Former Utah standout Devin Lloyd drawing major praise for NFL readiness
It has been a pretty strong NFL debut for Devin Lloyd.
Lloyd has been an immediate weapon for the Jacksonville Jaguars defense as an off-ball linebacker, and he has folks buzzing about his ability. Pro Football Focus’ Mike Renner wrote of Lloyd that he hasn’t seen “a true off-ball linebacker come into the NFL this ready since Shaquille Leonard in (2018).”
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 30, 2022
Leonard was a second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. As a rookie, he had 163 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions in 15 starts. That earned him the AP Rookie of the Year honor.
Lloyd was a first-round pick of the Jags in the most recent NFL Draft. He turned 24 on Friday, so he’s already a bit more physically mature than you’d typically see of a rookie defender. But Lloyd’s athleticism has been on full display through the first three weeks. He’s shown tremendous closing speed, put up 11 tackles in his debut, and has interceptions in each of the last two weeks.
In the Jaguars’ 38-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers last weekend, Lloyd picked off former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert.
Jags rookie Devin Lloyd with a pick in back-to-back weeks
The INT of his old nemesis Justin Herbert here#ProUtes
pic.twitter.com/n2aDlnJFF6— Porter Larsen (@Larsen_ESPN) September 25, 2022
The Jaguars play Philadelphia on Sunday.