The Jacksonville Jaguars have put themselves in a strong spot through six games, but their bye week arrives with a clear assignment: fix the secondary before it becomes the thing that drags them down.
At 4-2 and sitting atop the AFC South, Liam Coen’s team has checked a lot of boxes early. The Jaguars have leaned on a physical rushing attack, and their defense has been tough to crack on the ground.
Opponents are averaging about 72 rushing yards per game, and Jacksonville is giving up just 17.3 points per contest. That’s the profile of a team that can win in different ways.
But the passing game is another story. The Jaguars have allowed an average of 283 yards through the air over six games, and that problem was on full display in their 34-31 loss to Houston in London. When teams are willing to throw, Jacksonville hasn’t always had the answers.
That’s why the move worth serious attention during the Week 7 bye is a trade for Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker.
Baker fits the kind of addition a defense like this can use. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler with experience in multiple defensive systems, and he brings the kind of physicality and communication that can steady a back end. Jacksonville needs a safety who can clean up coverage assignments, direct traffic, and help keep explosive plays from turning into back-breakers.
The Jaguars’ secondary has also had to deal with injuries, with Caleb Ransaw and Antonio Johnson both banged up. That thins out the rotation and makes the coverage burden heavier on everyone else. The bye gives those players time to heal, but it also gives general manager James Gladstone a chance to look outward for help.
A package built around a 2027 third-round pick would be the starting point to get something done. Baker has the résumé to justify that kind of discussion.
He can tackle, he can read the game quickly, and he can attack downhill. Through six games, Arizona’s official stats show he has 3.5 sacks and one interception, which underlines his ability to affect plays in more than one way.
There is a catch, though. Baker has not been perfect in coverage, and Jacksonville should not view him as a cure-all. The value here is in what he adds to the structure of the defense, not in pretending he solves every issue by himself.
There’s also no guarantee Arizona would be willing to move him. Baker has already made his commitment to the Cardinals clear after previous contract uncertainty, so the Jaguars would have to present a real incentive, not just a logical case.
Still, the upside is obvious. A more experienced safety could help the Jaguars disguise coverages better, rotate after the snap, and give the cornerbacks more support when offenses try to isolate them. That kind of stability can also make life easier for Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker up front, since tighter coverage forces quarterbacks to hold the ball longer.
It could help Travis Hunter, too. His two-way workload already asks plenty of him, and a more reliable secondary would give Jacksonville more room to manage his defensive snaps.
The Jaguars do not need to tear apart what’s working. Their run defense has been a strength.
What they need is a piece that helps the pass defense match it. If Baker becomes available at a reasonable price, Jacksonville should make the call.
In Other News...
Jaguars Are Offering Fans A Permanent Place At The New Stadium
A new part of the Jaguars stadium plans is aimed less at game days than at memory. The team is partnering with Eternal Fan on the 904Ever Club, a fan memorial that will sit outside the new stadium now scheduled to open before the 2028 NFL season, giving supporters a permanent place tied to the franchises future home.
The concept includes private and shared spaces where fans can store memorabilia, with membership tiers set at $904, $2,904 and $5,904. Eternal Fan will handle construction, operations and revenue for the memorial, while the Jaguars will collect fees for the use of their marks and stadium grounds, a reminder that this project is as much about business as it is about sentiment. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Bye Week Puts One Crucial Roster Decision Under The Microscope
The Jaguars 4-2 start has bought them something every NFL team covets in mid-October: time. With the Week 7 bye here, Jacksonville can step back and sort through a defense that has been tested by injuries and uneven play in the secondary, while also taking a hard look at how to get Travis Hunter more involved on offense after he has flashed the kind of potential that makes him hard to ignore.
The same pause also gives the front office and coaching staff a chance to reassess the wide receiver rotation, where Brian Thomas Jr.s playing time has trailed off. Those conversations matter now because the bye week is one of the few windows to make meaningful adjustments before the trade deadline, and Jacksonville has a few roster questions that could shape the rest of its season. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Trade Deadline Push May Hinge On One Defensive Decision
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Khalil Mack is the headline name, but the discussion does not stop there, with Tuli Tuipulotu, Will McDonald IV, Yaya Diaby and Josh Uche all getting a look as possible answers if Jacksonville decides to act. Each comes with a different mix of recent production and contract considerations, and that is what makes the decision tricky for a front office trying to balance urgency with cost. The Jaguars do not need every option on the board, just the one that best matches how aggressive they want to be before the deadline closes. [Read more 🡒]