Oct 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars helmet on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Jaguars Contentious Star's Stock Rising in 2025 NFL season

Originally posted on Jacksonville Jaguars on SI
By Andy Quach | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 11:00 AM ET

Under new general manager James Gladstone, the Jacksonville Jaguars have grown a reputation for being unafraid to cut ties with disappointing talent. Specifically, Gladstone is rumored to be on a mission to clean out as many stragglers as he can from Trent Baalke's previous regime.

Darnell Savage was the latest victim of the Jaguars' cutthroat approach to roster building, although there have been talks that the team may be doing him a favor in freeing him to find a new team where he might have more opportunities to contribute. He joined a growing list featuring players like Luke Fortner, De'Antre Prince, and Tank Bigsby.

One player who some fans thought might be exiled is linebacker Devin Lloyd. Through his first three seasons, he was known to put up empty stats for disappointing defensive Jaguars units, racking up tackles and other box score measurables while failing to impact winning. However, he's been on a mission to prove them wrong this season.

Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Devin Lloyd is becoming an all-around star

It only hurt Devin Lloyd's stock when the Jacksonville Jaguars released their depth chart ahead of the 2025 NFL season opener against the Carolina Panthers. The team listed its starting middle linebacker as Lloyd "OR" second-year pro Ventrell Miller.

Since then, Lloyd has widely outplayed Miller and cemented his role as the featured Mike for the Jaguars' defense, garnering 70 snaps through two games compared to Miller's 26. He's been excellent in his third year for Jacksonville, earning an 86.9 grade from Pro Football Focus in his first outing versus Carolina and a 90.4 in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

This article first appeared on Jacksonville Jaguars on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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