The Jaguars were busy at the deadline, and the biggest takeaway was what they didn’t do: move Brian Thomas Jr.
Jaguars GM James Gladstone said the team held onto the receiver, even though plenty around the league expected him to be dealt. Gladstone made it clear why Jacksonville kept him in the fold.
“We have a ton of value when it comes to BTJ. His role and what I imagine his contribution will be down the stretch here is going to be notable.
He’s such a good person to work with, he’s such a good teammate, and so I expect a lot of good in what lies in front,” Gladstone said, via Jaguars Wire. “Knowing at this time our wide receiver room, in particular, has such a range of skill sets at its disposal and those that complement each other really well.
And when you think beyond that, the pass catchers we have at our disposal when you start working in the tight end group and the running back room, it just allows our offense to be multiple, it allows us to be able to activate guys in different ways in different games that looks different from one to the next. So I think that ability to jump from one to the next is certainly going to benefit us here in the rest of the season and look forward to that being the case.”
Gladstone also addressed the team’s approach in the Jordan Davis deal, pushing back on the idea that Jacksonville was operating with a “F them picks” mindset.
“It’s a very symbiotic process that encompasses a lot of layers to it, but it’s certainly not ‘F them picks,’” Gladstone said of dealing for DT Jordan Davis, via NBC Sports. “While that’s been characterized as the approach, it’s not necessarily - we actually value picks. We don’t always use them on the three days that exist in April.”
The Jaguars did make the splash move anyway, landing Davis from the Eagles for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.
Davis said he was disappointed to leave Philadelphia, but he understands the context of the move as the Eagles continue through a rebuilding process.
“A little disappointed but, you know, understanding that they’re in the rebuilding process glad and you know, for the picks - first-round and second-round pick - obviously helps the team and, you know, I love those guys,” Davis said, via Eagle Times. “ So however I can help the team, even in my departure, I’m absolutely glad to be doing that.”
On the Colts’ side, the headline was a major contract commitment. Indianapolis signed DL Adetomiwa Adebawore to a two-year, $35 million extension in 2026, with $22.63 million fully guaranteed.
The deal includes a $13 million signing bonus, fully guaranteed base salaries of $1.145 million in 2026 and $8.49 million in 2027, plus up to $1.02 million in per-game roster bonuses in 2027. Adebawore also has a $3.49 million roster bonus due in March 2028, along with a $510,000 per-game roster bonus in 2028.
The projected cap hits are $5.68 million in 2026, $13.84 million in 2027, and $16.82 million in 2028.
In Other News...
Jaguars Just Made One Deadline Bet Fans Can't Ignore
The 2026 NFL trade deadline brought a flurry of activity across the league, but Jacksonvilles move stood out because it was the kind of swing that can reshape a roster well beyond November. The Jaguars landed Jordan Davis from the Philadelphia Eagles in a deal built around future draft picks, signaling a willingness to pay for help now rather than wait for the offseason to address the front of the defense.
Around the league, the deadline also underscored how differently teams approached their own situations, with the Colts choosing to hold onto Jonathan Taylor despite multiple offers. For Jacksonville, the debate is already centered on whether the price was worth it, since some analysts have questioned the deal as unfavorable for the Jaguars. The real answer will come later, but this is the sort of bet that tends to follow a team long after the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Quiet Deadline Left One Frustrating Question About Their Reset
The trade deadline gave the Jaguars a notable addition in Jordan Davis, a move that fits the kind of front-line reinforcement contenders usually chase when they think the moment is right. Around the league, the Bears landed Jeffery Simmons and the Eagles leaned into future draft capital, underscoring how differently teams approached the same window. For Jacksonville, the takeaway was simple enough: while some clubs chose patience, the Jaguars made sure they were part of the conversation.
Elsewhere in the AFC South, the Colts quiet deadline stood out for a different reason, especially in a market where inaction can feel like a statement of its own. The rest of the league had reasons to debate whether teams were buying, selling or simply waiting, but Indianapolis left one frustrating question hanging over its reset and what it was really trying to build. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Sent A Clear Deadline Message About Their AFC Push
The trade deadline around the league brought a few reminders that contenders are willing to make bold moves, but it also showed how carefully some teams are protecting their core. The Giants reportedly checked in with the Falcons about Bijan Robinson, the Colts reportedly passed on moving Jonathan Taylor, and a few notable names changed teams as clubs weighed present-day help against long-term value. For Jacksonville, it was another snapshot of how the AFC race is shaping up, with rivals making decisions that can alter the path through the conference.
For the Jaguars, the bigger takeaway is the message sent by the deadline itself: if a team believes it has a real shot, it has to decide whether to add, stand pat, or resist the temptation to break up what it already has. The leagues activity, from Jeffery Simmons landing with the Bears to Kirk Cousins ending up with the Vikings, underscored how quickly the balance can shift when front offices get aggressive. Jacksonville now has to keep an eye on how those choices ripple through the AFC, because the next move from a rival could matter just as much as anything that happened this week. [Read more 🡒]