Can the Jaguars 28-Year-Old Defensive End Become Elite Again in 2026?
The Jacksonville Jaguars were under a ton of pressure to hit on their 2019 NFL Draft selections after a disappointing 2018 campaign, in which they missed the playoffs following an AFC Championship appearance in 2017. In the first round, the franchise selected Kentucky linebacker Josh Hines-Allen with the seventh overall pick. At the collegiate level, Hines-Allen was one of the most elite linebackers in the country. His best season came in 2018, when he racked up 17 sacks in 13 games, alongside four pass deflections and five forced fumbles. The Jacksonville front office believed that if the 28-year-old could produce at that high a level in college, there was a high chance that same beast could translate to the NFL.
Immediately, it did. The six-foot-five defensive end had one of the best rookie campaigns in Jaguars history. He put Duval County’s defense back on the map, giving nostalgia for the days of Sacksonville. In 16 games, the rookie totaled 10.5 sacks with 44 tackles and two forced fumbles. The pressure that the young athlete put on the quarterbacks didn’t go unnoticed, with 23 hits on the quarterback in just his rookie season. Hines-Allen would be named to the Pro Bowl in 2019, becoming the first Jaguars player in history to be named a Pro Bowler in his rookie season. The next two seasons would be quiet for the star linebacker, including an injury-riddled 2020 season. However, Hines-Allen would bounce back in 2023 with another Pro Bowl selection. In 17 games, he hit a career high in sacks with 17.5, alongside totaling 66 tackles and an interception. Over the last two seasons, the Jaguars' coaching staff has moved the Virginia native from linebacker to defensive end, leading to a quieter performance from the star athlete.
Neither season has reached the heights of 2023, with each recording fewer than eight sacks and fewer than 50 tackles. The Jacksonville defensive line has an aging core, with time potentially running out for his lineman teammate DaVon Hamilton. The same question can be asked about the former linebacker, albeit to a lesser extent, given his proven success. Is it possible for the former Wildcat to return to his Pro Bowl level of performance on the field? Under defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, who is returning for his second season as the team’s coordinator, it is very likely. The core was already the best in the league at stopping the run last season. Now, the team needs to turn their attention to putting pressure on the opposing passing attack. The 2019 first-round pick has had proven success in the past with pressure on the signal callers around the league, meaning if he can just flash a hint of that same success, the Jaguars’ defensive line will be in good hands.
