The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense has its stars, but the real swing pieces heading into training camp are the players who can change the shape of the unit without carrying the same spotlight. For 2026, that conversation starts with linebacker Ventrell Miller and defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro.
Miller looks like the clearest answer to the question Jacksonville is facing after losing Devin Lloyd in free agency. Lloyd’s breakout season earned him second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, and replacing that kind of production is no small task. Still, Miller is the name that keeps coming up as the player most likely to absorb that responsibility.
He has mostly worked in a rotational role so far, but his camp performance last year stood out, and he has improved every season. If 2026 turns into the breakout year Jacksonville is hoping for, the Jaguars may not feel the loss of Lloyd as sharply as some expect.
Miller has already shown he can handle the run well, and even in limited snaps last season, he proved he could force turnovers. If that growth continues, he could end up lifting the whole defense with him.
Up front, the Jaguars need a different kind of jolt. Jacksonville has to create more consistent interior pressure, especially after struggling to do that down the stretch in 2025. That’s where Orhorhoro enters the picture.
The Jaguars brought him in to help change the pass-rush equation from the inside. Last season with Atlanta, he was mostly used on passing downs and still managed 30 pressures and four sacks. Among 121 defensive tackles, he finished tied for 51st in PFF’s pass rush productivity metric.
That kind of push matters because pressure from the interior can wreck a play before it ever has a chance to develop. If Orhorhoro gives Jacksonville more of that kind of disruption in 2026, it could make a real difference for a defense looking for steadier production from the tackle spot.
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Jaguars Offensive Line Battle Could Force A Surprise Before Camp
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What makes the situation interesting is how many linemen Jacksonville may decide to carry once camp sorting begins. The team is expected to keep about 10 blockers, which is a little heavier than the usual approach, and that leaves a couple of familiar names in a tricky spot as the Jaguars weigh roster security against versatility and possible trade value. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Training Camp Is Putting Serious Pressure On This Draft Class
Training camp has a way of turning draft classes into a live audit, and for the Jaguars 2023 group, the pressure is already plain. Jacksonville used a franchise-record 13 picks that spring, and only seven players from that class remain on the roster, which makes every rep feel a little more loaded as the team gets ready to sort out its depth chart. Ventrell Miller is among the more interesting names in the group because he is in the mix for a real role at linebacker, with the staff still sorting through who can handle the job next to Foyesade Oluokun.
Millers situation carries some real weight because this could be the season where he either breaks through as part of the defenses core or settles in as a reserve with his long-term outlook still cloudy. Yasir Abdullah is in an even more immediate squeeze, since he has to prove he belongs on the roster at all after an underwhelming start to his pro career. The Jaguars still need pass-rush help, but camp will decide whether these former draft investments are becoming answers or just names on a crowded roster. [Read more 🡒]