The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as defensive previews from Raymond Summerlin. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2025 Football Preview.
While offenses dominate NFL discussion, the other side of the ball plays a large role.
With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, let's look at the defense of the Jacksonville Jaguars and preview how it might perform this season.
2025 Jacksonville Jaguars Defense
The Jaguars were not as bad against the run as they were against the pass in 2024, but they were not a ton better.
They allowed 4.4 yards per carry on running back runs (18th), 1.6 yards before contact per RB carry (27th), and finished 27th in success rate on those runs.
DaVon Hamilton played the most snaps among the defensive line group last season and tied for the team lead with 11 run stuffs.
Arik Armstead played more outside last season, but there has been talk about him playing more on the interior this year.
A second-round pick last year, Maason Smith suited up for just 11 games as a rookie, including a couple of healthy scratches, and he did not stand out when he got onto the field more in the second half of the season.
The Jaguars finished 27th in pressure rate last season while logging 34 sacks (28th).
It was a disappointing outcome for a team with two quality options on the outside.
Travon Walker led the team with 10.5 sacks, though his 11% pressure rate ranked just 62nd among qualified pass rushers.
Josh Hines-Allen had “just” 8 sacks, but his 14.1% pressure rate ranked 23rd among qualified pass rushers.
The problem for the Jaguars is that the rest of the roster behind Walker and Hines-Allen combined for 15.5 sacks, and there were no major additions this offseason.
At linebacker, Devin Lloyd is coming off another solid season in which he made plays against the run.
Foyesade Oluokun was limited to 13 games, but he was even more productive in the run game, logging 11 run stuffs and a tackle on 18.1% of his run defense snaps.
Jacksonville was awful against the pass in 2024, finishing last in yards per attempt allowed (7.9), explosive play rate allowed (11.6%), and second to last in passer rating allowed (103.4).
They recorded 6 interceptions (30th) all season.
Jourdan Lewis joined in free agency.
He has primarily played in the slot throughout his career, which is where 2024 third-round pick Jarrian Jones played as a rookie.
That likely means Jones will move outside in his second season, where he will play opposite Tyson Campbell.
Safety Andre Cisco left after his rookie contract ran out, and the Jaguars brought in Eric Murray to fill the void.
Murray has started a lot of games and has been around the league for a long time because he is a solid option, and that might be enough given where this secondary was last season.
Darnell Savage played primarily at safety last season but also spent time covering the slot, a spot that should be covered by Lewis this year.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
Order Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview to get defensive analysis for all 32 NFL teams.
Warren Sharp’s 550+ page full-color PDF, the 2025 Football Preview, is unlike anything you have previously read. Stunning visualizations, including new heat maps, are built with the reader in mind. Innovative, next-level thought process abounds in every team chapter and article.
Save $5 with Early Bird Pricing
Get Warren's Book for $29.99 $34.99
Warren Sharp's book shares insights into the players, coaches, teams, and philosophies with one goal: to prepare you for the 2025 NFL season with the smartest information delivered in the fastest, most direct way possible for optimal reviewing and retention.
- Team Chapters previews are in-depth, data driven & full of actionable info
- Fantasy Football player profiles, predictions, and ranks
- Vegas Odds forecast team wins, division rankings, lines for all 2025 games
- Coaching strategic advice for teams, play calling analysis & team tendencies
- Front Office Analysis positional spending, roster construction & cap analysis
- Reasons to bet over/under win totals & analysis of futures betting market
- Rookie draft class deep dive into impact for every team
- Rankings for every positional unit on every team with analysis
