Anonymous NFL executives, coaches and scouts view Jacksonville’s Foyesade Oluokun as the No. 10 off-ball linebacker in the league entering the 2024 season, according to polling conducted by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
Oluokun cracks the annual list after making the honorable mention category last summer, with at least one voter ranking him as highly as the NFL’s fifth-best linebacker this year.
“There are better cover [linebackers], but down in and down out, he’s been a really good player and cleans up a lot in the run game,” an NFL personnel head told Fowler about Oluokun. “Great with hands and shedding blocks.”
A sixth-round pick by Atlanta in 2018, Oluokun spent four seasons with the Falcons including two as their starting middle linebacker before signing with Jacksonville in 2022.
Oluokun led the NFL in total tackles during his final season with Atlanta in 2021, posting 192, and again in his first year with the Jaguars, with 184. He followed up last season by leading the league in solo tackles, recording 111.
In 34 games with Jacksonville, Oluokun has racked up 357 total tackles, 239 solo tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one interception which he returned for a touchdown, six defended passes and one forced fumble.
“Speed, athleticism, range, production,” an NFL personnel evaluator said about Oluokun. “We liked him a lot in the free agent market a few years back.”
Facing the final season of his three-year, $45 million free-agent deal with Jacksonville in 2024, Oluokun signed a three-year, $30 million extension with the Jaguars in March, tying him to the club through 2027.
Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr., edge rusher Joshua Hines-Allen and tight end Evan Engram were named among the top 10 players at their respective positions by ESPN’s polling of NFL personnel, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and safety Andre Cisco receiving honorable mentions.
