At this point, everyone in NFL circles knows that the Jacksonville Jaguars will always be ready to make trades to address the roster. And a recent report confirms that they're gearing toward taking a swing at the Nov. 4 deadline.
Dianna Rusinni of The Athletic notes that the Jags want to make a trade, with the caveat that it will be on defense. Here's the skinny.
"The Jaguars are expected to get involved in some trades," Russinni wrote. "They are searching for a defensive player."
Two things stand out about Russinni's scoop. The first one is that the Jaguars will be involved in some trades. That means more than one, and there's a chance they will be not only a buyer but a seller as well. On top of that, Jacksonville will be looking for help on defense. If so, at what position?
The Jaguars may trade for help at defensive end (Trey Hendrickson, Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips)
Under general manager James Gladstone, the Jaguars haven't been afraid to trade for help. Before the regular season, they acquired wide receiver Tim Patrick and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders. Following the Week 5 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, they swapped cornerbacks, with Tyson Campbell going to the Cleveland Browns in return for Greg Newsome.
This begs the question, what position would the Jags be zeroing in on if they make a trade? Their linebacker corps is one of the best in the league. Sure, Devin Lloyd is dealing with a calf injury but should be back after the BYE in Week 9. Cornerback? They just got Newsome, and Travis Hunter has played much better. That leaves the front four or the back end.
Eric Murray and Andrew Wingard have fared well at safety. Both are solid but neither truly stands out. Antonio Johnson is also in the mix, but the coaching staff appears to see him as a reserve right now. Jacksonville could most definitely get help in the backfield. On the other hand, the pass rush has left much to be desired.
Josh Hines-Allen didn't record a single pressure in Week 6 and hasn't tallied a single sack this season. The fact that bookend pass rusher Travon Walker is dealing with a wrist injury doesn't help matters. To add insult to injury, Dawuane Smoot and Emmanuel Ogbah have been unremarkable.
Maybe the Jags could trade for Bradley Chubb or Jalelan Phillips. The Miami Dolphins are in a tailspin and may hold a fire sale. But if they want to swing for the fences, Trey Hendrickson may also be available. Of course, the price to get a deal done would be steeper, but Jacksonville has 13 draft picks in 2026, more than enough ammo to get a deal done.
On the other hand, the Jaguars could also use a boost at defensive tackle. Arik Armstead has bounced back from an underwhelming 2024, but the trio of DaVon Hamilton, Khalen Saunders Sr., and Maason Smith isn't setting the world on fire. Reinforcements in the interior trenches would be more than welcome.
Ultimately, it's hard to tell just what position the Jaguars are targeting, but Dianna Rusinni's intel confirms what everyone knows: They're ready to make a trade.