Michael DiRoccoMar 4, 2026, 10:00 PM

CloseMichael DiRocco is an NFL Nation reporter at ESPN and covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN and the Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In 2025, the Jaguars had the NFL’s top-ranked run defense, which makes it sound strange that arguably their top need heading into 2026 is the defensive line.

But that’s the case, particularly on the interior, and especially when it comes to rushing the passer. The Jaguars ranked third in pressures (222) but 27th in sacks (32) in 2025. Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (eight sacks) and tackle Arik Armstead (5.5 sacks) were the only players with more than 3.5 sacks, so getting better along the defensive front must be a priority.

Even so, general manager James Gladstone cautioned not to get too caught up in sack numbers.

“Sacks in particular are never a true indicator,” Gladstone said. “Pressures are probably a better indicator of whether or not you’re impacting the quarterback.”

Even if that may be the case — and seven of the top 11 teams in terms of pressures made the playoffs — Gladstone said the Jaguars want to get better at getting the quarterback on the ground. Part of that will come with the evolution of defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s scheme in his second season, and Gladstone said any personnel changes the Jaguars make will be with that in mind.

Free agency, which begins when the legal tampering period opens at noon ET on March 9, will be the Jaguars’ first chance to make those changes. The Jaguars are $13.5 million over the $303.5 million salary cap, per OverTheCap.com, but can clear space with the re-structures and releases.

Because of that it’s likely they won’t be big spenders. However, if the Jaguars do want to splurge on one free agent that could help address their biggest weakness, Denver Broncos defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers is a potential target.

Franklin-Myers has 14.5 sacks and 33 QB hits over the past two seasons with the Broncos, who led the NFL sacks in 2024 and 2025. Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons (16) and Miami’s Zach Sieler (15.5) are the only two tackles with more sacks than the 6-foot-4, 288-pound Franklin-Meyers over the past two seasons.

Franklin-Myers also can play end, which would give the Jaguars the opportunity to move end Travon Walker inside on passing downs much more than they did in 2025. Franklin-Myers, who turns 30 in September, earned $15 million in his two years with the Broncos and should easily eclipse that $7.5 million annual average salary in free agency.

Here are two other needs for the Jaguars and three players who could be of interest to the Jaguars:

Running back

With the franchise tag deadline passing on Tuesday, Travis Etienne Jr. is set to become an unrestricted free agent when the league year begins next Wednesday. The Jaguars drafted Etienne in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft and he played 2025 on his fifth-year option.

Etienne’s return isn’t guaranteed. The Jaguars drafted Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round last year, and could be looking for a complimentary back.

A couple of players that might make sense if the Jaguars pass on re-signing Etienne are Rachaad White and Kenneth Gainwell.

White could be a good fit as he’s familiar with Coen from their time with the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay finished fourth in the NFL in rushing in 2024 with Coen as the offensive coordinator, and while White eventually lost his starting job to rookie Bucky Irving, he was still a major part of the ground game. White ran for 613 yards and three touchdowns that season and has run for 2,646 yards and 14 touchdowns in four seasons with the Bucs.

He could pair with Tuten as a two-man rotation with a more equitable carry share than what Tuten had with Etienne as a rookie (83 to 260), with LeQuint Allen maintaining his role as a third-down back. But White also could really help in the screen game, which is an area in which the Jaguars struggled in 2025. Jaguars running backs combined to catch 56 passes for 425 yards last season, including 36 catches from Etienne. White averaged 51 catches per season in his four years with the Bucs.

If the Jaguars are looking for a back to contribute in the passing game, Gainwell showed with the Pittsburgh Steelers that he can be an effective receiver. After catching 102 passes in four seasons in Philadelphia, Gainwell caught a team-high 73 with the Steelers.

He also set career highs in carries (114), rushing yards (537), and per-carry average (4.7 yards), proving he can be more than just a pass catcher out of the backfield.

An upside to potentially choosing Gainwell over White could be cost: Per Spotrac.com, Gainwell has a market value of $2.9 million annually while White’s is $7.6 million — the third-highest figure behind Breece Hall ($10.4 million) and Kenneth Walker III ($9 million).

Cornerback

Gladstone said WR/CB Travis Hunter will play more at the position in 2026, in part because that’s a bigger area of need than receiver.

The Jaguars could bring back Montaric Brown and it’s expected they’ll address cornerback in the draft as well, but adding another in free agency, especially one that can play inside and outside, would be additional insurance in case Jourdan Lewis isn’t able to return the level he was playing before a late-season Lisfranc injury.

One player to watch could be Kader Kohou, who has a connection to Campanile who was Miami’s linebackers coach (2020-23). Kohou won a starting job in 2022 as an undrafted free agent and started 38 games from 2022-24 with the Dolphins before missing the 2025 season with a torn ACL.

He’d be a low-risk (and likely low-money) signing and could compete with Brown (if he re-signs), Lewis, Christian Braswell and Jarrian Jones for playing time.