With the Jacksonville Jaguars 2024 season behind us, let’s take a look back at which players on the defensive side of the football received the highest season-long grades from Pro Football Focus.
But first, I always like to mention that while PFF’s grading system is certainly helpful when it comes to quantifying a player’s performance, it is not the be-all-end-all when it comes to evaluation. It is one metric and should be treated as such.
However, having said that, generally speaking and especially over a season-long sample size, if a player performs well, their PFF grade will reflect that.
Here is a look at PFF’s grading system to provide some context behind the numbers:
90.0+: Elite
80-89.9: High quality
70-79.9: Good
60-69.9: Above average
50-59.9: Average
40-49.9: Below average
39.9 or less: Poor
To see which players on offense received the highest grades this season, click here.
5. DL Arik Armstead
PFF grade: 68.7
Armstead would generate 36 pressures on the season, the third-most on the team. Among all pass rushers this season, Armstead would rank 32nd in PFF’s pass-rush win rate metric. Out of 127 defenders against the run, he ranked 41st in run-stop rate as well.
4. CB Jarrian Jones
PFF grade: 69.0
Playing from the nickel, Jones allowed a completion rate of 72% but limited yards after the catch, holding opponents to just over 10.0 yards per reception. He also had six pass breakups–a team high–one interception and quarterbacks had a passer rating of 86.6 when targeting him.
3. LB Devin Lloyd
PFF grade: 76.7
Lloyd made his presence felt near the line of scrimmage. He generated 10 pressures and two sacks as a blitzer and was a very reliable tackler, missing only five of his 111 attempts this season, which of course, led to him being a quality contributor in the run game, not only bringing ball carriers down, but filling gaps and shedding blockers.
2. S Andrew Wingard
PFF grade: 78.6
Wingard played just 216 snaps, all of which came from Week 13 and on, but he provided a steady and well-rounded presence. As a tackler, he made 15 of his 16 attempts, while in coverage, he allowed only two receptions on seven targets and had two pass breakups.
1. DE Josh Hines-Allen
PFF grade: 82.7
No surprise here. Hines-Allen totaled 63 pressures, which was among the most in all of football this season at his position group, and that included nine sacks, according to PFF’s metrics. He also ranked 16th among all defensive ends in pass rush win rate as well.
Honorable Mentions
LB Foyesade Oluokun: 68.5
DE Travon Walker: 68.2
IDL Jeremiah Ledbetter: 63.0
