Telvin Smith on Jaguars Trade Rumors: 'I'm Never Leaving...Duval Til I Die'

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith missed the voluntary portion of offseason workouts, but he put fans at ease Monday night when he discussed his commitment to the organization.

"Understand this, I never left Duval," Smith said on Instagram Live, referring to the county home to Jacksonville (h/t Herbie Teope of NFL.com). "I'm never leaving Duval; it's Duval til we die. You understand me? Y'all seen trade rumors and stuff. Y'all seen me go anywhere? Exactly. Y'all seen the rumors go somewhere, but y'all ain't seen me go nowhere cause I ain't going nowhere. You understand me?"

"Duval til we die" became a rallying cry for the Jaguars during the 2017 season, including in a hype video made for the playoffs:

It seems Smith still reps the county and home of the team where he has played his entire career.

However, it might not necessarily be up to him where he continues his career.

The 28-year-old signed a four-year extension in 2017 that keeps him under team control through 2021, but the team has shown interest in making a move.

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, teams were "monitoring" Smith as a potential trade target leading up to the draft.

General manager Dave Caldwell also refused to confirm the linebacker would stay with the team in 2019.

"We'll see," he said in April, per Phillip Heilman of the Florida Times-Union. "I don't want to get into hypotheticals."

A trade after June 1 could also save the team $9.75 million in cap room for 2019, per Spotrac.

Smith is a key part of the Jaguars defense, totaling over 100 tackles in all five years of his career including a personal-best 134 in 2018. It seems he wants to remain with the team, but it is ultimately up to the front office.