The Jacksonville Jaguars decided last spring not to pick up the fifth-year option on former first-round draft pick Devin Lloyd, but the team may be regretting it now that the linebacker is a free agent after a career-best season.
The Jaguars traded the 33rd overall pick along with fourth- and sixth-round picks to move back into the first round and take Lloyd No. 27 overall in 2022 out of Utah. He was productive through his first three NFL seasons, posting at least 113 tackles each year, but there were concerns about him being vulnerable in pass coverage.
Well, in 2025, Lloyd notched a career-high 5 interceptions and matched his high with 7 passes defended to go with 81 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a defensive touchdown in 15 games. He made his first Pro Bowl and earned second-team All-Pro recognition.
Now, he’s set to be one of the more coveted free agent linebackers on the market.
NFL free agency formally starts next month when teams are allowed to talk to players starting March 9 and able to officially sign free agents starting March 11.
The Jaguars are not expected to use the franchise tag on Lloyd, but that doesn’t mean the team couldn’t work out a new long-term contract with its young linebacker — especially considering his best season came in his first year working with defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
Breaking Down The Top Potential Landing Spots for Devin Lloyd
Lloyd returning to Jacksonville could be the outcome, but here are five other potential landing spots that make sense for the linebacker.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals had one of the worst defenses in football, ranking second-to-last in yards allowed (380.9 per game) and third-worst in points allowed (28.9 per game).
If they want any chance of keeping star quarterback Joe Burrow long-term, they need to build a competent defense that can take pressure off him.
Cincinnati traded away veteran linebacker Logan Wilson mid-season to the Dallas Cowboys (who have since released him) and relied heavily on rookie linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter in the middle of the defense.
While linebacker isn’t the Bengals’ only pressing need on defense, especially with star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson becoming a free agent, Lloyd makes a lot of sense as a priority target here.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Longtime Bucs star linebacker Lavonte David is nearing the end at 36 years old and is a free agent pondering his future.
Whether David returns to Tampa Bay for another season or not, the Buccaneers need to be looking to the future.
Fellow linebacker SirVocea Dennis had a breakout season in 2025, his third year in the league, with 101 tackles, 3 sacks and an interception, but bringing Lloyd in makes plenty of sense for a Buccaneers team possibly facing a make-or-break year for defensive-minded head coach Todd Bowles.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are in a full-on rebuild under new head coach Klint Kubiak after bottoming out in Pete Carroll’s lone season with the team.
The Raiders have the No. 1 overall pick — expected to be used to solve their pressing QB needs with reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza — and money to spend in free agency.
With some talent already in place offensively with star tight end Brock Bowers and young running back Ashton Jeanty, it would make sense to be aggressive in spending on the defensive side.
Linebacker Devin White had a big bounce-back season in his lone year with the Raiders, posting a career-high 174 tackles, but he is a free agent now. In fact, the only linebackers under contract for the Raiders are limited role players Tommy Eichenberg and Cody Lindenberg.
Las Vegas is going to have to bring in some help at the position, and Lloyd makes a lot of sense here.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers, plain and simple, had one of the least impressive linebacker groups in the NFL last season, especially when it came to performing in pass coverage.
PFF grades and stats aren’t necessarily the final word on such matters, but the Panthers didn’t have a linebacker grade out higher than 54.2 (Trevin Wallace) and allowing 113 receptions on 139 targets for 1,127 yards and seven touchdowns, per SI.
What would address those issues better than a second-team All-Pro linebacker who was a playmaker in coverage last season? Exactly.
Washington Commanders
The Commanders leaned heavily on veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner the last two seasons, but he’s a free agent now and set to turn 36 years old this summer. The team has been clear about its priority to get younger across the roster.
It stands to reason replacing Wagner with one of the best young linebackers in the game would make a lot of sense.
Especially for a defense that dropped from middle of the pack to dead last in yards allowed this season (384.0 per game) and 27th in points allowed (26.5 per game).
