The Jaguars will continue the string of teams declining fifth-year options on off-ball linebackers. As the NFL’s option formula still groups all linebackers together, Devin Lloyd will become the latest ILB to see his not exercised.
Lloyd is now in a contract year, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler confirms. He would have been due a fully guaranteed $14.75MM had the Jaguars’ new regime signed off on his 2026 option. Lloyd is extension-eligible, so he could factor into the Jags’ long-term plans. It would also make sense if the team’s James Gladstone-Liam Coen duo wanted to see how he fit into a new defensive scheme.
[RELATED: 2026 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
No team has exercised a fifth-year option for an off-ball LB since the Buccaneers picked up Devin White‘s in 2022. That decision did not turn out well, as the All-Pro’s value cratered soon after. Over the past three offseasons, Patrick Queen, Kenneth Murray, Isaiah Simmons, Jordyn Brooks and Jamin Davis had seen their options declined. The Cardinals passed on Zaven Collins‘, despite moving him to the edge, and it should be expected the Packers will decline Quay Walker‘s ($14.75MM) by Thursday’s deadline.
This wrinkle reminds of the guard market, as the price of franchise-tagging a player at that position is complicated due to all O-linemen being grouped together under this formula as well. Guards and ILBs have easier paths to free agency as a result, and Lloyd could end up as a key piece on next year’s market because of the Jags’ Wednesday decision.
The Jags did pick up Travon Walker‘s fifth-year option, but the former No. 1 overall pick serves as an edge player. Lloyd has been a locked-in starter since his rookie year, but Trent Baalke‘s second pick since the Urban Meyer firing moved him to the top of the franchise’s personnel pyramid could use a quality contract year to display his value to both the Jags and other teams. Jacksonville traded up from No. 33 (via Tampa Bay) to acquire Lloyd at No. 27 overall. He has been a consistent producer despite the Jaguars continuing to change defensive coordinators.
Lloyd, 26, has missed just three career games. He has made at least 113 tackles in each of his three seasons, working as a regular under Mike Caldwell and Ryan Nielsen. After making just two tackles for loss during his first two seasons combined, Lloyd — a former 27 overall pick out of Utah — made seven last season. The Jags hired Anthony Campanile to run their defense this year. Lloyd will undoubtedly be a key piece. Pro Football Focus has graded Lloyd as a top-15 linebacker in each of the past two seasons.
That status becomes more impressive when factoring in the organizational turnover in that span. Doug Pederson fired Caldwell after the 2023 season, and Nielsen again became a one-and-done DC (as he had in Atlanta) thanks to a head coach being fired a year later. Lloyd will attempt to prove himself valuable in Campanile’s defense this season.