The Jaguars’ path at the trade deadline got a lot clearer after Sunday’s win over the Colts.
Jacksonville is sitting in a strong spot in the AFC South, with Indianapolis sliding, Tennessee at 1-7 and Houston not living up to expectations. But if the Jaguars want to do more than just hold the division lead, they’re going to need reinforcements.
That need became even more obvious after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton is done for the season.
“Sources: Jaguars standout DT DaVon Hamilton suffered a torn quad in Sunday's win over the Colts, and he's expected to be out for the season," Rapoport reported. "Hamilton will undergo more tests today, but a massive hole for Jacksonville.”
That injury leaves Jacksonville thin in the middle of its defensive line, and it comes at a bad time. The Jaguars were already tied to defensive tackle help before Hamilton went down, so the priority at the deadline now looks pretty straightforward.
The position to watch is DT, and the Jaguars may have to shop aggressively to fill it. One name to keep in mind is Philadelphia’s Moro Ojomo, who would bring quality as a rental even if the price is steep. There have also been rumors about Jalen Carter being available, though that kind of move could cost two first-round picks.
Ojomo is the more realistic target. The problem for Jacksonville is that there aren’t many strong defensive tackles on the market, and competition could push the price up fast.
Still, the need is hard to ignore now. Hamilton’s injury has left a major gap up front, and it’s hard to see the Jaguars going into the stretch run without adding help there before the November 10 trade deadline.
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