The Jacksonville Jaguars are winning, but they’re not standing still.
Sitting at 6-2 after a 33-10 thumping of the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night, Jacksonville is already looking ahead to the NFL trade deadline and trying to fortify a roster that clearly wants more. The target area is up front on defense, where the Jaguars have been aggressive in searching for help.
NFL on Prime insider James Palmer said Jacksonville has spent weeks canvassing the league for defensive line upgrades, and that interest was already there before DaVon Hamilton’s knee injury sent him to IR.
“They have been active, looking around the NFL for several weeks on the defensive front. That's even before DaVon Hamilton went down.
They are looking to swing big up front, I'm told. They were in on Jeffery Simmons and willing to spend major capital to acquire him, but the Titans weren't gonna do it in the division.
They checked on other hot defensive tackles across the league. If they don't get something done, it won't be due to a lack of effort,” Palmer said.
Hamilton’s absence makes the need even sharper. Jacksonville’s depth on the defensive line is thinner now, and another injury there would create a real problem. The idea of landing Simmons would have been a major boost, but that was always a tough ask with the Titans unwilling to help a division rival.
Even with the AFC South title looking all but locked up, the Jaguars appear to know the postseason picture could hinge on what happens in the trenches. If they want to be more than just the team to beat in their division, they may need to make a move before the deadline.
In Other News...
Trevor Lawrence Got Dragged Into Another Al Michaels Broadcast Mess
Thursday nights Jaguars spotlight came with an unexpected detour when Al Michaels mixed up Trevor Lawrences draft year on the air, a slip that quickly spread across social media and turned into the latest reminder of how closely every national broadcast is scrutinized. For Jacksonville, it was one of those odd moments where the teams franchise quarterback became part of a much bigger conversation than the game itself.
Lawrence has been in the public eye long enough that a mistake like that lands fast, and fans wasted little time piling on as the clip circulated. Michaels has already acknowledged the retirement question in the past, saying he and Amazon would figure out the right time together, and this latest broadcast mess only added more fuel to that ongoing discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Sent A Strong Trade Deadline Message To The AFC
The trade deadline chatter around Brian Thomas Jr. says a lot about where the Jaguars stand right now. A team does not get linked to a receiver like that unless the rest of the league sees real value, and Kansas Citys interest only underscores how quickly Thomas has become part of Jacksonvilles long-term picture. For a Jaguars team trying to stay in the AFC contender conversation, moving a former first-round pick would send the wrong kind of signal.
So far, that does not appear to be the direction Jacksonville is leaning. The Chiefs are still canvassing other receiver options, including Josh Downs and Hollywood Brown, while the Jaguars are treating Thomas like a piece worth keeping. In a conference where every contender is looking for an edge, Jacksonvilles stance is a reminder that it expects to be in the mix, not shopping away one of its most important young weapons. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Have A Win-Now Trade Deadline Decision To Make
As the NFL trade deadline approaches, the Jaguars find themselves in the familiar spot of weighing whether to stay patient or push chips in for a roster that has shown enough promise to justify a real move. Defensive tackle, defensive end and safety all stand out as areas where help could make a difference, and the list of possible targets reflects that urgency. Names like Budda Baker, Derrick Brown, Christian Barmore and Khalil Mack all fit the kind of upgrade Jacksonville would be considering if it wants to sharpen the roster for the stretch run.
The challenge, of course, is that deadline shopping is rarely simple, especially when the asking price for proven talent can climb quickly. Jacksonville has options to explore, but the bigger question is how aggressive it wants to be and which position it values most as it tries to balance immediate help with the long view. For a team trying to make the most of its current window, the next move could say plenty about how the Jaguars see themselves right now. [Read more 🡒]