In the unforgiving world of the NFL, some players crumble when faced with rejection. Others let it fuel them. On Sunday in San Francisco, Devin Lloyd looked every bit like a man on fire.
The Jaguars’ decision not to pick up Lloyd’s fifth-year option earlier this year felt like a blunt reminder: prove it, or prepare to move on. Instead of sulking, the former Utah Utes star has responded with the best football of his young career. Against the San Francisco 49ers, he authored the kind of performance that tilts games and reshapes narratives.
The Jaguars’ defense has become relentless, almost predatory. They finished 2024 with just nine takeaways. Four weeks into 2025, they already have 13. Lloyd has been at the center of it. “We’re very opportunistic,” he said. “We have a lot of ball hawks on the defense and the ball’s always on our mind. It starts upfront and I think everybody just capitalized on the opportunities that we had.”
Devin Lloyd wearing number 0 again means a lot to him. He’s playing like the Devin Lloyd we saw at Utah. Look good, feel good. Feel good, play good. pic.twitter.com/JTnCJldbli
— Jag Jaw (@jagjaww) September 25, 2025
Midway through the game, he snatched his second interception after defensive tackle Maason Smith tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage. Lloyd read it perfectly. “I just had a good feel for where he was trying to go with the ball and luckily he threw it and it was right there. It was an easy catch.”
This was more than another productive afternoon. It was a statement. Lloyd is proving himself not only as one of the NFL’s most improved players but also as the emotional driver of Jacksonville’s defense. “Yes, I’m playing good football,” he admitted. “I think as a team we’re all playing good football and ultimately I’m just focused on playing my best for the team so we can win. This was complimentary ball and everybody was playing together throughout the whole game.”
The echoes of his rookie year remain with the Defensive Rookie of the Month award and PFWA All-Rookie Team honors, but the growth since then is undeniable. The difference is a chip on his shoulder, sharpened by a front office decision that may have closed one door but has opened another.
If this is what Devin Lloyd looks like in a contract year, then the rest of the NFL has been put on notice. Jacksonville’s gamble may have lit a fire, and Lloyd is making sure it burns brightly.
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