JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser and Jaguars analyst Bucky Brooks examine the Jaguars' defensive line position in this position-by-position look at the '26 offseason:
Position: Defensive line.
Position coach: Matt Edwards.
2025 starters: End Josh Hines-Allen (17), end Travon Walker (12), end Emmanuel Ogbah (3), end Danny Striggow (2), tackle DaVon Hamilton (17), tackle Arik Armstead (11), tackle Maason Smith (2), tackle Matt Dickerson (4).
Others: End B.J. Green II, tackle Keivie Rose, tackle Austin Johnson.
2025 at a glance: This was a strong position for the Jaguars in 2025, particularly against the run. It was largely a healthy group that gave the defensive front season-long stability – and it was a big reason the Jaguars ranked No. 1 in the NFL against the run at 85.6 yards per game. Hamilton, a sixth-year veteran, emerged as one of the NFL's better players at his position with 37 tackles, 15 solo, with one sack and three quarterback hits. Armstead in his 11th NFL season registered 28 tackles, 13 solo, with seven for loss, 5.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits. Dickerson developed throughout his sixth NFL season, starting the last four games with 10 tackles, including one for loss. Smith played 13 games with two starts and 15 tackles with a pass defensed. Hines-Allen led the Jaguars with 28 quarterback hits and eight sacks, with Walker playing through multiple injuries and registering 3.5 sacks with 13 hits.
Offseason storyline: This is a relatively stable position, with only Johnson and Ogbah projected as not returning after becoming unrestricted free agents last week. Though this was a strong position against the run in 2025, it struggled at times to produce pass-rush pressure on the interior – and that need could prompt the Jaguars to focus on tackle via veteran trade of free agency or the draft. The Jaguars also could look to improve depth at edge, though Green and Striggow showed development and potential as undrafted rookies in 2025.
Free agents as of March 11: Johnson, Ogbah.
Bucky Brooks top three defensive tackle free-agents: 1, John Franklin-Myers, Denver Broncos (signed with Tennessee Titans); 2, Dre'Mont Jones, Baltimore Ravens (New England Patriots); 3, David Onyemata, Atlanta Falcons (New York Jets).
Bucky Brooks top three defensive end free-agents: 1, Jaelan Phillips, Philadelphia Eagles (Carolina Panthers); 2, Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals (Baltimore Ravens); 3, Odafe Oweh, Los Angeles Chargers (Washington Commanders).
Oehser analysis: This was a good position much of the 2025 season, particularly against the run, as Hamilton emerged as a Pro Bowl-level nose tackle with his best NFL season. Hines-Allen continued to get consistent pressure and Walker – after registering double-digit sacks in 2023 and 2024 – remained a strong force on the edge while playing through wrist and knee injuries that somewhat limited him pressuring the passer. Dickerson impressed with his consistency, with Armstead finishing among the league leaders in sacks at defensive tackle. Smith, a second-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, has flashed at times but struggled to find a consistent role in his second season. Pass-rushing interior line is perhaps the Jaguars' No. 1 offseason need and projects as perhaps the main position where the team could move aggressively for a major contributor. While this group was among the NFL's best against the run in 2025, creating interior pressure – not only to get pressure there but to help Walker and Hines-Allen – is a significant offseason priority.
Brooks analysis: The Jaguars' frontline dominance ranks as one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 campaign. After entering the season with questions about the run defense and pass rush, the Jaguars stymied opponents at the point of attack and routinely disrupted the rhythm of the passing game with a four-man rush. Although the sack numbers were not impressive, with the team failing to produce a double-digit sack artist, Hines-Allen (8.0), Armstead (5.5), and Walker (3.5) led a pass-rush committee that totaled 32 combined sacks. While those numbers fell well short of the top-five standard (the Denver Broncos led the league with 68 sacks), the Jaguars were often able to generate pressure when it mattered on critical downs. Part of the success can be attributed to the suffocating run defense, which forced plenty of long-yardage situations. Hamilton should have earned Pro Bowl honors for his work as a stout defender at the point of attack. Armstead also pitched in as a disruptive inside force, with Hines-Allen and Walker making key plays on the edges. While the team needs more production from Smith, the impressive flashes from Striggow and Greene could lead to expanded roles in 2026.
Relive the top defensive moments of the 2025 season and the plays that defined the Jaguars defense.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs
CB Montaric Brown (30)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina Panthers
CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Los Angeles Chargers
S Antonio Johnson (26)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
CB Jarrian Jones (22)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
S Antonio Johnson (26)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs New York Jets
LB Ventrell Miller (51)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs
S Andrew Wingard (42)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Los Angeles Chargers
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
DL Danny Striggow (92)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs San Francisco 49ers
LB Devin Lloyd (0) and S Antonio Johnson (26)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs San Francisco 49ers
DT Arik Armstead (91) and DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
CB Jarrian Jones (22)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Arizona Cardinals
DL Austin Johnson (99) and DL Emmanuel Ogbah (90)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Arizona Cardinals
S Antonio Johnson (26)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Arizona Cardinals
S Rayuan Lane III (25) and CB Christian Braswell (21)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
LB Dennis Gardeck (47)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23) and LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Seattle Seahawks
CB Montaric Brown (30)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Denver Broncos
CB Montaric Brown (30)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs San Francisco 49ers
DT Arik Armstead (91)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Denver Broncos
DL Emmanuel Ogbah (90)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23) and DC Anthony Campanile
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
DT Maason Smith (94)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Los Angeles Chargers
S Antonio Johnson (26)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41) and CB Greg Newsome II (6)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DT Arik Armstead (91) and DE Dawuane Smoot (98)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Rams
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23) and DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Las Vegas Raiders
CB Montaric Brown (30)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Las Vegas Raiders
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina Panthers
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Denver Broncos
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Seattle Seahawks
DT Arik Armstead (91) and LB Ventrell Miller (51)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs New York Jets
S Antonio Johnson (26)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs San Francisco 49ers
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Denver Broncos
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Los Angeles Chargers
DE Dawuane Smoot (98)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Seattle Seahawks
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs San Francisco 49ers
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Arizona Cardinals
CB Greg Newsome II (6)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
DL Austin Johnson (99)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
DL Danny Striggow (92), LB Foyesade Oluokun (23), and LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
S Antonio Johnson (26), CB Montaric Brown (30), CB Greg Newsome II (6), CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
CB Jarrian Jones (22)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs
CB Montaric Brown (30)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
S Antonio Johnson (26)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Los Angeles Chargers
S Antonio Johnson (26)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs San Francisco 49ers
DT DaVon Hamilton (52)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Los Angeles Chargers
LB Devin Lloyd (0) and DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina Panthers
DEJosh Hines-Allen (41), DE Dawuane Smoot (98) and DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina Panthers
CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Rams
CB Greg Newsome II (6)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Rams
DT Maason Smith (94)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Arizona Cardinals
LB Dennis Gardeck (47)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Arizona Cardinals
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina Panthers
S Eric Murray (29)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina Panthers
CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
S Antonio Johnson (26)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
CB Jarrian Jones (22)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina Panthers
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs New York Jets
DL B.J. Green II (95)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Los Angeles Chargers
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23) and DC Anthony Campanile
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
DT DaVon Hamilton (52) and LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
S Andrew Wingard (42) and S Eric Murray (29)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Arizona Cardinals
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
LB Dennis Gardeck (47)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
LB Dennis Gardeck (47) and DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
CB Jarrian Jones (22)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans
S Antonio Johnson (26)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs New York Jets
S Eric Murray (29)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs New York Jets
CB Montaric Brown (30)
