Schwartz: Jaguars Have Top-10 Defensive Unit in NFL

Expectations have risen for the Jacksonville Jaguars as the team looks to defend the AFC South throne and build off last year's success.

The first-year coaching tandem of head coach Liam Coen and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile was a huge proponent of the turnaround, as both bench bosses transformed their units.

Defensively, Jacksonville was one of the top teams in the NFL at forcing turnovers, ranking second in takeaways (31) last season.

On Tuesday, USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz ranked all 32 defensive units, with the Jaguars landing at No. 7.

"Anthony Campanile put himself on the fast track for head-coaching consideration by engineering one of the league's most impressive transformations of a unit," Schwartz wrote. "Jacksonville jumped from 31st in EPA/play in 2024 to third last fall, according to Next Gen Stats."

A lot of this boost was due to Jacksonville's gamebreaking turnovers the defense was able to force.

But, with key defensive players like Devin Lloyd departing, those interceptions across the middle of the field may become more difficult to come by.

Last season was Lloyd's first time being named an All-Pro, as he became one of the league's best ball-hawking linebackers, recording five picks.

After signing a 3-year, $45 million deal with the Carolina Panthers in free agency, Lloyd made sure to credit Campanile and his assistants for helping him grow as a player.

"I give the most credit to them [assistants]. They helped me use my hands," Lloyd explained. "So you can play violent, you could play physical in the run game, shut off blocks, make plays."

While losing Lloyd certainly stings, Jacksonville still has plenty of talent, especially within the front seven.

The defensive line group should be more-effective in pass rush, as former No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker was recently extended and veteran edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen continues to produce.

"Even if that big-play production trails off, Jacksonville can compensate for any hit by picking up its sack production, where it looks due for a jump after tallying just 32 last year," Schwartz added.

Hines-Allen, who recorded 49 tackles and eight sacks, passing Tony Brackens for the most sacks in franchise history last season, has been very vocal this offseason and has echoed Coen's negative thoughts about complacency.

"I think the experience [of the playoffs] kind of got to us a little bit," Hines-Allen said. "But I think moving forward, just to get that little taste, you know, get that confidence up. I think going into this year, you know, walking into the building, seeing the guys, seeing their eyes, you know, they're just hungry."

While Jacksonville has weathered some criticism of its recent draft choices, the Jaguars did address multiple holes on their defense, adding Texas A&M defensive tackle Albert Regis and Maryland safety Jalen Huskey in the third and fourth rounds.

Hines-Allen noted that losing players like Lloyd and safety Andrew Wingard is always difficult, but expressed confidence in the new faces on the roster.

"I think we got better, you know, with our draft," Hines-Allen said. "I think we added a lot of depth to our team and I think the guys that are [already] there, they're there for a reason -- to keep proving themselves. I can't wait to get on that field."

With the combination of experienced leaders like Hines-Allen, influx of youth through the draft, and the improved health of Travis Hunter, the Jaguars' defense should be set for another big year.

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