With the trade deadline drawing closer, the Jaguars could decide their pass rush needs one more piece.
Jacksonville’s edge group has held up well enough through eight games, but there’s still a clear opening behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. The Jaguars sit 15th in pressure rate and 20th in sacks, solid numbers on paper, but not quite the kind of disruption you’d want from a team that looks like one of the AFC’s top contenders.
That’s why the conversation around a possible defensive end addition keeps coming back to the same question: will GM James Gladstone make a move?
Salary cap space and 2027 draft capital are part of the equation, and both figures will matter if Jacksonville decides to get aggressive before the deadline. With that in mind, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen pointed to three edge rushers who could make sense as targets.
Josh Sweat of the Cardinals is one name to watch. Bowen described him as: "A long, angular mover who can win with speed-to-power, Sweat had 12 sacks and 37 pressures in Arizona last season."
Yaya Diaby of the Bucs is another possibility. Bowen said: "Diaby is a powerful and physical edge rusher with the temperament to set the edge against the run. He has three sacks and six tackles for loss in 2026, and he had 40 or more pressures in each of his past two seasons."
The third option is Jermaine Johnson of the Titans. Bowen’s read on him was: "I don't see elite traits with Johnson, but he has the play strength and length to dent the pocket, and he will pick up second-reaction hits on the quarterback due to his effort level. Plus, Johnson will hammer the ball back inside when setting edges as a run defender."
In Other News...
Jaguars Trade Deadline Debate Comes Down To One Defensive Gamble
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Jaguars are weighing whether to make a defensive move that would change the look of their roster for the stretch run. The conversation has centered on a few notable names, including Moro Ojomo, Budda Baker, Jessie Bates and Christian Barmore, each bringing a different mix of upside, fit and financial complication. For Jacksonville, the appeal is obvious: help on defense is hard to find, and the market rarely offers clean solutions.
The challenge is deciding how aggressive to be when the price could include both draft capital and a contract commitment that reaches beyond this season. Baker and Bates would bring proven back-end stability, while Barmore and Ojomo offer a different kind of front-seven boost, but each path comes with tradeoffs the Jaguars have to weigh carefully. For now, it remains a debate rather than a decision, and the deadline will determine whether Jacksonville takes the gamble or stays put. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face A Brian Thomas Jr. Decision That Could Frustrate Fans
The trade deadline is creeping closer, and Brian Thomas Jr. has become one of the more interesting names on the Jaguars roster. Jacksonville had previously resisted the idea of moving the receiver, but his reduced role in the offense has changed the conversation enough that the team is now reportedly willing to listen if another club calls with an offer.
For a Jaguars team trying to balance present needs with long-term flexibility, the decision lands with general manager James Gladstone. Thomas still offers field-stretching ability, but his usage has dipped this season and his production has followed, leaving Jacksonville to weigh whether keeping him in place is worth more than turning him into future draft capital. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Trade Deadline Plan May Hinge On One Surprising Name
The trade deadline is starting to loom over Jacksonville, and the Jaguars suddenly find themselves in an unusual spot. Reports around the league have them expected to explore a move involving wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., even as the team has publicly pushed back on the idea that he is available. With the deadline approaching, the possibility of the Jaguars operating as both buyers and sellers has added another layer to an already fluid situation.
Thomas name is the one drawing the most attention because it would signal a real shift in how Jacksonville is viewing its roster. Sources suggest he has slipped down the depth chart, which could make him part of a larger effort to reshape the team and address other needs. For a Jaguars team trying to balance present-tense competitiveness with longer-term roster management, what happens here could say plenty about how aggressive they plan to be before the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]