3 players the Jaguars must re-sign this offseason after exiting the playoffs

The Jacksonville Jaguars she just had a breakthrough season that changed expectations. They didn’t just bounce back in 2025. The Jags announced themselves. After years of teetering between promise and frustration, Jacksonville took the plunge one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the league. New coach Liam Cohen transformed a 4-13 roster into a 13-win AFC South champion. With expectations reset, the Jaguars now enter an offseason where the bar has officially been raised.

That’s what it does their abrupt exit from the playoffs. Jacksonville is no longer a feel-good story, but a contender. Of course, candidates can’t afford to let key pieces slip out the door. That’s especially true when those players define the team’s identity on both sides of the ball.

Season summary

Under Cohen and general manager James Gladstone, the Jaguars have rebuilt their offense around pace, spacing and efficiency. Franchise KB Trevor Lawrence looked completely fired up in a system based on the West Bank. He spread the ball with confidence and control. The emergence of rookie Travis Hunter as a two-way difference maker gave Jacksonville a matchup problem that few teams could solve. Meanwhile, the defense has quietly become one of the league’s most opportunistic units.

That defense peaked during an eight-game winning streak to close the regular season. Devin Lloyd anchored the middle and the pass rush consistently forced turnovers. Tennessee’s upset in Week 18 sealed the AFC’s No. 3 seed and reignited the “Duuuval” swagger that once defined the franchise’s rise.

Then came the crash. In the Wild Card round against Buffalo, Jacksonville played well enough to win, until it didn’t. Josh Allen engineered a late comeback, the secondary cracked under pressure, and an interception on top ended the Jaguars’ season. That 27-24 loss felt less like a failure and more like an unfinished sentence.

Off-season priorities

The Jaguars enter the 2026 offseason with a clear mandate: Don’t regress. Interior defensive line help remains a pressing need, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Arik Armstead’s future. The offensive line must be upgraded in order to keep Lawrence upright after attacking a patchy defense. And the secondary, despite its upside, lacks proven depth if veterans walk.

However, before Jacksonville can pursue exterior fixes, it must lock down the interior pillars that made 2025 possible. Letting the wrong veterans go would force the front office to spend valuable draft capital plugging holes instead of building on strength.

These three players sit directly at the center of that decision-making.

LB Devin Lloyd

Key statistics: 81 total tackles, 5 interceptions, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 99-yard pick-six

After the Jaguars declined his fifth-year option, Devin Lloyd responded with the kind of season that changes contract negotiations overnight. Lloyd has evolved from an endless defender into one of the NFL’s most dangerous backs. He led all linemen in interceptions and earned second-team AP All-Pro honors.

More importantly, Lloyd became the nerve center of the defense. He diagnosed plays before they opened and flipped games with takeaways. At the age of 27, he does not project but realizes.

Lloyd is the rare guard who can stay on the court in any situation. His loss would force Jacksonville to overhaul its defensive structure. They’d probably spend premium resources looking for a replacement that won’t offer the same instincts or versatility. That would be unnecessary self-inflicted.

Key statistics: 1,107 rushing yards, 292 receiving yards, 13 total touchdowns

Travis Etienne Jr. has proven once again that he is much more than a traditional point guard. He posted his third career 1,000-yard rushing season while remaining one of Lawrence’s most reliable outlets in the passing game. When games tightened up late in the year, Etienne’s burst turned small creases into momentum-changing plays. His Wild Card performance against Buffalo had 6.7 yards per carry in a high-pressure environment. That only underscored its value.

Etienne’s chemistry with Lawrence is involved in the attack. He’s a safety valve, mismatch creator and red zone weapon all at once. Letting him walk would force the Jaguars to redesign their offense on uncertainty rather than efficiency. That’s a risk they don’t have to take.

CB Greg Newsome II

Key statistics: Total 52 tackles, 1 interception, 9 passes defensed

Acquired mid-season from Cleveland, Greg Newsome II has brought instant stability to a young secondary. He played every significant snap down the stretch. Newsome was often overshadowed by top wide receivers while battling a shoulder injury. Newsome didn’t put up great stats, but he eliminated the mistakes.

Corner depth evaporates quickly in January. With Hunter expected to return and take on an expanded offensive role, Jacksonville needs a proven, reliable cover man who can handle VR1 assignments. Newsome is 25 years old, battle-tested, and fits the timeline of this roster. His re-signing keeps the draft focused on upgrading the trenches instead of looking for secondary help.

The cost of standing still

Jaguars are in calibration mode. Re-signing Devin Lloyd, Travis Etienne Jr. and Greg Newsom II refers to the protection of infrastructure that has turned 13-win season into a new standard.

Jacksonville didn’t catch fire because it lacked talent. It wasn’t enough because the margins are brutal in January. Maintaining these three ensures that those margins don’t get thinner in 2026.