Even after letting Devin Lloyd walk in free agency, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a well-rounded linebacker corps. Ventrell Miller is ready to step into the starting lineup full-time, and veteran Foyesade Oluokun remains a stud. Behind those two, the Jags have no shortage of depth.
Beyond Miller and Oluokun, sophomore Branson Combs has seen his stock surge in the offseason, and nobody would bat an eye if he seizes a feature role sooner rather than later. If needed, Parker Hughes, Jack Kiser, Dennis Gardeck, Jalen McLeod, and Yasir Abdullah could also be thrust into action.
Simply put, the Jaguars should feel good about the state of the linebacker position. Nevertheless, an NFL analyst is urging them to add a veteran to the mix.
The Jaguars are being urged to sign veteran linebacker Devin White
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report drew up a list of seven bargain free agents who could help NFL teams next season. He suggests the Jaguars sign Devin White, arguing that the veteran linebacker is a stud against the run and would be a solid depth piece.
"Last season, White led the Las Vegas Raiders with 174 tackles and finished second on the team in tackles for loss (11)," Moton wrote. "However, White has been inconsistent in pass coverage. He's allowed a passer rating above 104 in two of his pro seasons. In the previous year, the seven-year veteran gave up three touchdowns and allowed a 94.3 passer rating in coverage."
Moton continued, "In a two-down role with limited exposure to coverage assignments, White can be a starting inside linebacker alongside a reliable second-level cover defender."
The fifth overall pick in 2019, White played five seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before bolting for the Houston Texans in 2024. He spent a season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025 and remains a free agent as of this writing.
There's no doubt that White excels against the run, but his struggles in coverage are partly why he's played for three different teams in as many years and can't find a job.
Sure, White would be a solid depth piece in virtually every team, but would he offer anything that any of the linebackers the Jaguars currently have don't?
Why the Jaguars can afford to pass on Devin White
The Jaguars are so stacked at linebacker that there's a chance seventh-round rookie Parker Hughes may not make the 53-man roster. Similarly, Yasir Abdullah may not make the team in 2026, but both of them could land in the practice squad and be called up if needed. Even if you take those two out of the equation, Jacksonville has lots of depth at the position.
Aside from the ascending Branson Combs, the Jags have sophomore Jack Kiser in the fold. He's not particularly athletic but may have a higher ceiling than Devin White at this point in his young NFL career. On the other hand, Dennis Gardeck and sophomore Jalen McLeod can bring the heat from the standup position, so the Jags don't need White's ability to blitz.
Maybe if injuries depleted the Jacksonville linebacker corps, general manager James Gladstone could kick the tires on Devin White. However, he would be an unnecessary addition to a linebacker corps that has both depth and talent.
In fact, there are other positions that the Jaguars should prioritize (e.g., the pass rush). And even then, they probably won't bring in reinforcements unless they really have to.
