The Jaguars didn’t just lose Davon Hamilton for the season. They also took another hit to the heart of their defense when safety Eric Murray went down, leaving a hole that suddenly feels much bigger than it did a week ago.
Head coach Liam Coen said Monday in a Zoom with local reporters that Murray will miss the rest of the season after suffering an elbow injury on the opening kickoff of Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. Jacksonville still has bodies at the position, but the situation is getting thin fast.
Antonio Johnson could return from an ankle injury, Rayuan Lane has flashed, Kaevon Merriweather has impressed, and third-round safety Jalen Huskey is in the mix. Even so, Murray mattered, and with Caleb Ransaw already on injured reserve, the Jaguars need help.
That puts the trade market squarely in play.
One name that already made sense for Jacksonville before Murray’s injury looks even better now: Budda Baker. The Jaguars were linked to him last week, and the case only got stronger after Murray was ruled out for the year.
Jacksonville needs someone on the back end, outside of Jourdan Lewis, who has logged a ton of football and knows how to handle big moments. Baker fits that description cleanly.
There’s also a built-in familiarity here. Liam Coen and James Gladstone both spent time in Los Angeles and saw Baker twice a year in the NFC West, so the Jaguars’ decision-makers should know exactly what he brings.
Baker is productive, experienced, and versatile, and he would give Jacksonville a much steadier feel on the back end. Arizona has won a few games, but the Cardinals need picks more than anything right now.
Another name to watch is Jessie Bates. Atlanta is still hanging around in the NFC South because the division is so weak, but it’s fair to wonder how realistic it is that the Falcons will re-sign him once his contract expires.
They’ve mostly been losing since he arrived, and if they’re not likely to keep him anyway, moving him now for draft capital starts to make sense. Xavier Watts gives Atlanta an ascending safety next to him, too.
Bates would be more of a rental for Jacksonville, depending on how the Jaguars handle his free agency, but he’d be a serious one. He has 14 interceptions and 11 forced fumbles in four seasons with the Falcons, and he’s been a constant big-play threat.
After nearly a decade of elite safety play, the All-Pro would give the Jaguars exactly the kind of impact defender they need right now. It would take a meaningful offer to get Atlanta to move him, but the payoff would be obvious.
If Jacksonville wants a more affordable route, Elijah Molden is the cleaner budget option. The Chargers defensive back can play single-high safety and work in the slot as a nickel defender, and he brings tackling ability along with that versatility. With Los Angeles sitting at 0-7, there’s not much reason to think they’d refuse to listen unless they’re simply being stubborn heading into next Tuesday.
Molden doesn’t carry the same ceiling as Baker or Bates, but he offers a solid floor and plenty of experience. He also should cost something in the mid-to-late Day 3 range, which would make him the cheapest option on this list by a few different measures. He’s a good player, and he would certainly help the Jaguars after Murray’s injury.
In Other News...
Jaguars Move Fast After Davon Hamilton Injury But Bigger Question Remains
Davon Hamiltons season-ending injury forced the Jaguars to move quickly, and they responded by bringing back a familiar face in veteran defensive tackle Austin Johnson. Johnson spent last season with Jacksonville, so the team already knows what it is getting as it looks to steady the interior of the defensive line and add some immediate depth.
Johnsons arrival helps plug an obvious hole, but it may not be the only move Jacksonville makes at the position. The Jaguars are expected to keep evaluating defensive tackle options in the coming weeks, a sign that Hamiltons absence could push the team to keep searching for more help up front. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Have A Division-Shifting Problem The Colts Will Watch
DaVon Hamiltons season-ending torn quad leaves the Jaguars with a real problem in the middle of their defense, and it comes at a time when every AFC South game feels loaded with extra weight. Hamilton has been a key part of Jacksonvilles interior defensive line, so losing him doesnt just thin out the rotation - it changes how the front has to hold up against the run and push the pocket.
The timing also puts Jacksonville on the clock before the NFL trade deadline, with the team now expected to look for help at defensive tackle. For the Colts, and everyone else watching the division race, it is the kind of injury that can ripple beyond one roster spot and force a team to make a move it may not have planned on making this soon. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Caught A Huge Break In Week 9
The Jaguars head into Week 9 with a chance to take advantage of a Baltimore team suddenly in a difficult spot. Jacksonville is 5-2 and sitting atop the AFC South after flattening the Colts, and the matchup now looks even friendlier with the Ravens dealing with major quarterback uncertainty. Lamar Jackson is expected to go on injured reserve after hurting his thumb in Week 8, and Tyler Huntley is also banged up, leaving Baltimore in line to lean on a depth chart that could get very thin in a hurry.
For Jacksonville, that kind of break matters in a crowded AFC race, especially with Trevor Lawrence steering an offense that has played well alongside a defense that has been among the leagues best by EPA per play. The Jaguars have earned their strong position, but the timing of this opponents injuries gives them a real opening to keep momentum rolling and protect their place in the division. [Read more 🡒]