JACKSONVILLE – This was about building, improving and winning.
James Gladstone spoke to the media Tuesday, a day after one of the highest-profile transactional days in the Jaguars' 32-season history. When discussing that day, the Jaguars' second-year general manager emphasized that the idea is to win and improve. Always.
And Monday was a part of that idea.
"The idea that this is an all-in move isn't necessarily how I characterize it," Gladstone said Tuesday as the AFC South-leading Jaguars (6-2) prepared to play the Tennessee Titans (1-7) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. Sunday.
"I characterize it as getting better as a football team and prioritizing getting better as a football team."
The Jaguars on Monday acquired the following three players:
- Defensive tackle Jordan Davis from the Philadelphia Eagles for a first-round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft and a 2029 second-round selection.
- Safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons for a 2027 second-round selection and a 2028 fifth-round selection.
- Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the New Orleans Saints for a conditional sixth-round selection.
"The priority is winning football games," Gladstone said, adding, "What comes next is even more important. How do we prepare for our next opponent and make sure that we put ourselves in the best positions over the course of this week in particular to be at our best come Sunday?"
Gladstone emphasized that the moves were "not rooted simply in talent."
"This is about team building," Gladstone said. "All three of the players we traded for earlier this week we feel very strongly will mesh with how we move, our style of play and our culture by just simply leaning into who they are naturally.
"I look forward to seeing it all come to life and being a part of bringing it to life here this week and beyond. But the intent behind any decision that we make is what's in the best interest of this team in particular and the organization as a whole moving forward."
Check out the newest Jaguars, S Jessie Bates III, DT Jordan Davis and DT Davon Godchaux, as they meet their new coaches and check out the practice facility on their first day in Jacksonville!
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III meets general manager James Gladstone at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III meets executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III meets head coach Liam Coen at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III meets head coach Liam Coen at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III meets football leadership at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III meets football leadership at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III meets football leadership at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III meets football leadership at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III meets assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator Shane Waldron at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Jessie Bates III meets defensive pass game coordinator Mathieu Araujo at the Miller Electric Center on November 9, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Davon Godchaux arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Davis arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Davis arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Davis arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Davon Godchaux arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Davis arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Davis arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Davis meets executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Jordan Davis and Davon Godchaux meet their new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis meet their defensive line coach Matt Edwards at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis meet their defensive line coach Matt Edwards at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Davon Godchaux meets quarterback Trevor Lawrence at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Davis meets quarterback Trevor Lawrence at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Davis meets quarterback Trevor Lawrence at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Davon Godchaux meets defensive end Travon Walker at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Defensive linemen Travon Walker and Jordan Davis, teammates at Georgia (2019-2021) reunite as Jaguars at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Defensive linemen Travon Walker and Jordan Davis, teammates at Georgia (2019-2021) reunite as Jaguars at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Defensive linemen Travon Walker and Jordan Davis, teammates at Georgia (2019-2021) reunite as Jaguars at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Defensive linemen Travon Walker and Jordan Davis, teammates at Georgia (2019-2021) reunite as Jaguars at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Defensive linemen Travon Walker and Jordan Davis, teammates at Georgia (2019-2021) reunite as Jaguars at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Defensive linemen Travon Walker and Jordan Davis, teammates at Georgia (2019-2021) reunite as Jaguars at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Defensive linemen Travon Walker and Jordan Davis, teammates at Georgia (2019-2021) reunite as Jaguars at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Davon Godchaux meets offensive lineman Jonah Monheim at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Defensive linemen Travon Walker and Jordan Davis, teammates at Georgia (2019-2021) reunite as Jaguars at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on November 10, 2026.
Davis is under contract through the 2028 season, with Bates and Godchaux in the final seasons of their contracts. Gladstone on Tuesday discussed the possibility of re-signing Bates, saying, "You can see very quickly that Jesse is a match for all the elements that we appreciate in both a player and a person."
"We'd love to make sure that Jessie gets his chance to settle in and become a part of this year's team, then see what comes after it in an organic and natural way," Gladstone said.
Davis and Godchaux figure to be critical to a Jaguars run defense that ranked first in the NFL last season and ranks first this season. The Jaguars consider run defense a defensive "pillar" along with preventing "explosive" plays and forcing turnovers, with Bates figuring to be key in the latter two areas.
"What Jesse's able to do in coverage is certainly notable," Gladstone said, calling Bates, "Extremely good and secure when it comes to being the last line and really not allowing stuff to slip out, and minimizing the opportunities for run after catch and even stuff getting over your head, while at the same time being able to take the ball away at a high clip – whether it's forcing fumbles or creating interceptions."
The Jaguars last week placed nose tackle DaVon Hamilton, considered as important as any player to their run defense, on injured reserve.
"That's an area where we did not want to feel void of options as we progress," Gladstone said.
The Future is Now
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The NFL's trade deadline was Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Jaguars now have executed four "trade-deadline" deals in two seasons under Gladstone, Head Coach Liam Coen and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli. They traded for wide receiver Jakobi Meyers just before the 2025 trade deadline.
"Good teams can be built in an offseason, but it's important for the best teams to continue to evolve over the course of the year," Gladstone said.
The Jaguars enter Sunday having won their last two games – over the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens – by a cumulative 75-10. They lead the AFC South by three games, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence having thrown 18 touchdowns with four interceptions this season.
"We have a lot of trust in our head coach, a lot of trust in our coaching staff, a lot of trust in Trevor and a lot of trust in the team itself," Gladstone said. "That plays a significant role in some of these decisions, but at the same time, football's bigger than any one individual.
"I feel good about where we are as a team at this stage. But we have to continue to find ways to level up here moving forward in the back half of the season in order to get what we want out of this."
