For one of the final installments of the state of the roster series, we are going to take a look at the center of the Jacksonville Jaguars' defense: the linebackers.
Led by star linebacker Foye Oluokun, the Jags have the makings of a solid linebacking core. Much like the cornerbacks, the Jags have the pieces to wreak havoc in the coverage game with their backers while also having talent that can attack the quarterback.
Specifically for someone like Devin Lloyd, the upcoming season could be a huge stepping
stone in the evolution of not only the team’s defense but also former Jags high-level draft picks.
As has been said before, there are areas of concern on this team. When healthy, this linebacker group might not be one of them.
Contract: First year of a 3-year, $30,000,000 deal.
Age: 29 (30 on Aug. 2)
Games Played: 111 career with Atlanta and Jacksonville. 47 in past three years with Jags.
Stats: NFL leader in tackles in ‘22, ‘23. 5.5 sacks with Jags and two picks.
Notes:
We don’t need to get buried in the weeds of how good Foye can be. When healthy, he can be a guy who can lead the NFL in tackles like he did in ‘22 and ‘23. No, leading the NFL in tackles doesn’t make you a first ballot Hall of Famer but it does give a good indication of how involved you are on defense. It goes without saying that a good tackler on defense is always necessary. Oluokun played just 13 games last year as injuries cut his season short, but he is the heartbeat of this locker room. As he goes, so largely do the Jags themselves. He is an effective blitzer and has skills in coverage. He is as complete a linebacker as this team can hope to have at this point.
stop the run.
— Jason Hamby (@Jason_Hamby14) July 29, 2025
Foye Oluokun on the #Jaguars defensive theme for 2025. went on to say that Camp’s scheme is allowing him to have eyes on the QB more, like he did in Atlanta. @BrentASJax @ActionSportsJax pic.twitter.com/6bw3r68KHD
Contract: Final year of a 4-year, $12,936,605 rookie deal. Making $2,469,083 base salary this season.
Age: 26 (27 in September).
Games Played: 48 over three seasons in Jacksonville.
Stats: 355 career tackles, two sacks, four picks and 19 passes defended.
Notes:
Oluokun’s running mate is Lloyd, who has had a rollercoaster couple years as a Jag. Lloyd is a frustrating player at times because he so clearly has the talent and build to be a great linebacker. He is extremely quick and was one the league’s best tacklers last season. He has shown flashes in the pass rush game and can read a quarterback well at times. He can just as easily get completely lost and turned around and overall run over by an offense. There is no doubt Lloyd is improving as he goes along and maybe some of his mishaps were due to a bad scheme and bad coaching in previous years. In the final year of his first-round rookie deal however, Lloyd has to show the consistency he displayed in his rookie and sophomore years to get a long-term extension in Duval.
From @PFF:
— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) July 1, 2025
“Devin Lloyd has emerged as a legitimate playmaker, earning a 91.0 PFF run-defense grade over the past two years to rank fourth at the position.” pic.twitter.com/fO2KPBRHRO
Contract: Third year of a 4-year, $4,576,936 rookie deal.
Age: 26 (27 in January).
Games Played: 15 in first full active season.
Stats: 80 tackles, one forced fumble.
Notes:
Someone Jags fans should be excited about heading into this season is Miller. In Anthony Campanile’s system, which last year in Green Bay allowed linebackers like Quay Walker to thrive, both Lloyd and Miller have the chance to explode. Miller played 15 games in his first healthy season and made plenty of impact, including back-to-back double-digit tackle games in London and some really solid play in a close loss to Houston. Miller is one of those guys who just finds himself around the football, ready to make a big play. He will start this upcoming year after impressing last year. In this new system, the signs are pointing to him making a huge jump alongside the vet Oluokun and an emerging Llloyd.
Ventrell Miller in coverage pic.twitter.com/UZrJzdVNRR
— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) November 10, 2024
Contract: Last year of a 4-year, $5,426,108 rookie deal. Making $1,394,924 in base salary.
Age: 25 (26 on Aug. 18).
Games Played: 50 games played in three seasons with Jags.
Stats: 94 career tackles, 1.5 sacks in rookie season.
Notes:
Draftmates with Lloyd, Muma played a huge role in his rookie year but has seen his usage decrease thereafter. He is a solid special teams player and a fine linebacker when called upon. He isn’t going to scare anyone with his size or speed but has done enough to be a backup on this team. He too is entering a contract year and will have to excel in the margins to get a new deal.
Hell yeah, Chad Muma (48). #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/XWDsHcJ1Xj
— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) October 9, 2024
Contract: 1 year, $2,000,000.
Age: 30 (31 on Aug. 9).
Games Played: 96 over seven years with Arizona.
Stats: 156 career tackles, 17 sacks, three forced fumbles and two picks.
Notes:
After seven years with the Arizona Cardinals, Gardeck comes to Jacksonville as a locker room guy and someone who can get after the pass rusher. He will be 31 when the season starts, and has had injuries with his ACL, but he was beloved in Arizona and has made it in the league after being an undrafted player. On July 31, Gardeck was reactivated to the team from the PUP list after suffering a camp injury. Gardeck gives the Jags someone who can, and will, do a little bit of everything. This tweet from 2020 shows you exactly what you will get in Gardeck.
After not playing a snap on defense in his first two NFL seasons, @DGardeck has racked up 5.0 sacks, 8 QB hits, 5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery this season.
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 15, 2020
He also dances quite well.#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/7waGizp5oQ
Contract: Third year of a 4 year, $4,205,216 deal.
Age: 25 (26 in April).
Games Played: 19 in two seasons with Jacksonville.
Stats: 19 tackles........
Notes:
Who knows what the Jags have in Abdullah. Truly. The once preseason darling of the Jags has largely been quiet through his two regular seasons on the team. He has just 19 career tackles, no sacks and will almost certainly be fighting for a roster spot during camp. Abdullah has played as a rusher and as a coverage linebacker, but hasn’t shown the consistency (or been give the opportunity) to do either one against NFL starters. During camp he could be moved around in Campanile’s system, one that again benefits linebackers. Abdullah has to find his spot soon, whether that be rushing the passer or as a lockdown coverage defender, or his time in Duval may be up.
Contract: First year of a 4 year, $5,256,592 rookie deal.
Age: 24 (25 in September).
Games Played: 70 across six seasons with Notre Dame.
Stats: 265 tackles, six sacks, six forced fumbles.
Notes:
The first of the Jags’ rookie linebackers is Kiser out of Notre Dame. Kiser has played an absurd amount of football as he is now ND’s leader in all-time games played. But Kiser got there by grinding it out. In 2023 he was the Special Teams Player of the Year for the Irish before being named captain ahead of the 2024 season. Kiser started nine games combined in the two years prior to his final season in South Bend, where he started all 16. His career missed tackle rate is under 5% which is phenomenal. Kiser is a bit older for a rookie, and like Muma, isn’t the most imposing player in the world. But he will get it done. That likely will be on special teams first for the Jags where he has shown the pedigree to make his mark.
"When you look at the 6 years I've been here, what I remember is the people. From when I was a small underclassmen just trying to learn the ways...to have coach Freeman...yeah it's about the people."
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) January 21, 2025
— Linebacker Jack Kiser reflects on his career with Notre Dame pic.twitter.com/Rdxz6GuOCX
Contract: First year of a 4 year, $4,430,528 rookie deal.
Age: 23 (24 in June).
Games Played: 54 across five college seasons with App State and Auburn.
Stats: Career-high 57 tackles and eight sacks in final college season at Auburn. Had 13.5 sacks in two years at Auburn.
Notes:
The second of the Jags linebacker draft picks is McLeod out of Auburn. McLeod is the typical Swiss Army Knife linebacker, where he can shoot out of a cannon and rush the passer or run with a streaking tight end. After three seasons at App State, McLeod translated his game easily to the SEC, which is no small feat. He won over 21% of his pass rush snaps which was top-20 in the nation. Auburn used McLeod in more obvious pass rush situations and it would seem the Jags are in line to do the same. No roster spot is safe for an undersized sixth-round rookie, but the upside on McLeod is likely too much to pass up for the new Jags regime.
Been a fan of Auburn EDGE/LB Jalen McLeod since his App State days and he's got a great motor and cross chop to win against tackles. Played the "Buck" role as a hybrid outside linebacker who drop into coverage.
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 24, 2025
At his best rushing the passer. Had 2 FFs against Alabama. https://t.co/8NYk9rqq6Z pic.twitter.com/h6oCdGBgMt
Contract: First year of a 3-year, $2,980,000 rookie deal.
Age: 25 (26 in July).
Games Played: 60 across six college seasons with Southern Illinois and Wake Forrest.
Stats: Second on Wake Forrest in total tackles (94) and sixth for TFLs (6.0). Game-winning interception against NC State.
Notes:
The final linebacker added this year was Combs, an undrafted free agent. He likely will be a practice squad addition once the camp cycle is over, but he has the talent to make an NFL roster. Combs finished up his last season at Wake Forest with 94 tackles, two sacks and a pick. Combs is a college football success story, making the switch from a wide receiver with Southern Illinois to linebacker with the Salukis. A few years down the line, he became an All-ACC Second-Team player at linebacker. That shows someone who will do whatever it takes to help his team win.
Branson Combs,LB is LEGIT
— J-Villains Podcast (@JVillainsPod) May 8, 2025
Loving these UDFAs pic.twitter.com/PcmaK0Djls
Combs is yet another player in this linebacker room that has the grit and determination to get things done because they have had to for their entire career. Olukoun was an overlooked player out of Yale. Gardeck isn’t supposed to be here. Kiser is old and McLeod is undersized. Yet all these guys found a place together in Jacksonville because they have the requisite character to reset a team and set a foundation for what it means to play Jags football. Sacksonville may be on the verge of returning, and it comes on the shoulders of a linebacker core who likely don’t give a shit what you think, but just want to play winning football.
What are your thoughts on the LB unit entering 2025? Let us know in the comments below!
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