With Devin Lloyd gone, the Jaguars eye Alabama's all-SEC linebacker. Could Deontae Lawson fill the void and bolster their defense?
The Jacksonville Jaguars have 11 picks in this year's draft, and could use one of them to help fill holes left after the departure of one of their best defensive players.
Devin Lloyd was a second-team All-Pro performer at linebacker in 2025, which earned him a three-year, $45 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.
The Jags haven't signed a linebacker in free agency yet, and an all-SEC performer could be an option in the draft.
Linebacker Deontae Lawson leaves Bryant Denny Stadium for the last time as an Alabama player after the Tide’s win over Eastern Illinois on Nov. 22, 2025. (Gary Cosby Jr. / Imagn Images)Jaguars Roundtable is checking out a range of prospects in the Class of 2026 who might mesh with Jacksonville's current roster, coaching staff, and the team's X's and O's.
Offensive position players will be a focal point for the Jags, and NFL Draft prospect profiles will feature offensive linemen Isaiah World out of Oregon and Penn State's Drew Shelton, as well as running back prospects Le'Veon Moss from Texas A&M, Mike Washington Jr. out of Arkansas, and Washington's Jonah Coleman. The Jaguars could also consider adding depth at tight end with either Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers or Oscar Delp out of Georgia, and at receiver with Southern Cal's Ja'Kobi Lane.
Defenders profiled in the series include elite linebackers the likes of Oklahoma's Kendal Daniels, Oregon's Bryce Boettcher, and Anthony Hill Jr. out of Texas, along with cornerbacks D'Angelo Ponds out of Indiana and Arizona State's Keith Abney, along with Cincinatti nose tackle Dontay Corleone, Oklahoma defensive end R Mason Thomas and Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique Orange.
In this draft profile, we shine a spotlight on Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson.
Alabama LB Deontae Lawson celebrates after recovering a fumble against Georgia on Sept. 27, 2025, as the Crimson Tide edge the Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Dale Zanine/Imagn Images)'Uber Smart'
Lawson is known for his on-field intelligence, as evidenced by his wearing the green dot to "quarterback" Alabama's defense. Lawson is known for his ability to see what play is coming before it happens and then being able to react to it. At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this past February, fellow Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson described him as "uber smart."
"I'm always picking at his brain just to see how he processes, sees just different ways and him thinking, because I'm uber athletic and I'd say he's uber smart," Jefferson said. "So, just trying to use him to help improve my game. Just being with him, it's been a blessing to have him beside me, too."
Background & Alabama Career
Lawson started his career at Alabama during the Nick Saban era. He played in four games for Alabama's 2021 team, then in 2022 played in 11 of the Crimson Tide's games and started four. In 2023, he became a full-time starter and a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the country's top linebacker.
Alabama’s Deontae Lawson deflects a pass that turns into an interception against Mercer during Alabama’s 52-7 win on Nov. 16, 2024. (Gary Cosby Jr./Imagn Images)Though he missed three games with an ankle injury, Lawson ended the 2023 season with 67 tackles, tackles for loss and three sacks.
Lawson improved in 2024, ending with 76 tackles, which were tied for ninth in the SEC, along with 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Lawson missed the team's last two games with a torn ACL.
In 2025, Lawson started all 15 games, racking up 89 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
On-Field Strengths
Lawson is known for his tackling ability. He finished his career 10th on Alabama's all-time list with 283 tackles. Experience also isn't an issue for him, with Lawson starting games in four seasons at Alabama and playing almost 2,500 snaps, most of which in the highly competitive SEC.
Alabama even started using him as a third-down pass rusher, showcasing his versatility.
Alabama LB Deontae Lawson stares down Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia during the Tide’s 40-35 loss to the Commodores on Oct. 5 2024. (Steve Roberts/Imagn Images)Areas for Improvement
Lawson doesn't have much experience as a pass rusher, evidenced by his having just 1.5 sacks in 2025, so that's an area he could work on. He also missed more than 16 percent of his tackles in 2025, per Pro Football Focus, the highest of his career.
Then, there's the issue of staying healthy. Lawson did play in all of Alabama's games this past season, but missed games with injuries in each of the previous two years, including to a torn ACL. So that's something to monitor.
Combine Performance
Lawson didn't run the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in February, but did participate at Alabama's Pro Day in March, running a 4.6, which is right around the average for an NFL linebacker. Lawson's vertical jump at the combine was 34.5 inches, which is also around the league average, and he bench pressed for 23 reps (225 pounds), which was four shy of Missouri's Josiah Trotter (27), who is projected as a Day 2 selection in this year's draft.
NFL.com gave Lawson a total combine score of 71, which ranks him 12th among linebackers.
Projected Draft Position
The Mock Draft Database has Lawson going in the fourth round, ranking him 110th overall. His track record and experience at a position of need make him an intriguing option for the Jags, who have plenty of picks to choose from.
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