Jaguars Defense Reloads for Another Dominant Run
After finishing 16-1 last season with the number one ranked run defense and number two scoring defense, Coach Ke’s Jacksonville Jaguars are entering this new year on a mission to prove that dominance was only the beginning. Last season, Jacksonville allowed just 72 rushing yards per game and forced opposing teams to abandon the run entirely by halftime. That suffocating defense set the tone for a 16-win season and a deep playoff run, but Ke wasn’t satisfied. This offseason, the Jaguars front office made several strategic moves to turn an already elite defense into something potentially historic.
The first shake-up came at safety. Jabrill Peppers, once a versatile Swiss Army knife and emotional leader of the defense, was not re-signed after an underwhelming campaign. Peppers tallied 24 tackles, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles, but too often he was the man caught giving up the big play in crunch time. Coach Ke decided it was time to move on, and instead brought home a familiar face — Andre Cisco. Cisco spent time with the Jets but originally began his career in Jacksonville, and his return instantly strengthens the secondary. His 92 speed and deep zone awareness make him a perfect fit to pair with Caleb Ranshaw, the fastest safety in the league at 95 speed. Together, Cisco and Ranshaw form a back-end duo that can erase space, close on routes, and provide the range needed for Ke’s aggressive man-match system.
Up front, the Jaguars addressed one of their few weaknesses by replacing veteran Arik Armstead with DJ Reader. Armstead recorded eight tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown, but he often struggled against double teams late in the season. Reader, on the other hand, brings an old-school power to the interior. His ability to eat blocks and collapse pockets should free up stars like Josh Allen and Travon Walker to do what they do best — hunt quarterbacks. Allen remains one of the league’s premier pass rushers after posting 14.5 sacks, while Walker added 8 sacks and three forced fumbles in his best season yet. Behind them, Yasir Abdullah has quietly developed into one of the league’s most explosive young edge threats, bringing 90 speed and incredible pursuit to the rotation. Coach Ke praised the group as “the engine that drives everything we do,” emphasizing that Reader’s arrival gives them a balance of strength, speed, and relentless effort up front.
At linebacker, the Jaguars made another major decision by moving on from longtime leader Foyesade Oluokun. Oluokun posted 46 tackles and three interceptions last year, but his regression to 84 speed made it impossible to keep up with tight ends and crossing routes in Ke’s demanding defensive system. “In my scheme, the Mike has to be able to move,” Ke said. “If you can’t run with the drags, you can’t stay on the field.” That statement perfectly set the stage for the arrival of Tremaine Edmunds, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound athlete with the rare combination of length, range, and leadership that this defense needed. Edmunds gives Jacksonville the size to stuff the run and the speed to match up with slot receivers or running backs in man coverage. His presence not only replaces Oluokun’s production but upgrades the athletic ceiling of the entire second level.
But where the Jaguars truly separate themselves from every other team in PML is in the secondary. Travis Hunter is the centerpiece of this group, a 92 overall man-to-man corner who earned the Shutdown, Ironman, and Recuperation abilities that make him a nightmare for opposing wide receivers. He finished last year with five interceptions and countless pass breakups, consistently taking away an opponent’s top weapon every week. Across from him, Tyson Campbell put together his best season as a pro with six interceptions and 44 tackles, showing growth and discipline in both zone and press coverage. Jarrion Jones, the rising star of the group, added two interceptions of his own and played with the kind of physicality that Coach Ke loves. Together, this trio recorded 13 interceptions and anchored one of the stingiest passing defenses in the league.
Coach Ke calls it “the best DB room in football.” He isn’t exaggerating. Between Hunter’s shutdown ability, Campbell’s awareness, and Jones’ athletic upside, there are no weak spots on the outside. Behind them, Cisco and Ranshaw’s combination of range and speed makes deep passes nearly impossible. Teams are finding out quickly that throwing against this defense comes with consequences. Every corner can tackle, every safety can cover, and every player in the back end is capable of flipping momentum in one play.
Ke’s defensive coordinator, Coach Les, echoed the same confidence, saying, “When we turn on the film, we see speed everywhere. That’s the difference. It’s not just effort; it’s closing windows faster than quarterbacks can think.”
Even with last year’s dominant numbers, Ke isn’t satisfied. “We were great,” he said, “but we’re not done. We’re faster, smarter, and meaner now. We just need one more piece, and we’ll find it in the draft.”
With a retooled defensive line led by DJ Reader and Josh Allen, a new quarterback of the defense in Tremaine Edmunds, and arguably the best defensive backs in the league headlined by Travis Hunter, the Jaguars have all the makings of a generational defense. They aren’t just looking to stop teams in 2026 — they’re looking to bury them.
