Moeller: Walker and Hines-Allen Can Lead Jaguars to AFC South Title and Beyond

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By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire 


 The Jags made it perfectly clear.

They recently extended Travon Walker on a four-year, $110 million deal Walker's deal is for four-years and is worth $110 million total. It will make him $27.5 million annually, including $77 million in guarantees, $50 million of which was fully guaranteed at the signing.

 A year earlier, they extended Josh Hines- Allen on a five-year, $141.25 million extension,  locking him in through the 2028 season. The deal includes $88 million in total guarantees and an average annual value of $28.25 million. 

Through 2028 - the year their new stadium will open- the Jags’ defense will run through Walker and Hines-Allen.

Walker was the subject of trade rumors, as he was inconsistent last season with 3.5 sacks. He had a combined 20. 5 the previous two seasons and appeared ready to make a huge impact. 

Hines-Allen led the league in sacks with 17.5 in 2023 and consequently received his pay day. However, the last two years, Hines-Allen also has some issues the past two seasons, as he recorded eight sacks apiece in each of the past two seasons.

Now, the duo needs to set the pace for the revamped defense under coordinator Anthony Campanile.

In his press conference, Walker took the initiative. 

It’s just taking my game to the next level,” said Walker.  “It just kind of helps put things in perspective for me to be able to just click into a different type of mindset from how I was going throughout the year. It really dawned on me that it’s just time to ramp things up, take it to the next level. . . . It’s helping everybody else on the team get better, while it’s helping me get better as well. It’s just pure dominance and everybody that plays in this league wants to be great.”

And the Jaguars can be great. 

The Jags’ defense raised their level of play last season, and GM James Gladstone obviously had made defense a priority. Last year, Gladstone took the initiative to move up in the draft by taking Travis Hunter to help solidify the secondary.

Will Gladstone make another draft-day demolition? 

There  previously was plenty of chatter that the Jags were interested in Eagles’ defensive tackle Jalen Carter, but now the emphasis has been shifted to disgruntled Giants’ defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

This Lawrence would be another welcome addition like the other Lawrence on the other side of the ball.

Gladstone has denied any discussions about Lawrence, as he can’t be involved with tampering. 

Giving up a No.1 pick for Lawrence probably would be an overplay, and Gladstone would need something back in return. Lawrence could be taken for a second-round pick. 

Jacksonville won’t have a pick until the 56th one, and Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter, Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter, and Tennessee edge rusher Joshua Josephs have been projected to be at the top of their list. The Jags will have 11 draft picks overall.

Extending Walker should be a telltale sign of things to come. It is up to him and Hines-Allen to take their games to the next level. 

They both have to make it perfectly clear.

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