You didn’t have to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars play for very long this season to realize inside linebacker Devin Lloyd really is that dude — and the NFL All-Pro is about to cash out in free agency.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox thinks one team who should make a big play for Lloyd is the Washington Commanders, who should be one of the main teams in the Lloyd sweepstakes this offseason.
Knox has Lloyd ranked as No. 7 in the 2026 cycle in his latest Top 50 free agent rankings, with a projected 3-year, $51 million contract.
“Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd never quite played up to his draft status before the 2025 season,” Knox wrote. “However, the 2022 first-round pick certainly made the most of his contract year. Despite missing time with a calf injury, Lloyd racked up 81 tackles, 1.5 sacks, seven passes defended, 14 quarterback pressures, and five interceptions, while allowing an opposing passer rating of only 56.4 in coverage … Teams will have to determine how much of Lloyd’s 2025 breakout campaign was the result of contract motivation.”
Concerns Over Lloyd’s Age Could Slash Price
Concerns about Lloyd’s motivation aren’t really fair after he just helped the Jaguars orchestrate a turnaround from 4-13 in 2024 to 13-4 in 2025 before a heartbreaking playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Round.
What are valid are some concerns about Lloyd’s age. He’ll turn 28 years old in September and teams are loathe to give anyone but quarterbacks and offensive linemen contracts that extend into their 30s.
The Commanders might use that as leverage and sweeten the pot for Lloyd in the short team with something along the lines of a 2-year, $38 million contract.
At $19 million per year, that would make him the No. 3 highest paid player at his position behind San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner ($21 million) and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith ($20 million).
Commanders Might Stick With Wagner
While getting Lloyd would be a luxury, it’s one the Commanders might not be able to afford if only because they have so many other positions that need upgrades.
At inside linebacker, if we look past age, they might have as much of a steady presence at the position as anywhere on the roster with veteran Bobby Wagner.
Wagner, 35 years old, became just the third player in NFL history with 2,000 career tackles after posting 5 tackles in the win over the Eagles to put him exactly at the 2,000 mark for his career.
Wagner, who will turn 36 years old in June, is an 11-time NFL All-Pro who just finished his 14th season. It means questions about his future were front and center following the season finale.
“Bobby Wagner told reporters he has ‘not thought about anything beyond today’ when asked about his playing future,” The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala wrote on X.
Wagner played this season on a 1-year, $9 million contract, his second season with the Commanders and his second consecutive 1-year contract.
While Wagner might want to play coy about his future, there’s little chance he would retire just 60 tackles away from breaking Lewis’ NFL career record. Wagner finished 2025 with 162 tackles — his 14th consecutive season with at least 100 tackles.
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