Jaguars Face Key Challenge at Defensive Tackle Ahead of Minicamp

The Jacksonville Jaguars are gearing up for their mandatory minicamp, scheduled from June 9 to June 11, marking a pivotal moment in the NFL offseason before the training camp kicks off later in July. As the team progresses through organized team activities (OTAs), insights into the depth chart are becoming clearer, although uncertainties still linger within each position group, which is typical for this time of year. Final roster decisions and playing time will only be determined during training camp and the preseason.

In this minicamp preview, we turn our attention to a crucial question facing the Jaguars: Can the team enhance its pass rush from the interior defensive line? Last season, the Jaguars' defensive tackles struggled to maintain effective pressure late in the year. From Weeks 15 to 18, Armstead led the unit with just five pressures, placing him tied for 57th among all defensive tackles. Meanwhile, Matt Dickerson recorded the highest pass rush win rate on the team but still ranked a lowly 75th across the league, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).

As a whole, the Jaguars' defense finished 18th in pressure rate and 27th in sacks during the 2025 season. The recent addition of Ruke Orhorhoro is expected to invigorate the defensive line; he produced 30 pressures and four sacks last season and ranked tied for 51st in PFF's pass rush productivity metric among 121 defensive tackles. Consistency from Arik Armstead will also be vital for the Jaguars, while DaVon Hamilton offers a solid interior presence and Albert Regis has shown promise as a run defender.

A strong interior push can disrupt offensive plays, benefiting the entire defense. If the Jaguars can ramp up their interior pressure this season, it could significantly elevate the overall performance of the defense, especially in Year 2 under defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.