How Can the Jaguars Be Aggressive at the Trade Deadline?
The Jacksonville Jaguars are in desperate need of a boost. After starting 4-1, they have fallen to a 4-3 record and now have lost a key piece in two-way athlete Travis Hunter. With the NFL’s trade deadline coming up this Tuesday, the Jaguars will have to make some moves to bolster this unit as they try to recover and make a playoff push. Both sides of the ball need improvements in Duval County, as a defense and rushing attack that were borderline elite to start the season have crumbled and been exposed these last few weeks. Jacksonville’s general manager, James Gladstone, has already made some quiet moves this season, including trading away veteran cornerback Tyson Campbell to the Cleveland Browns for Greg Newsome II.
For Jacksonville, another key trade could come from Cleveland to help this Jaguars offense regain some sense of confidence. The Browns, who are currently 2-6, could be looking to trade away veteran tight end David Njoku. Njoku, who currently has 260 yards and two touchdowns on the season, is in the last season of his contract. The Jaguars are in desperate need of a new weapon for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, as injuries have plagued the weapons, including tight end Brenton Strange. Acquiring Njoku would add a veteran presence to one of the youngest offensive units in the league and could turn around a team with little leadership nearing the middle of the season.
On the other side of the ball, Jacksonville can reunite with an old friend for cheap. The Arizona Cardinals could be looking to deal away veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell. Jacksonville is looking to add more physicality to its defense, and Campbell would add just that to the pass-rush. Not to mention a veteran presence and an increase in roster depth, Campbell could find a spark in Jacksonville that would capitalize on his age-39 season. Campbell was a Jaguar from 2017 to 2019, earning first-team All-Pro honors and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2017. Campbell already has three sacks and 17 pressures on the season, and if added to a line that has Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, Sacksonville could make a shocking return.
