All 32 teams are aggressively manning the phone lines leading up to the NFL Trade Deadline, which is just one day away, as they get ready to add players to their rosters or acquire draft picks in anticipation of the 2023 season’s second half. Trade deadlines have resulted in action for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the past. Most recently, wide receiver Calvin Ridley signed a blockbuster contract. Prior to him, Marcell Dareus helped the Jaguars improve their run defense in preparation for a postseason run.
In a scenario where the Jaguars would potentially add to their roster on Tuesday, which positions would make the most sense? Where do the 6-2 Jaguars need the most help as they once again prepare for a playoff push? We break down a few scenarios below.
PASS-RUSHER
This one is obvious.
The Jaguars have been asked about their pass-rush almost non-stop since the day that Arden Key signed with the Tennessee Titans, and the questions haven’t stopped through Week 8. Josh Allen is having the best season of his career with nine sacks through eight games, but the Jaguars are getting below-average results from the rest of their unit.
Travon Walker has improved his pass-rush win-rate in Year 2 and has already matched his rookie year sack total at 3.5, but he hasn’t become the consistent edge threat on third-down that the Jaguars would need in the playoffs vs. the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Behind them, the Jaguars have gotten limited results from Dawuane Smoot and K’Lavon Chaisson. With Walker’s ability to slide inside on third-down, the Jaguars have the chance to add a third-down pass-rusher across from Allen to take the defense to the next level.
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
The Jaguars’ interior offensive line has faced some hits during the 2023 season. The Jaguars started the year with Ben Bartch at left guard before replacing him with Tyler Shatley in Week 4. Then the Jaguars started Walker Little at the spot in Week 5 before a knee injury 11 snaps into the game knocked him out for the following three weeks, leading to Shatley stepping back into a starting role
While Shatley is a reliable and versatile backup, the Jaguars could always look for upgraded depth at the position and let Shatley backup second-year center Luke Fortner, and potentially even push Fortner for his spot in the starting lineup. Insurance for right guard Brandon Scherff, who has dealt with two different ankle injuries, would also be a wise move.
CORNERBACK
This is a need that is flying a bit under the radar after Montaric Brown had a strong showing in Week 7 vs. the New Orleans Saints, but the Jaguars could use some more depth behind the likes of Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams. The Jaguars are overall thin at cornerback with Brown’s inexperience, Greg Junior still working his way back from a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve earlier in the season, Chris Claybrooks’ place on the exempt list, and rookie Christian Braswell presently being on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Most teams aren’t looking to move on from talented cornerback help in a pass-happy NFL, but the Jaguars would be smart to at least do their homework and consider their options. If the Jaguars see any injuries to their starting trio of cornerbacks during the second-half of the season, the lack of depth could be an Achilles heel.
WIDE RECEIVER
It sure feels like the Jaguars could use some wide receiver depth, even with one of the most expensive wide receiver rooms in the NFL. A move here seems unlikely since Evan Engram can function as a receiver in the passing game and since Zay Jones is hoped to return at some point after the Jaguars’ Week 9 bye. But as things stand today, the Jaguars don’t have the depth at wide receiver that the offense needs to push past any future injuries.
Jones, Jamal Agnew and Tim Jones rank No. 120, No. 121, and No. 158 respectively among 182 wide receivers in yards per route run. Undrafted rookie Elijah Cooks hasn’t seen a target in three appearances this season. In Week 8, the Jaguars only targeted two receivers in Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk, making it clear that they simply don’t see Agnew, Cooks and Tim Jones as viable options in the passing game. With Jones’ knee injury becoming a season-long storyline, it might be wise for the Jaguars to explore an upgrade at the No. 4 receiver spot.
