SAN FRANCISCO -- Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd entered the 2025 season with his future in the balance after the Jags declined his fifth-year option. All the former first-round pick did was dominate in Anthony Campanile's defense, setting up an interesting offseason.
Lloyd made his first career Pro Bowl as a replacement and was named a second-team All-Pro. He told NFL.com on Monday that he didn't approach his campaign with a different mindset.
"Every year is a prove-it year. You always have that mindset," Lloyd said prior to Monday's Pro Bowl Games practice.
Lloyd said that while he prefers to stay in Jacksonville, he's had "no talks" with the team yet about the future, opting to focus on the Pro Bowl before free agency ramps up.
Lloyd hits the open market following a season in which he generated five interceptions -- one returned for a touchdown -- seven passes defensed, 1.5 sacks, 10 QB hits, a fumble recovery and 81 total tackles, including six TFLs.
The performance in Campanile's defense was a stark difference from his up-and-down first four seasons, highlighted by miscues and missed coverages. In Campanile's attack-style D, Lloyd looked truly at home.
Lloyd said that he believes he can play at that level in any defense.
"I take pride in being able to do what I did last year in any defense," he said. "Obviously, (new coaches) came in and they understood that I have a skill set. And, you know, as the weeks progressed, they really started allowing me to utilize that skill set more and more and play at the level that I'm playing. So it's always great whenever a defensive coordinator believes in you. And, you know, that's the case with any player, you know, all these guys, you know, the coaches do put them in the best position. So, you know, I was definitely a product of that. And then just me being right, you know, for myself as far as being at my best every week. It really just comes down to, you know, every day, ready to attack practice, ready to attack the game. And that's nutrition, sleep, all the above."
With the franchise tag for linebackers projected to be $28.2 million, the Jags are unlikely to use that mechanism to keep Lloyd from the open market. Unless sides agree on an extension ahead of March, the linebacker will hit free agency as one of the top off-ball LBs available.
Lloyd said ideally he would return to Jacksonville, but ultimately would like to be where he can continue to ascend.
"I want to be where God wants me to be," he said. "For me, being back in Jacksonville, my mom lives out there. You know, obviously, my lady is out there. You know, there are a lot of pros to being out there. And so, for me, it's just about being in the right spot. Ultimately, that's the No. 1 most important thing, being in the right spot."
