With the NFL trade deadline closing in, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in the kind of spot that invites all sorts of calls and conversations. Most of the attention around them will naturally land on Brian Thomas Jr. and on whether the Jaguars try to bolster the defensive side of the ball. But there’s another angle worth watching: could Jacksonville actually move a couple of its own pieces?
That would be a surprise, especially with the Jaguars sitting as the clear favorites in the AFC South and looking like a real contender in a wide-open AFC. Still, if the front office wants to use a roster piece or two to build trade ammunition for help on the defensive line or in the secondary, the idea has some logic to it.
One of the more interesting names is right guard Ezra Cleveland. Trading away a starting offensive lineman right after losing left tackle Anton Harrison for the year would be a jolt, which is exactly why it fits the surprise-trade label. Even so, there’s a case for Jacksonville to think about dealing him while he still has value.
Cleveland is entering his final 11 regular-season games under contract, and he has not exactly looked like a clear extension candidate beyond this season. That makes the decision point pretty straightforward: move him now and get something back, or risk ending up with only the possibility of a compensatory pick after free agency next year. In the short term, the Jaguars also have internal answers.
Wyatt Milum, who is currently the swing tackle, is more guard than tackle. Daniel Faalele fits that same description as a backup lineman.
Then there’s Patrick Mekari, whose return from injured reserve is coming. Put that together, and Jacksonville could still piece together workable offensive line depth without Cleveland while using whatever return they get to chase help elsewhere.
It could also give them a chance to package picks for defensive depth or even a true swing tackle option.
Jourdan Lewis is the other name that makes some sense, even if it would be a tough sell emotionally. He has been a steady presence since signing with the Jaguars in free agency last March, and teams are always hunting for cornerback help this time of year. Lewis brings experience, production, and a track record of making plays.
The complication is obvious: Jacksonville needs cornerback help too. But the argument for a move is that Lewis is a nickel corner, and the Jaguars may be able to survive without his spot if it helps them fix a bigger issue outside. Jarrian Jones has been better in the slot than he has on the perimeter, and he could bring more speed at nickel than Lewis does right now.
For that to work, the Jaguars would need Montaric Brown to bounce back on the outside or would have to add another outside cornerback. Even so, the path exists. And because Lewis is also unlikely to be on the roster beyond this season, a trade could make more sense as a long-term play than a short-term sacrifice.
It would be difficult to move a leader and a captain, but under the right circumstances, it’s something Jacksonville should at least weigh.
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For Jacksonville, the idea of another team even kicking the tires on Thomas is the kind of development that gets attention fast. The Jaguars have every reason to value a young receiver with his kind of upside, but the Chiefs interest underscores how quickly the deadline can turn a player into a point of leverage, and how many questions can surface before a team has to decide whether to listen or hold firm. [Read more 🡒]