It’s that time of year again, the NFL trade deadline is upon all teams in the league. The Jaguars trade deadline is a chance for the team to improve in an area of need. For the Jaguars. the most pressing need is along the defensive line and specifically the pass rush.
It’s been a good start to the 2023 NFL season for the Jaguars, and most of the roster is already set. Now, the Jaguars are primed to make a move to make a deep playoff push. The assets tied up in the Calvin Ridley trade make things complicated, but the Jaguars are more than equipped to make a move. Let’s discuss the four pass rushers, that the Jaguars should target.
Jaguars Trade Target: Danielle Hunter
Vikings OLB Danielle Hunter (99) – Andy Keuntis/Minnesota Vikings
The first Jaguars trade target is Danielle Hunter, who has been the target of speculation for a lot of the 2023 season. Hunter was also someone that I mentioned as being a preseason trade target. Hunter has had an incredible season so far, and despite the Vikings turning their season around after a rough beginning, Hunter could be moved for the right price.
Danielle Hunter leads the league in sacks, with 10. Josh Allen, his prospective teammate if a trade happens, is second with nine sacks. Danielle Hunter leads the league in tackles for loss as well. His addition to the Jaguars’ defense would potentially put them over the top into being a consistently high-ranked defense.
The package for Hunter might be the most difficult to accommodate for the Jaguars, as the Vikings aren’t likely to trade Hunter with him playing so well and being a fan favorite. However, the season-ending Achilles injury to Kirk Cousins drastically changes the rest of the Vikings season.
If the Jaguars are planning to go all in, there’s a chance they will offload valuable assets to acquire one of the best pass rushers that could be available.
Jaguars Trade Target: Montez Sweat
Commanders DE Montez Sweat (90) – Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
Another Jaguars trade target is Montez Sweat. He’s already been the subject of trade talks, with an offer already on the table. The proposed deal mentions a third-round pick, and it’s a likely price for a young and talented pass rusher.
Sweat doesn’t have the same numbers as Danielle Hunter, but he has still made a large impact with 6.5 sacks. Sweat is also the most likely to be traded among all of the options on this list, especially after he left the field in a manner that many speculated was a sign he was being traded. Though you need to do that with a grain of salt, everything seems to point to him being moved.
Montez Sweat is one of the more intriguing, and likely, Jaguars trade targets available. He’d be an incredible addition to the Jaguars’ defense, and wouldn’t cost as much as a teammate of his.
Jaguars Trade Target: Chase Young
Commanders DE Chase Young (99) – Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
The teammate of Montez Sweat, Chase Young, might be the most polarizing player on this list of Jaguars trade targets. He’s had his ups and downs in his young career, but this year has played much better. Young has five sacks, which is two-thirds of the way to his career-high from 2020.
It’s obvious that the pass rush is the biggest need for the Jaguars, and there are many different options available. Chase Young might be the most pricey of the options on this list. Despite Young being an upcoming free agent, he’s still incredibly young and could be a huge get for a team looking to compete for years to come.
Trading for a young pass rusher like Young will be difficult due to how much the Commanders are seemingly locked into Young. They declined his fifth-year option, but with his play, the Commanders might be already leaning towards keeping him around long-term.
It’s a similar problem for Chase Young as there was for Danielle Hunter, with the teams asking for a lot to move off them. It’ll be an expensive package, but if the Jaguars want to make a big splash Chase Young would more than fill that pass rush role. But, it seems out of everyone on this list Chase Young is the least likely to move.
Jaguars Trade Target: Josh Uche
Patriots LB Josh Uche (55) – Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe
One of the more underrated trade targets for the Jaguars is Josh Uche from the Patriots. The first AFC team featured on this list, the Patriots have had a rough season. It’s been up and down, riddled with injuries, and frustrating losses. For teams looking to improve their roster at the trade deadline, the Patriots are most likely listening to offers on a lot of the players on both sides of the ball.
The player the Jaguars would most likely target is Josh Uche, the cheapest of all the options available on this list. Josh Uche has been getting trade interest from the rest of the league and has emerged as someone the Patriots are trying to trade. The price wouldn’t be too steep, which is exactly what the Jaguars are most likely to do.
With so much invested in the defense and a lot of assets tied up in the Calvin Ridley trade, the Jaguars will be less likely to make a huge splash at the trade deadline. Josh Uche would be the perfect player for the Jaguars to trade for. A cheap, young, and explosive pass rusher fits right in with the Jaguars defense.
Jaguars Trade Deadline: Final Thoughts
Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke – Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports
It’s setting up to be a potential season-changing trade deadline for a lot of teams. The Jaguars trade deadline could make or break their season, especially if they acquire one of the top pass rushers available. Danielle Hunter and Chase Young are the two well-known names, and both would be huge gets for a Jaguars defense that needs pass rush help.
Montez Sweat is right in the middle between an expensive star and a depth addition. He’s the most likely of the big-name pass rushers to be traded. Lastly, Josh Uche would be an inexpensive addition that fits exactly what the Jaguars need. He’s young and cheap and would be filling a need for the defense.
The Jaguars trade deadline could feature a chance to make huge additions, just like the Jaguars did in 2022 by adding Calvin Ridley. Except this week, the Jaguars will be addressing the current team instead of planning for the future. Just like a lot of the perennially best teams, the Jaguars are looking to make a move to make a deep playoff push.
