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The Jacksonville Jaguars' defense has high expectations for the 2026 season.
Coming off a 2025 campaign in which they were the NFL's top-ranked defense against the run, 11th in yards per game, and eighth in points per game, the Jaguars' defense could be even better this year.
Travon Walker, after a season limited by injuries, is healthy again. The top pick in the 2022 draft recorded only 3.5 sacks last season after reaching double digits the two previous years.
Last year's prized rookie, Travis Hunter, only played in seven games before a knee injury ended his season. When he was healthy, Jacksonville used Hunter primarily as a wide receiver, and cornerback was his secondary position.
This year, the Jaguars are committed to Hunter playing corner full-time, and only occasionally using him on offense.
Antonio Johnson enjoyed a star-making season in 2025 after only being inserted into the starting lineup midway through the year. PFF's top-graded safety is entering his first season as a full-time starter in 2026.
Caleb Ransaw, last year's third-round pick, missed his entire rookie season because of injury. The young safety is healthy now and primed to make a big impact.
All of these variables show that Jacksonville's defense could reach a new level during the upcoming season.
However, the defense is not without its share of questions and concerns.
How will Hunter perform as Jacksonville's top CB? Will Walker return to being the player he was in 2023 and 2024? Does Jacksonville have enough of a pass rush behind Walker and Josh Hines-Allen?
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report published an article giving his best and worst-case scenarios for all 32 NFL defenses in 2026.
Here are his thoughts for the Jaguars.
Davenport mentions a couple of the points mentioned above. He believes that if Walker returns to being a double-digit sack artist and if Hunter excels at cornerback, the Jaguars could field one of the best defenses in the league.
"The Jaguars were a bit Jekyll and Hyde defensively last year—no team in the league gave up fewer yards per game on the ground, but the Jaguars weren't great against the pass and amassed just 32 sacks for the season. A rebound season from edge-rusher Travon Walker (who had just 3.5 sacks a year ago) could solve the latter problem. The hope is that plying second-year pro Travis Hunter more at cornerback in 2026 will help fix the former."
Davenport also worries that Hunter may not live up to his billing as a true shutdown corner, and that Walker may have another disappointing season getting to the quarterback.
He also wonders if the loss of linebacker Devin Lloyd may cause a regression in Jacksonville's run defense.
"The worst-case scenario for the Jaguars defense is regression against the run and a lack of improvement against the pass. For the departure of Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd to punch a hole in the run defense. For Hunter to struggle on the back end. For Walker to have another down season getting after the quarterback. If the Jacksonville defense plays well, the Jaguars have the talent to be a Super Bowl contender. If they falter, last year's 13-4 campaign could look like a one-off."
The concerns about the Jaguars' defense are valid. Anointing them one of the top defenses in the NFL comes from an assumption that Walker and Hunter will perform up to their potential, and that the loss of Lloyd will not be a major factor.
However, it is unlikely that Walker and Hunter will be less impactful in 2026 than they were in 2025. Even if they don't play to the best of their abilities, they should still be much better overall this year.
Add in the return of Ransaw and a full season of Johnson as a starter, and it looks like a safe bet that the Jaguars' defense will be even better in 2026.
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Continue reading...
Coming off a 2025 campaign in which they were the NFL's top-ranked defense against the run, 11th in yards per game, and eighth in points per game, the Jaguars' defense could be even better this year.
Travon Walker, after a season limited by injuries, is healthy again. The top pick in the 2022 draft recorded only 3.5 sacks last season after reaching double digits the two previous years.
Last year's prized rookie, Travis Hunter, only played in seven games before a knee injury ended his season. When he was healthy, Jacksonville used Hunter primarily as a wide receiver, and cornerback was his secondary position.
This year, the Jaguars are committed to Hunter playing corner full-time, and only occasionally using him on offense.
Antonio Johnson enjoyed a star-making season in 2025 after only being inserted into the starting lineup midway through the year. PFF's top-graded safety is entering his first season as a full-time starter in 2026.
Caleb Ransaw, last year's third-round pick, missed his entire rookie season because of injury. The young safety is healthy now and primed to make a big impact.
All of these variables show that Jacksonville's defense could reach a new level during the upcoming season.
However, the defense is not without its share of questions and concerns.
How will Hunter perform as Jacksonville's top CB? Will Walker return to being the player he was in 2023 and 2024? Does Jacksonville have enough of a pass rush behind Walker and Josh Hines-Allen?
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report published an article giving his best and worst-case scenarios for all 32 NFL defenses in 2026.
Here are his thoughts for the Jaguars.
Best-Case Scenario
Davenport mentions a couple of the points mentioned above. He believes that if Walker returns to being a double-digit sack artist and if Hunter excels at cornerback, the Jaguars could field one of the best defenses in the league.
"The Jaguars were a bit Jekyll and Hyde defensively last year—no team in the league gave up fewer yards per game on the ground, but the Jaguars weren't great against the pass and amassed just 32 sacks for the season. A rebound season from edge-rusher Travon Walker (who had just 3.5 sacks a year ago) could solve the latter problem. The hope is that plying second-year pro Travis Hunter more at cornerback in 2026 will help fix the former."
Worst-Case Scenario
Davenport also worries that Hunter may not live up to his billing as a true shutdown corner, and that Walker may have another disappointing season getting to the quarterback.
He also wonders if the loss of linebacker Devin Lloyd may cause a regression in Jacksonville's run defense.
"The worst-case scenario for the Jaguars defense is regression against the run and a lack of improvement against the pass. For the departure of Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd to punch a hole in the run defense. For Hunter to struggle on the back end. For Walker to have another down season getting after the quarterback. If the Jacksonville defense plays well, the Jaguars have the talent to be a Super Bowl contender. If they falter, last year's 13-4 campaign could look like a one-off."
Final Thoughts
The concerns about the Jaguars' defense are valid. Anointing them one of the top defenses in the NFL comes from an assumption that Walker and Hunter will perform up to their potential, and that the loss of Lloyd will not be a major factor.
However, it is unlikely that Walker and Hunter will be less impactful in 2026 than they were in 2025. Even if they don't play to the best of their abilities, they should still be much better overall this year.
Add in the return of Ransaw and a full season of Johnson as a starter, and it looks like a safe bet that the Jaguars' defense will be even better in 2026.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
