The NFL trade deadline is looming, at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 5, under two weeks away.
The Jaguars have found their footing after an 0-4 start to the season with two wins in the last three weeks. Still, they face a steep uphill battle to emerge as contenders this year — only one team has ever made the playoffs after losing the first four games of their campaign.
Accordingly, Jacksonville is viewed as a potential seller with the trade deadline approaching. The Jaguars already sent defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7, and there remain players on their roster that could attract interest from other teams.
ESPN analysts and team reporters gathered on Wednesday to break down possible trade candidates and targets for every NFL squad, with the group concluding Jacksonville is likely to subtract players from its roster in exchange for resources over the coming 12 days.
“The Jaguars’ underachieving roster will elicit trade inquiries. Rookie-scale players like safety Andre Cisco, running back Travis Etienne Jr. and linebacker Devin Lloyd could be tempting,” ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler wrote.
“I’m not saying the Jags completely start over, but we’ve seen this script before with struggling teams. Jacksonville also has three starting-caliber offensive tackles, with Walker Little the odd man out. Teams are always looking for OT help.”
ESPN’s Jaguars reporter Michael DiRocco built upon Fowler mentioning Little. But instead of considering Little a trade candidate, he raised the fourth-year Jaguar as someone who could benefit from Jacksonville moving another player: Offensive tackle Cam Robinson.
“[Robinson] is a solid veteran (81.7% pass block win rate) in the final year of a three-year, $52.75 million contract, and the Jaguars are unlikely to re-sign him,” said DiRocco. “He could be a short-term rental for a team with an injured left tackle with the potential to sign to a new deal.
“As a swing tackle, Little (90.0% pass block win rate) has been reliable when he has started games for Robinson in the past, so he could slide into the starting spot without a drop-off.”
Robinson is currently in the NFL concussion protocol, which led Little to take over at left tackle for Jacksonville in Week 7.
Looking around the league, the team of ESPN analysts suggested the Carolina Panthers should be interested in Little, the Dallas Cowboys in Etienne, the Seattle Seahawks in Lloyd and the Atlanta Falcons in wide receiver Christian Kirk.
Kirk, Jacksonville’s starting slot receiver, has caught 25 passes for 320 yards and one touchdown this season. Etienne, one of the Jaguars’ top running backs, has rushed 56 times for 230 yards and two touchdowns while nursing shoulder and hamstring injuries this year. Lloyd, who starts at linebacker, has 47 tackles including three for loss, one forced fumble and two pass breakups.
But what if the Jaguars intend to add a player, rather than let one of multiple go? ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak floated Atlanta edge rusher Zach Harrison.
“The Jaguars likely won’t be acquiring anybody at this year’s trade deadline, but I suppose Harrison is a fine target,” Solak wrote.
“A 2023 third-round selection, Harrison fit in the Ryan Nielsen defense in Atlanta. But now that Nielsen is in Jacksonville, Harrison has fallen to 12th in front-seven snaps (85) for Raheem Morris’ defense. I imagine he’d cost little for the Jaguars, who have worryingly thin edge rusher depth behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.”
Harrison has produced eight total tackles this season, after recording 33 tackles and three sacks as a rookie.