In one Monday swing, the Jaguars made it clear they’re not thinking small.
Jacksonville, sitting on a comfortable AFC South lead, went out and attacked the trade deadline with three defensive additions that change the look of the roster right away. The headliner was a deal for Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis, a move that cost the Jaguars a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick. They also landed Davon Godchaux from the Saints and Jessie Bates from the Falcons, giving the defense a very different feel heading into the stretch run.
The most dramatic shift comes up front. With DaVon Hamilton lost for the season, Davis and Godchaux give Jacksonville help on the interior and then some.
Davis now projects as the top defensive lineman on the depth chart, with Godchaux behind him. Arik Armstead and Ruke Orhorhoro line up at the other defensive tackle spot, while Josh Hines-Allen and Bryan Thomas Jr. are listed at one edge position and Travon Walker and Danny Striggow at the other.
The new pieces also ripple through the rest of the front seven. Foyesade Oluokun and Jahlani Tavai are the first-team inside linebackers, with Ventrell Miller and Branson Combs next up, and Dennis Gardeck with Jalen McLeod in the third linebacker role.
The secondary got its own jolt, too. Bates steps into a safety room that needed help after Eric Murray went down with a season-ending elbow injury.
He is listed as the starter alongside Antonio Johnson, with Rayaun Lane III and Jalen Huskey behind them. At corner, Travis Hunter and Montaric Brown are on the first unit, with Jourdan Lewis and Jarrian Jones backing them up.
Jacksonville gave up five total draft picks to make the three deals, including three selections between the first and second rounds. The Eagles got the Jaguars’ 2027 first-rounder and 2029 second-rounder for Davis.
The Saints received a 2028 sixth-round pick for Godchaux. The Falcons got a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick for Bates.
For a team already leaning on Trevor Lawrence and an offense that has carried plenty of the load, the message from Jacksonville was unmistakable: the Jaguars are trying to turn a division lead into something much bigger.
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Seahawks Just Added A Big Name To Fix Their Run Game
The trade market has become one of the more active parts of the NFL calendar in 2024, and Jacksonville has already been part of the movement. The Jaguars have added defensive help through deals for Jordan Davis, Jessie Bates III and Davon Godchaux, a clear sign that the front office has not been shy about trying to patch holes while the season is still in motion.
Around the league, the pace has only picked up as the deadline approaches, with 13 in-season trades already completed. Baltimore brought in Jacoby Brissett, Chicago landed Jeffery Simmons and Seattle addressed its own issues by getting guard Quenton Nelson, another reminder that teams are willing to pay for immediate help when they think a roster can still be pushed forward. For Jacksonville, the bigger question is whether its own early moves are enough, or whether the Jaguars will keep working the phones before the market closes. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Pass Rush Search May Not Be Over After Mondays Moves
The Jaguars spent Monday reshaping their roster with three trades, but their work on the pass rush may not be finished. Before those moves, Jacksonville reportedly made a significant offer for Jets defensive end Will McDonald IV, a sign the front office was still looking for another edge presence even as it addressed other needs elsewhere.
McDonald has been open about wanting a change of scenery after seeing reduced playing time, but New York has so far held firm. The Jets still believe in the former first-round picks talent and development, and with McDonald under contract through 2026 plus a fifth-year option for 2027, any pursuit would likely have to become more serious before this one moves any closer to the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Pat McAfee Thinks The Jaguars Finally Look Like Real Contenders
The Jaguars spent the trade deadline making a clear push to strengthen their defense, adding Jessie Bates III and Jordan Davis in moves aimed at raising the ceiling of a roster that already had playoff ambitions. The additions have given the team a different look on paper, and Jacksonville is now working to fold Bates into the lineup as quickly as possible.
Pat McAfee was among those who came away encouraged by the way the Jaguars approached the deadline, seeing the roster upgrades as the kind of moves contenders make when they believe a bigger run is possible. The real test comes immediately, with the Jaguars preparing for Tennessee and the question now is how quickly the new pieces can translate that optimism into something more tangible on the field. [Read more 🡒]