Which Falcons Defensive Free Agents Could Follow Ryan Nielsen to the Jaguars?

The Atlanta Falcons have several defenders set to hit free agency -- could any join Ryan Nielsen in Jacksonville?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to undergo a dramatic change on defense. 

After two years under the defensive ecosystem of former coordinator Mike Caldwell, the Jaguars are shifting toward new philosophies and strategies under Ryan Nielsen.

And with those new philosophies comes a shift in what the Jaguars may or may not look for in each position group. The best way to determine what kind of players may fit with the new Jaguars defense is to look at Nielsen's past unit. 

So, which pending free agents from Nielsen's Atlanta Falcons defense could fit in Jacksonville? We review below.

Jeff Okudah 

There is a real chance the Jaguars need to restock the cornerback room following the hiring of Nielsen. Nielsen ran as much man coverage and press coverage as any coordinator in football in 2023, and the Jaguars need to add corners who can live on an island and play such a style. Okudah, a former top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, could be such a player. 

Okudah won't break the bank as a free agent, so he could realistically be signed as depth and as a potential spot starter down the road. Adding him could round out the outside cornerback group and eliminate one short-term need ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. According to PFF, Okudah allowed a 52.4% completion rate in man coverage last year, which is a better number than every Jaguars cornerback but Montaric Brown. 

Calais Campbell 

There might not be a player who makes more sense on this list than Calais Campbell. Not only do the Jaguars need another leadership voice along the defensive line, but Campbell is someone who considered signing with the Jaguars a year ago. With Nielsen now in tow, could Campbell make another consideration to return to Jacksonville? 

You can also add in the fact that Campbell is the exact type of player Nielsen looks for in an edge defender. He likes big, long and powerful defensive ends who can set the edge and help the defense play with a light box, and Campbell is exactly that. He had the best win-rate and most pressures among all Falcons' pass-rushers last year and is still a plus run-defender. He could be big for the development of Travon Walker, too, considering the similarities between the two.

Bud Dupree 

The Jaguars need to improve their edge depth in 2024 and that could be hard to do early in the NFL Draft considering the needs along the offensive and defensive line and elsewhere. That could mean the Jaguars go for the route of an inexpensive but productive veteran, which would fit Bud Dupree to a tee.

Dupree didn't have good numbers in terms of pressures (No. 56) or win-rate (No. 96) in 2023, but he was more productive and efficient than Dawuane Smoot or K'Lavon Chaisson. Nielsen has proven he can scheme him into production considering his 6.5 sacks, so the Jaguars could do worse with the No. 3 or No. 4 edge spot.

Kentavius Street

It was hardly a surprise to see the Falcons add Kentavius Street last year considering his and Nielsen's connection. Nielsen was his position coach for his first three seasons at NC State and played a big part in him becoming a fourth-round pick. Then, Street had a career-high 3.5 sacks in 2022 with the New Orleans Saints while under Nielsen's tutelage. 

Street isn't a star pass-rusher who will push Josh Allen or Travon Walker for snaps, but he could fill out the bottom of the team's edge rotation. Nielsen knows what he does well and exactly how he fits into the defense, and the Jaguars just so happen have a need for backup pass-rushers.