I don’t blame the Duval Devout and the sports media world for focusing on the Jacksonville Jaguars brand new toy, Travis Hunter, and his role in the defensive secondary. The blockbuster trade to acquire him on draft night, paired with the veterans Jourdan Lewis and Eric Murray have augmented a secondary that features Tyson Campbell, Jarrian Jones, and Darnell Savage to a whole new level on paper.

While those who are starting are all but penciled in the defensive backfield with training camp rapidly approaching, the linebackers and defensive line are a much bigger mystery.

There are three players who are a lock in the front seven as starters. Edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker as well as linebacker and defensive team captain Foye Oluokun have become staples of this squad over the past three seasons.

Considering the Jaguars didn’t draft any defensive tackles in the draft or aquire any in free agency so far, it makes sense also to pencil in two second-year Jaguars in 11-year veteran Arik Armstead and NFL sophomore Maason Smith to be main contributors with rotational support from Jags mainstay DaVon Hamilton, league sophomore Jordan Jefferson with others battling for a roster spot.

However, what defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile does with edge rusher depth and the outside linebackers is still anybody’s guess. The other incumbent linebackers Devin Lloyd, Chad Muma, and Ventrell Miller haven’t necessarily performed badly. However, Muma and Miller are both heading into their fourth seasons — it’s time for them to impress the organization if they are hoping to play into a second contract. That is further evidenced by Jacksonville having drafted Jack Kiser and Jalen McLeod while landing Dennis Gardeck from Arizona. This coming camp will be a competition to impress the new coaching staff.

Surely some out there are seeing McLeod’s name listed above as a linebacker and saying, “But he’s an edge rusher”. This is a valid question. It could end with the fact that he is listed as a linebacker on the Jags roster, but that explanation is somewhat empty. It must also be considered that former Miami Dolphin defensive end Emmaual Ogbah and one of the most prolific pass rushers in Jacksonville history Dawuane Smoot have both also recently joined the team to rotate out Hines-Allen and Walker. With the way the Jaguars favor multi-talented players, McLeod is the latest in a line of guys who could fill in more than one place as either a linebacker or a defensive end. However, with as crowded as the edge rusher position is on the depth chart, it seems most logical to put McLeod down as a linebacker heading into training camp.

When will the Jags solve the mystery of the defensive front and its definitive starting seven? Don’t expect to fully know the answer until some time in August.