After joining Jacksonville in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on April 26, Jalen McLeod intends to offer an aspect the Jaguars mostly lacked in the 2024 NFL season.
“I see myself rushing the passer,” McLeod added. “I have lived my entire life doing it. That’s what I’ll keep doing. However, I will comply with their request if they ask me to do anything different. You can be sure of it. I will be the most successful person who does it.
Last season, Jacksonville let up 29 touchdown passes against just six interceptions, which led the NFL in passing yards.
With 32 sacks in 2024, the Jaguars were ranked 28th out of 32 NFL teams. Josh Hines-Allen, a former star at Abbeville High School, and Travon Walker, Jacksonville’s defensive ends, combined for 18.5 sacks. Ventrell Miller and Foyesade Oluokun, the anticipated starters at outside linebacker, combined for one sack in 2024, while no other player had more than three.
After a 4-13 showing last season, Jacksonville cleaned house. The new coaching staff of Liam Coen features Anthony Campanile, a first-time defensive coordinator with an expertise in a variety of schemes, while general manager James Gladstone chose diverse defensive players in his first selection.
Gladstone was drawn to McLeod at Pick No. 194 because of it.
During his post-draft news conference, Gladstone stated, “I think you guys can see this across a lot of the players that we selected, especially on the defensive side of the ball.” But for us, the adaptability is what really sticks out, and we talk about being intangibly rich, of course.He has an incredible sense of urgency, playfulness, and competitiveness. When he went to the Senior Bowl, he only stood up off the ball, despite the fact that one of his best qualities is being moved from one spot to another and offering a spark, a change of pace, and a change of pace. He was another player who was used across the defensive front at Auburn. He signed up for the Senior Bowl just to do that, and he wasn’t thinking, “Hey, I don’t get to showcase what so many would call my super-power.”However, since I enjoy this sport and being outside on the grass, I will still do this.
Before moving to Auburn, where he started two seasons as the starting buck, a hybrid defensive end/linebacker, McLeod played outside linebacker at Appalachian State.
According to McLeod, “the NFL is all about adapting, and I do that well.” It will take me a little while, but it will go by quickly. What they set down, I pick up. I will learn since I am quick to absorb what others write down. I’ll get used to the game’s tempo. I’ll adapt to everything that happens around me, and if I can, I’ll strive to have an instant influence.
McLeod had 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks in three seasons at Appalachian State before recording 25 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks with the Tigers.
