The Jaguars may not be in the Jeffery Simmons business, but their interest in the blockbuster around him says plenty about where their heads are at before the trade deadline.
Tennessee’s deal sending Simmons to the Chicago Bears for two first-round picks and some change was the loudest move in a busy AFC South stretch leading into Week 8. It was also the kind of trade Jacksonville was never likely to touch, simply because the Titans are division rivals. But the ripple effect may have exposed the Jaguars’ real target.
On Jaguars HQ, general manager James Gladstone was talking with Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli when the conversation turned to the Simmons trade. Gladstone’s comments stood out.
"If only it were in a different division," Gladstone added. "In that the typical approach of inner-divison trades isn't generally on the table.
"It is nice to not have to play him twice a year. That is a net positive," Gladstone said to end the note.
That line, whether tossed out lightly or not, landed as a useful clue. It suggested Jacksonville is paying close attention to the market for interior defensive line help.
The reporting around the league backs that up. The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero said Saturday that the Jaguars were one of several teams that reached out to the Titans about Simmons’ availability.
Given Simmons’ status as one of the best players in the NFL, that kind of interest was hardly shocking. Still, it fits the picture that Gladstone’s comments painted.
Jacksonville was never going to be a realistic landing spot for Simmons, but the pursuit itself points toward a broader goal. The Jaguars appear to be shopping for help on the defensive interior, and that lines up with SI’s Albert Breer reporting earlier this week that listed the Jaguars and New York Giants as teams looking for defensive tackle help. The Giants, like Jacksonville, have also been tied to Simmons in multiple reports.
There simply isn’t another defensive tackle on the market with Simmons’ kind of impact. Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne had also been mentioned in trade chatter, but a season-ending foot injury took him out of the equation.
That doesn’t mean Jacksonville is done looking. Gladstone and the Jaguars waited until deadline day last season to land wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, and they still have close to a week to work something out again. Right now, the signs point in one direction: if the Jaguars make a move, it’s likely to be for a defensive tackle.
In Other News...
Jonathan Taylor Just Put Jaguars Colts Week Into A Different Light
Jonathan Taylors status has suddenly become one of the biggest subplots around Jaguars-Colts week, with Indianapolis weighing whether to put its star running back on the field while trade talks continue. The Colts are still trying to sort out what Taylor is worth in the market, and the reported asking price has been set at a second-round pick or better, which gives the situation real weight beyond just one division game.
For Jacksonville, the uncertainty matters because it could shape how the Colts approach the matchup and how much of their offensive identity they are willing to expose. Indianapolis has to balance the chance of getting Taylor into the lineup against the risk of injury and the possibility of hurting his trade value, and until that decision is made, this weeks meeting feels a lot less straightforward than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Trevor Lawrence Has A Huge AFC South Chance Against Indianapolis
Trevor Lawrence gets another familiar AFC South test Sunday against Indianapolis, and this one comes with a chance to make a statement in a division game that has often turned on how well he handles the pocket. The Colts have not been a heavy blitz team, but they have found ways to generate pressure, which makes this matchup less about exotic looks and more about whether Jacksonville can keep its quarterback comfortable long enough to let the offense settle in.
Lawrence has had success against Indianapolis before, and the Jaguars know that history matters when a division rival is on the other sideline. Liam Coen has already talked about the defensive challenges that come with the matchup, and the larger question is whether Lawrence can turn a clean operation into the kind of performance that shifts the early AFC South picture in Jacksonville's favor. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face A Familiar Fear In Another Game They Should Control
The Jaguars are back in a spot that should feel comfortable on paper and uneasy in practice. Their second divisional matchup of the season against the Colts comes with the kind of familiar pressure that has hovered around this team before, especially when the opponent is one Jacksonville is expected to handle. Around the building, the conversation has centered on whether the Jaguars can avoid the letdown that has too often followed games they were supposed to control.
The concerns are layered, starting with how Jacksonville matches up against Indianapolis rushing attack and extending to the depth issues in the secondary that could get tested if the game turns into a grind. There is also the bigger-picture question of whether the Jaguars will look to add help before the trade deadline, but the immediate focus is on the basics: slowing Jonathan Taylor, getting the run game going themselves and getting steady play from the quarterback position. [Read more 🡒]