The Jaguars’ biggest training camp fight might not be at the top of the depth chart. It’s underneath it.
Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen are locked in as Jacksonville’s starting defensive ends in 2026 and beyond, but the real scramble begins after that. The top backup spots are up for grabs, and that competition could shape how the defense holds up over the season.
That matters because Dawuane Smoot and Emmanuel Ogbah handled a massive load a year ago, combining for 773 snaps. Injuries to Walker helped drive that total, but the number still shows just how much production Jacksonville has to replace.
The Jaguars aren’t just looking for bodies. They need dependable edge players who can hold up when the starters need a break or when injuries hit again.
The early favorite for the No. 3 defensive end job appears to be Danny Striggow. The second-year player arrived as an undrafted free agent and earned a roster spot last summer because he could help on special teams and because he flashed enough at defensive end during camp and the preseason to stick. His value starts with his run defense, and that’s a big reason he looks like the strongest bet to claim the key backup role.
B.J. Green is in the mix too.
Like Striggow, he entered the league as an undrafted free agent last year, and his defensive role grew as the season went on. Green brings a different kind of game, winning more with speed and burst than with brute force.
If he’s going to push for a bigger role, his next step has to come against the run.
Then there are the rookies. Wesley Williams was the first of the Jaguars’ two drafted defensive ends, and Jacksonville moved up in the fourth round to get the Duke product. The team has praised him in several settings, and his game is expected to show up even more clearly once pads come on and the physical work starts.
Durfee, taken in the seventh round in April, looks like the kind of late pick that can outplay his draft slot. He has athletic upside and pass-rush traits that make him worth watching, especially for someone selected that late. Campanile has also praised his ability to defend the run while bringing the athletic profile of a 3-4 outside linebacker.
That run-defense piece is the key to all of this. In Anthony Campanile’s scheme, defensive ends have to do more than rush the passer.
They have to hold up on early downs, and that’s part of what helped Striggow carve out a bigger role last season. It also fits with why Jacksonville finished with the No. 1 run defense in the NFL.
Striggow’s ability there gives him a real edge in this battle.
Williams already comes in as a strong edge-setter, and Durfee could end up seeing more snaps than expected if the Jaguars trust him to handle run responsibilities. If either rookie proves reliable on early downs, that opens the door for more playing time right away. Green, meanwhile, may have the biggest defensive leap to make in that area, even if the mindset is there.
Jacksonville clearly chose a different direction this year. Instead of leaning on veteran depth behind Walker and Hines-Allen, the Jaguars are betting on a younger, cheaper group. That approach lines up with what happened last season, when the defense improved as the younger players began to take snaps from Smoot and Ogbah.
No one is pretending the backups matter as much as Walker or Hines-Allen. But they matter plenty. The Jaguars already saw how injuries can strain a pass rush, and this camp battle is about making sure that doesn’t become the story again.
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