Jaguars Go All-In With Blockbuster Jordan Davis Trade

After the acquisition of Jessie Bates III and Davon Godchaux, the Jacksonville Jaguars swung big and hit on a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. They acquired defensive tackle Jordan Davis for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.  Here’s my instant reaction.

WOW

There’s only one word to describe this move by the Jacksonville Jaguars: “WOW.” After thinking general manager James Gladstone was finished with the trade market, the Jaguars swung big and landed the Eagles’ defensive tackle.

Jacksonville has officially put all its chips in the middle of the table and declared that it’s all in. With the addition of Davis, the defensive line averages 6-foot-6, giving them arguably the biggest defensive front in the NFL. Arik Armstead stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 290 pounds, while Josh Hines-Allen is 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds. Travon Walker stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 280 pounds, while Davis is 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds.

The Jaguars lost defensive tackle Davon Hamilton for the season to a torn quad. The 6-foot-4, 335-pound nose tackle was a major contributor to the Jaguars’ No. 1-ranked run defense over the past two seasons. Davis offers more production as a pass rusher while maintaining his ability to stop the run, totaling 9.5 sacks in five seasons.

Before Davis’ addition, Jacksonville was desperate to find someone who could replace Hamilton’s production. In their Thursday night game against the Baltimore Ravens, they got solid play from nose tackles Matt Dickerson, Ruke Orhorhoro and Albert Regis, who held Ravens running back Derrick Henry to 57 yards on 17 carries.

Davis gives Jacksonville a nice rotation alongside Dickerson, Orhorhoro, Regis and newly acquired Davon Godchaux. He adds depth at an area the team was lacking following Hamilton’s injury.

Jacksonville Wanted A Star Defensive Tackle

For weeks, reports indicated that Jacksonville was heavily pursuing a star defensive tackle, such as Jalen Carter or Derrick Brown, and was willing to pay a hefty price to secure them.  

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Jaguars were willing to offer a second-round pick and much more compensation to secure a star defensive player and even tried to trade for players who were not on the trade market but were consistently shut down. They reportedly attempted to acquire Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, but were turned down, which led to talks for Davis.

All-In For The Super Bowl

General manager James Gladstone comes under the Les Snead tree, where they are aggressive and willing to trade away draft compensation to secure a Super Bowl. During his time with the Rams as the Director of Scouting from 2016 to 2024, Los Angeles traded for the likes of Jalen Ramsey, Matthew Stafford, Von Miller, and Brandin Cooks and won Super Bowl LVI in 2022.  

Sitting at 6-2, Jacksonville is one of the five best teams in the AFC and still has a chance at the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, currently sitting at the No. 3 seed. They have the easiest remaining strength of schedule to finish out the season.

At last year’s trade deadline, the Jaguars acquired wide receiver Jakobi Meyers from the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Meyers transformed the offense in the second half of the season and has become a go-to guy for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

End Of My Jaguars Rant

The NFL trade deadline ends on Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. It’s safe to say the Jaguars are done in the trade market, giving away first-, second-, fifth-, and sixth-round picks, landing three defensive players in the process. A trade of this magnitude signifies Super Bowl or Bust. Their Super Bowl Odds are now +800. A Super Bowl appearance would be the first in the franchise’s history.

However, a trade of this magnitude can either make or break an organization. If Jacksonville wins a Super Bowl, it will be all worth it; if they don’t, there will be many long seasons for years to come.