The Jacksonville Jaguars made three separate trades on Monday, parting with multiple draft picks to reinforce their defense ahead of the NFL trade deadline, a clear signal the 6-2 team views itself as a Super Bowl contender this season.
Jacksonville acquired defensive tackle Jordan Davis from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2027 first-round draft pick and a 2029 second-round draft pick. Davis, 26, was Philadelphia’s first-round selection in 2022 and is expected to anchor the interior of Jacksonville’s defensive line.
Earlier the same day, the Jaguars acquired former Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates from the Atlanta Falcons for a second-round and a fifth-round pick. The team also added defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the New Orleans Saints for a sixth-round pick.
Jacksonville enters the week with a 6-2 record and has won five of its last six games. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is tied for fourth in the league with 18 touchdown passes and holds a 111.7 passer rating, fifth-best in the NFL.
The Jaguars already field the NFL’s fourth-leading scoring offense and the league’s second-best scoring defense, but the front office apparently judged that run defense needed reinforcement to compete with strong running teams such as the Buffalo Bills in the postseason.
Eagles Shift Toward the Future
The other side of Monday’s moves is the Philadelphia Eagles, who have now traded away A.J. Brown, moved on from Cam Jurgens, and shipped Davis to Jacksonville. The Eagles currently hold the worst record in the NFC.
In exchange for Davis and other moves, Philadelphia’s draft capital now includes two first-round picks in 2027, two first-round picks in 2028, and two second-round picks in 2029.
The Eagles have also gotten older, with veterans such as Lane Johnson retiring, and the status of quarterback Jalen Hurts remains uncertain following a blood clot issue that led to him being ruled out of a recent Sunday game “out of an abundance of caution.”
Where Philadelphia appears to be building toward future seasons, Jacksonville’s three trades in a single day make clear the organization believes its window to win now is open.
