The Jaguars are sitting in a pretty good spot heading into their bye week, and that’s why the trade deadline conversation is starting to heat up around Jacksonville.
At 4-2, the Jaguars have put themselves in the mix as one of the AFC’s better teams. With the NFL trade deadline coming on November 10th, the question now is whether they decide to act like buyers.
One name tied to Jacksonville comes from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who recently ranked the top 25 players most likely to be traded. Fowler placed Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne at No. 6 and laid out why a move could make sense.
“Washington dealt key defensive pieces at the deadline three years ago and could be faced with a similar predicament this time with Payne, who's 29 and still has value,” Fowler wrote. “Payne is a 2027 free agent with a $16.4 million base this year. But the NFC East is also winnable, despite Washington's 1-4-1 record, so that could be a point in favor of the Commanders keeping him.”
Still, Fowler also pointed to Jacksonville as a possible destination if Washington does make Payne available.
“Jacksonville is a potential fit, with some in the league noting the Jaguars could use a versatile interior player with pass-rush ability and have looked for that since the offseason,” Fowler added.
Fowler wasn’t the only ESPN insider to connect the Jaguars to deadline activity. Dan Graziano also wrote this week that Jacksonville is a team to watch, especially after the way it handled last year’s deadline.
“I'm also very curious to see what the Jaguars do,” Graziano wrote. “They see themselves as a top AFC contender.
I agree with them, but they could use one more piece up front on defense. Remember, the Jags were kind of a surprise at last year's deadline with their move for Jakobi Meyers, who helped fuel their second-half run.”
Now the spotlight is on general manager James Gladstone to see whether he makes another aggressive move before the deadline hits.
In Other News...
Jaguars Trade Buzz Now Centers On One Name Fans Wont Like
Trade chatter around the league keeps circling back to a handful of notable names, and for Jaguars fans the most eye-catching one is Brian Thomas Jr. Multiple teams have reportedly checked in on deals involving the Colts Josh Downs and Thomas, with Downs said to be possibly open to a move. It is the sort of buzz that tends to follow a receiver who has already shown enough to draw attention, even if most of these conversations stay in the realm of due diligence.
Jacksonville is also being tied to a possible swing for Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne, which adds another layer to the rumor mill as teams try to sort out whether they want to add, subtract or simply keep listening. Around the rest of the league, Titans players Jermaine Johnson, Tony Pollard and Alontae Taylor have also come up as trade possibilities, underscoring how active the market feels. For the Jaguars, the bigger question is whether interest in Thomas is just background noise or something that will force the front office to answer calls more seriously. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Enter Week 8 With A Chance To Change Everything In AFC South
The Jaguars enter Week 8 carrying more than just a solid spot in SIs weekly power rankings. At No. 8, they have earned the kind of national respect that comes from steady play, and now the schedule gives them a chance to turn that into something bigger. With divisional matchups and other conference tests ahead, Jacksonville is positioned to make a real move in both the AFC South and the wider AFC picture.
For a team that has spent the early part of the season climbing into the conversation with contenders such as the Bengals, Ravens and Chiefs, the next stretch could define how far that momentum goes. The rankings are a snapshot, but the games ahead will decide whether the Jaguars stay in that neighborhood or start separating themselves from the pack. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Have A Clear Trade Deadline Fix For A Lingering Pass Rush Problem
The Jaguars have spent enough time looking at their pass rush to know the issue is not simply one player or one missed chance. Their defense could use more disruption inside, and Philadelphia defensive tackle Moro Ojomo has surfaced as a logical name to watch before the trade deadline. Ojomo fits the kind of scheme Jacksonville wants to play, and his ability to affect the pocket from the interior makes him an appealing answer to a problem that has lingered for stretches this season.
For Jacksonville, the appeal is as much about timing as fit. Ojomo is expected to move on from the Eagles after this season anyway, which is why a deal could make sense for both sides if Philadelphia decides to cash in now rather than later. The Jaguars would be trying to stabilize a weakness with a player who can help right away, while the Eagles would have a chance to get value before the situation changes on its own. [Read more 🡒]