Indianapolis Colts fans would probably enjoy one very specific Jaguars move if it ever came to life.
That’s because a suggested Jacksonville addition would not exactly look like a defensive upgrade. In a recent Bleacher Report piece laying out one trade each team could make, Moe Moton floated the Jaguars as a landing spot for Miami Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson. It’s only an idea, not a report that something is actually brewing, but from an Indianapolis perspective, it’s the kind of idea worth rooting for.
The Colts spent last season chasing both Jacksonville and Houston in the AFC South, and they do not want that race to play out the same way again if they’re going to get back to the playoffs. Houston could be even stronger after its offseason work, while Jacksonville has already lost some pieces.
One of them was linebacker Devin Lloyd, who left in free agency and signed with the Carolina Panthers. The replacements in Jacksonville don’t look especially daunting, and adding Dodson would hardly change that.
Moton described Dodson this way: "After three seasons in a backup role, Dodson has been a productive starter with the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins," but that does not tell the full story. Dodson was mostly a reserve in Buffalo until injuries ahead of him opened the door in 2023.
He took advantage of that chance, grading very well in his starts that season according to Pro Football Focus. That showing helped him land in Seattle, where the Seahawks believed he could grow into a long-term starter.
That bet did not pay off. Dodson struggled in Mike Macdonald’s scheme, and Seattle grew frustrated enough to release him during the 2024 bye week. The Seahawks defense improved right after that move.
In Miami, Dodson has flashed as a pass rusher at times, but his run defense has been uneven and his coverage has been hit-or-miss. The bigger picture is pretty clear: there was a reason he spent so long in a backup role with the Bills, and his time since leaving Buffalo has backed that up.
For Colts fans, though, that’s all part of the appeal. If Jacksonville really did bring in Dodson, it would not make the Jaguars defense better, and that would be good news for Shane Steichen and Daniel Jones.
Even with a pile of injuries last season, Indianapolis stayed in the playoff hunt until late in the year. The Colts missed out because Jacksonville and Houston were better. If either of those teams is going to slip, a move like adding Tyrel Dodson would be a pretty good place to start.
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