2025, Kiser registered 10 tackles in 14 games as a rookie and will look to earn a bigger role in the Jaguars' linebacker rotation.

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What they’re saying

“This was a position of strength last season, becoming one of transition as the Jaguars moved past the start of the league year toward the draft. The Jaguars have multiple options on the roster to start at the weakside linebacker position left vacant by Lloyd's departure, with Miller starting twice for Lloyd in 2025.”

— John Oehser, Senior writer

“Gardeck, who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent from the Arizona Cardinals last offseason, emerged as a key contributor as a high-motor edge defender in the Jaguars' five-man fronts.”

— Bucky Brooks, Jaguars/NFL Media analyst

What’s next

The Jaguars will look to address the linebacker position in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, with the potential to target a starter at weakside linebacker within the first few rounds.

The takeaway

The Jaguars' linebacker corps was a strength in 2025, but the departure of Devin Lloyd creates a void that the team will need to fill through a combination of in-house options and potential draft additions. The competition for playing time at the weakside linebacker spot will be a key storyline to watch as the Jaguars aim to maintain the productivity of their linebacker group.