2024 Free Agency: Which Pass-Rushers Does PFF List As Jaguars Fits?

It would be a shock if the Jacksonville Jaguars don't trot out Josh Allen and Travon Walker as their Week 1 edge defenders, but the Jaguars still have work to do to improve their pass-rush depth.

The depth was a major question mark in 2023 even with Walker and Allen combining for 27.5 sacks. Now with No. 3 and No. 4 pass-rushers K'Lavon Chaisson and Dawuane Smoot set to be free agents, the need is somehow even greater. 

"Again, we felt we had Dawuane [Smoot] coming back off injury, we knew he was coming back. We drafted a young man that we had a vision for. We had Chaisson in the last year of his deal," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said last month. 

"Moreso looking back at during the season, what we could’ve done to upgrade the roster, are there moves we could’ve made? Once again, I don’t live in the past. I don’t live in regret. But we’ve got to continue to look at those things and you’re never done trying to make your team better and more competitive.”

So, which pass-rushers on the open market would make the most sense for the Jaguars to pursue? PFF listed two names to ponder: Minnesota Vikings pass-rusher Danielle Hunter and Atlanta Falcons pass-rusher Bud Dupree.

"Hunter has experience playing for Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, or he could shift back to more of a 4-3 base defense under new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, though Nielsen will also cater to his personnel as he did with the Atlanta defense in 2023," PFF said.

The Jaguars were linked to Hunter twice in 2023: during training camp and around the trade deadline, though the Jaguars ultimately stood pat and made a trade with the Vikings for guard Ezra Cleveland, with Jacksonville sending just a sixth-round pick in return.

As for Dupree, the former first-round pick spent the 2023 season with the Falcons and under the tutelage of new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. In 16 games last year, Dupree recorded 6.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss.

"Dupree could follow former Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen to his next stop in Jacksonville, adding a complementary piece to what will likely remain the duo of Josh Allen and Travon Walker off the edge. Dupree’s presence could enable Jacksonville to kick Walker inside on some pass-rush downs, an area he is clearly comfortable with and something that should already be happening more often," PFF said.