The Jaguars had a very pleasantly surprising defense in the first season under rookie head coach Liam Coen and rookie defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. As the two took a team that finished from bottom 5 in the NFL in terms of points allowed from the year prior into a team that finished top 10 in the NFL in terms of points allowed. The Jaguars are seeking to take the step from a very good defense to a great/elite one during the 2026 season. The personnel that the Jaguars have on the defensive side of things will loom large for that to occur and here I will do a full analysis of the team’s front seven as the season approaches.
Set to start at the first of the two edge rusher positions is former number one overall pick Travon Walker. Walker has had his ups and downs in the NFL and has still been good in totality but has not lived up to his number one overall pick expectations. Walker graded below average to well below average in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus among players at his position in each of his first two seasons in the NFL and many were viewing him as a bust although he did accumulate double digit sacks in year 2. In each of the next two seasons Walker began to turn it around grading in the above average range among players at his position in each of the next two seasons. Walker was poor in terms of defending the run in his first two seasons but has since gotten much better. Walker has also been good but not great in terms of rushing the passer. Although I believe Walker is still a good solid NFL starter, he has certainly not lived up to being a number one overall pick in the NFL. However, accumulating double digit sacks with regularity like Walker has done is not easy and Walker has now turned into a solid run defender. Lets not forget that Walker played for often a poorly managed Jaguars team to start his career and that perhaps hindered his play. Now that he heads into year 2 with defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and head coach Liam Coen, perhaps he can live up to his number one overall pick potential as he has shown he is capable of doing at times.
Set to start at the first of the two interior defensive line spots is former 49ers’ standout Arik Armstead. Armstead was consistently one of the better if not one of the best defensive lineman in the sport during his time with the 49ers but has unfortunately underwhelmed in two seasons with the Jaguars thus far. Armstead was good but not great in year 1 with Jacksonville and then graded below average among players at his position in year 2 with the Jaguars in 2025. Armstead will turn 33 years old next season and it remains to be seen how effective he will be. However, I think it is very possible that he recaptures his borderline elite form that he had for years with the 49ers as the Jaguars were a mess in year 1 with Armstead and Armstead was playing under a rookie head coach and a rookie defensive coordinator in year 2 with the Jaguars, both of which likely hindered his play. Now that Armstead will get a more experienced coaching staff and will likely play for a contender next season, I think it is very possible he recaptures his borderline elite form he had for years in San Francisco.
Former third rounder Davon Hamilton is set to start on the interior of the defensive front alongside Armstead and also has a very high ceiling, but question marks are associated with him just like the first of the two defensive line starters. Hamilton has graded in the below average range in terms of an overall defense grade among players at his position in six of seven seasons in the NFL although grading in the borderline elite range in the remaining season. Given his very high ceiling but complete lack of consistency perhaps Hamilton is better suited in a reserve role for the Jaguars in their front seven.
Former 1st rounder Josh Hines-Allen is set to start at the other defensive end position and is the bright spot in the Jaguars’ front seven. Hines-Allen has graded in the well below average range in every season he has played thus far in the NFL including grading (6/129) among players at his position last season in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Hines-Allen is perhaps not quite in the Micah Parson/Myles Garrett/Nick Bosa/TJ Watt class but is the next closest thing. Perhaps as Hines-Allen heads into year 2 under the aforementioned rookie coaching staff from 2025, maybe Hines-Allen can take the leap into that first tier of defensive ends in the sport.
At the first of the starting linebacker spots former 6th rounder Foyesade Oluokun is set to start for the Jaguars and is a good above average player. Oluokun has graded in the above average range among players at his position in seven of eight seasons in the NFL. However, he has never played at a borderline elite level although being noticeably above average with regularity. Regardless, he remains a solid option for the Jaguars to start although he is not a star.
Former 4th rounder Ventrell Miller is set to start at the middle linebacker spot for the team and is a promising player. Miller did not play as a rookie in 2023 with 2024 being his essential rookie season where he had his struggles. Miller then looked very good in limited snaps in year 2 in 2025, but it remains to be seen how consistently effective he can be. Miller graded (25/94) among players at his position in just over 200 snaps in 2025 and if he can maintain/improve that over a larger sample size then the Jaguars will have a strong player to start for them at the position.
Rounding out the Jaguars’ starting front seven is 2025 4th rounder Jack Kiser who looked poor in very limited rookie snaps. Kiser is a totally unproven commodity who was not even drafted that high. Kiser as of now remains the weak link in the Jaguars’ front seven and will be a prime candidate to move to a reserve role as the season approaches.
From a depth standpoint in the front seven the Jaguars have a few notable names that could provide the team with some depth and/or could step into a starting role. 2024 2nd round pick Ruke Orhoro on the interior of the defensive line had a solid rookie season in limited snaps but was poor in year 2 with the Falcons and has since joined the Jaguars. Given his very high draft selection and solid rookie season, perhaps he was an underrated pickup for the Jaguars this offseason. The Jaguars drafted interior defensive lineman Albert Regis in the third round of the 2026 draft who could provide the team with some strong depth if can start to come into his own as a rookie. While the likes of Danny Striggow and Dennis Gardeck have also looked strong at times in the NFL and could also provide the team with some depth.
In totality the Jaguars have a solid but not spectacular front seven heading into the 2026 season. Davon Hamilton and Jack Kiser remain potential weak links in the front seven as whether or not either player is a starting caliber player remains to be seen. Although both certainly have talent and could be potentially strong starters. Travon Walker, Arik Armstead, and Ventrell Miller are high level talents who have struggled with youth/aging/consistency, and it remains to be seen how effective they will be starting next season. The Jaguars also have solid but not spectacular depth on the front seven as well. Jacksonville could have an elite front seven next season, but they also could have a below average one if inconsistent players do not play well. A breakdown of the Jaguars’ front seven can be found below.
Projected 2026 Jaguars Starting Front Seven
LDE – Travon Walker – C+ to B-, former number one overall pick, has shown flashes of very strong play, perhaps can come into his own in year 2 under the Jaguars rookie coaching staff from 2025
LDT – Arik Armstead – C+ to B-, borderline elite for years with the 49ers, could also come into his own as Jaguars’ rookie coaching staff heads into year 2
RDT – DaVon Hamilton – C+, has shown borderline elite ceiling, but below average with regularity, likely better suited as a backup
RDE – Josh Hines-Allen – B+ to A-, could take the jump to A range next season
WLB – Foyesade Oluokun – B
MLB – Ventrell Miller – C+ to B-, has looked strong in limited snaps outside of poor rookie season
SLB – Jack Kiser – 2025 4th rounder, poor in very limited rookie snaps, current weak link in Jaguars starting front seven
Notable 2026 Jaguars Front Seven Reserves
DL – Ruke Orhoro – C to C-, 2024 2nd rounder, solid rookie season, poor in sophomore slump, could put it all together in year 3 as a such a high draft pick
DL – Albert Regis – 2026 3rd rounder
ED – Dennis Gardeck – C+ to B-
ED – Danny Striggow – UDFA 2025, B in limited rookie snaps
