Anthony Campanile’s defense faces a significant void heading into 2026 after Devin Lloyd, the Jaguars’ Pro Bowl linebacker, agreed to join the Carolina Panthers on a three-year, $45 million deal. While the move was widely anticipated, its impact on Jacksonville’s defensive core still may be hard to overstate.
The Jaguars traded into the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft to select Lloyd following his standout senior season at Utah. The Utes’ team captain and first-team All-American was a do-it-all defender, notching 66 tackles, a conference-leading 8 sacks, and 4 interceptions — including a pick-six to help win the Pac-12 championship game.
Lloyd eventually blossomed into the same kind of chess piece for the Jaguars. The former 27th overall pick had an up-and-down first three years in Duval County, which included a position change from MIKE to WILL under former defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen in 2024, but he earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro accolades under Anthony Campanile in 2025. While Lloyd steadily developed his run defense since being drafted, his pass coverage really stepped up last year. And he’s always had a knack for getting after the quarterback in pass rush opportunities.
In the span of 66 games played and 64 games started (including playoffs), Lloyd totaled 455 combined tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 26 pass breakups, and 9 interceptions across four seasons in Jacksonville.
The fifth-year option on his rookie contract was declined, leading the stud linebacker to hit the open market this month. With Lloyd’s departure, Jacksonville will likely explore the free agent market for a replacement before the 2026 NFL Draft in April. The Jaguars could also choose to promote from within, turning to Ventrell Miller, who shared starting duties in Week 1 of 2025, or newly drafted rookie Jack Kiser to step into the role.
There is a silver lining for Jacksonville, however. The Monday departures of both running back Travis Etienne and Lloyd could position the Jaguars to receive at least two compensatory picks in the 2027 NFL Draft. For most fans, though, future draft capital does little to soften the blow of what figures to be difficult losses to replace for the 2026 season.
What are your thoughts on Lloyd signing for the low price of $15-million per year? Is this something that Jacksonville should have been in on? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
