Jaguars GM Trent Baalke Informs $30M Defensive Star He Is Being Traded — Agents Now Exploring Next Team Options

Jacksonville, Florida – January 24, 2026

Change is beginning to take shape in Jacksonville.

After a 2025 season that exposed ongoing inconsistencies on the defensive side of the ball, the Jaguars have entered the 2026 offseason facing difficult personnel decisions — particularly within the front seven, where age, cap pressure, and long-term roster balance are now under the microscope. According to league sources, one of the team’s highest-paid defensive veterans has been formally informed that his future with the organization is under evaluation. That player is Foye Oluokun.

Oluokun, the Jaguars’ veteran linebacker and former defensive centerpiece, is carrying a cap hit north of $30 million into the 2026 season — one of the largest figures on the roster. While the contract once reflected his value as a tackling machine and defensive leader, front offices around the league would now be compelled to scrutinize that number given Jacksonville’s evolving defensive priorities.

The warning signs emerged throughout the 2025 campaign. Oluokun remained productive as a run defender, but showed signs of decline in coverage range and lateral explosiveness — areas critical to modern linebacker play. As the season progressed, the Jaguars increasingly leaned on younger talent, with Devin Lloyd clearly establishing himself as the defensive nucleus at linebacker. Advanced metrics placed Oluokun closer to league-average efficiency, a notable shift from his earlier Pro Bowl-caliber impact.

From a financial standpoint, the situation is complex. Without a restructure, moving on from Oluokun — via trade or release — would free substantial cap space at a pivotal moment for Jacksonville. With the Jaguars prioritizing speed, versatility, and youth across the front seven, cap flexibility has become essential to reshaping the defense around its emerging core.

Internally, the Jaguars believe the timing may be unavoidable. Lloyd is firmly entrenched as LB1, and the coaching staff is increasingly focused on deploying faster, more adaptable linebacker profiles to match today’s pass-heavy NFL. Yardbarker and multiple league analysts have already identified Oluokun as a potential cap-casualty candidate should negotiations fail to produce a team-friendly adjustment.

Sources indicate that Oluokun’s representatives have begun quietly surveying the market, gauging interest from teams seeking veteran linebacker leadership and stability. While no trade is imminent, league executives expect discussions to accelerate as the offseason progresses and teams reassess defensive depth and cap allocations.

For Jacksonville, this moment is not a dismissal of Oluokun’s impact, but a reflection of where the roster must go next. He has been a leader, a tone-setter, and a statistical standout during his time with the Jaguars. But in today’s NFL, contracts are evaluated through the lens of age, cap efficiency, and schematic fit — and as Trent Baalke continues shaping the Jaguars for sustained contention, even cornerstone veterans are not immune when the future is on the line.