Most improved position groups from the 2022 NFL offseason:

New Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun

Linebackers – Jacksonville Jaguars

Additions: Foyesade Oluokun, Devin Lloyd & Chad Muma

Departures: Myles Jack & Damien Wilson

First and foremost, I really believe that if Myles Jack can return to form in Pittsburgh, they got themselves a steal and he could upgrade the linebacker spot for them in a major way. However, he has been fighting through nicks and bruises for the last couple of years, being a frequent name on the injury report. Jack has struggled not being able to play at the level he’s supposed to, while some people believe his knees at only 26 years old are a major concern.

Either way, even if we do take into account how the Jaguars might have lost what was not too long ago considered one of the most promising young linebackers, I think they are much better set up at the second level in 2022. Jack himself had zero sacks, interceptions, fumbles forced or recovered. Going along with just three tackles for loss while surrendering a passer rating of 108.3 and recording just four pressures on 53 blitzes. Another designated starter (in nickel packages) Damien Wilson had slightly better coverage and rush numbers. He missed 13 tackles and a lot of his successful attempts came several yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Their PFF ratings were by far the worst of any starting duo in the league at 37.7 and 44.0 respectively.

Now, those results don’t take into account that their defensive line had its issues. Starting with the pre-existing pieces not really fitting, the 3-4 hybrid front former Ravens assistant Joe Cullen probably had in mind to run. They were dead-average (17th overall) in terms of yards per rush – since the total numbers will look different with how much they were trailing last season – isn’t bad. But I thought in passing situations, that LB unit was a major issue, because not only were they very small factors in terms of production. With pressure-players themselves, Jacksonville blitzing at the fifth-highest rate in the league (31.5%), we saw their backers get isolated a whole lot with backs and having to pick up receivers in match-zone.

While major changes in the coaching staff were inevitable, with Urban Meyer incapable of even showing appropriate human decency to the people around him. In terms of the basic idea behind the defense, we should see new DC Mike Caldwell try to follow up on early down odd fronts and exotic blitz-packages in passing situations. He will use a man or match-quarters behind in, having his roots in Todd Bowles’ defense. They added two other key pieces to allow that talent on the second level to flourish, in a run-stuffing machine named Foley Fatukasi. Along with another guy in Darious Williams, who will slide inside and sure up the nickel spot for them.

It’s a huge contract (three years, 45-million), but they went heavily after former Falcon Foyesade Oluokun in free agency. Not only traded back up into the first round for what was generally viewed as the number one linebacker in the draft in Utah’s Devin Lloyd. Then selected Wyoming’s Chad Muma in the third. The first two here could be huge pieces in their pressure packages, with Oluokun recording three times as much pressure as Myles Jack did on the same amount of blitzes. While Lloyd was a versatile piece in college, being able to threaten off the edge with speed or cross multiple gaps as a stand-up player. Then you also get Muma, who’s a super-instinctive player and can spy behind that initial wave or pick up crossers between the hashes. I believe they’ll be able to fabricate pressure at a much higher rate with the help of these guys and can clean up the stuff they leave themselves vulnerable to more effectively.

Also considered: Philadelphia Eagles & Atlanta Falcons