JACKSONVILLE – Lookahead Wednesday.
Let's get to it …
Fernando from Panama City, Panama
Mr. O: What do you think of the (now) mainstream Jags? I am 100 percent aligned with the win-now mentality. Go Jags!!!
I have not unexpectedly received a few emails along these lines since Monday, when the Jaguars made three high-profile acquisitions via trade – defensive tackle Jordan Davis from the Philadelphia Eagles, safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the New Orleans Saints. The Jaguars traded a first-round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft and a 2029 second-round selection for Davis, and the Bates trade included a 2027 second-round selection. When a division-leading team spends that sort of draft equity at midseason, it is going to receive a lot of attention – positive and otherwise – so I suppose that indeed brings the once-overlooked Jaguars squarely into the "mainstream." How many people pay attention to the Jaguars and what those people say about the Jaguars concerns me not a whit. What do I think of the Jaguars now? I think they're a defense that should continue to be outstanding against the run, and I think they are a better secondary now than when the season began. I think the offense is playing at the same high level as their quarterback. I think they have had a win-now mentality since the start of the 2025 season and that people outside the organization are now catching up to that mentality because of Monday's high-profile moves. I think the Jaguars were legitimate Super Bowl contenders before Monday and I think they remain legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Stay tuned.
Ray from Newport News, VA
So, it is Super Bowl or bust. Don't draft and develop. Mortgage the future. Yes, a Super Bowl would be great. But let's build a contending team that can contend for a decade. We don't have the cap space for Jordan Davis. Really disappointed with this particular move. Too much draft capital for a large cap hit.
It's not Super Bowl or bust. The Jaguars have drafted and developed, and they will continue to do so. As long as quarterback Trevor Lawrence is healthy, they can build around him and contend. The Jaguars do have the salary-cap space for Davis.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, Texas
Trade Machine!!! Who is the real winner here? The Jaguars or a senior writer that doesn't have to cover the first two rounds of the draft now in 2028?
/Raises hand.
Jeff from Grass Valley, CA
I can't help but sit here and wonder if Les Snead, general manager of the Los Angeles Rams, is sitting in his office thinking, "That's my man." First Coast vs. Gold Coast Super Bowl. JAGS vs. San Francisco 49ers! LET'S GO JAGS! DUUUVALL!
Snead and Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone worked together for nine years with the Rams and therefore unsurprisingly share many of the same football philosophies. Snead certainly could relate to the Jaguars' moves on Monday.
Bates from Saint Johns County and Columbus, OH
I am pumped about the three new Jags. If you had to guess about signing Jesse to a new contract, what would you say?
If he fits as well as the team expects he will fit, I expect the Jaguars will re-sign him.
Nick from Annapolis, MD
I see some comments about the value of the Jordan Davis trade in the interwebs. I see some notes that it's about being all in on now at the expense of the future. I do not think that is accurate at all. They have acquired a defensive tackle talent entering his prime that will likely be unreachable for the foreseeable future (top 15 pick). If they value having top-tier talent on the defensive interior, this is the only way to do it.
The interweb and people dressing up on television are fine for entertainment purposes. If you are searching for accuracy and perspective, those are not always the places to look, Davis is 26 years old, plays a position – defensive tackle – where players typically enter their prime in their late 20s and is under contract through 2028. He is not a rental player and is very much expected to be a core part of the defensive line beyond 2026.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX
KOAF: So, who do we have on the board for the No. 96 pick of the 2027 NFL Draft?
Nicholas' got jokes.
Chris from Mandarin
I am having trouble figuring out a way for opposing offenses to run against a front four of defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, Jordan Davis, Davon Godchaux and defensive end Travon Walker. Cool.
Stopping the run is critical to the Jaguars' defense and therefore critical to their success. This is why losing nose tackle DaVon Hamilton for the season last week was so concerning. Acquiring Davis and Godchaux was an effort to alleviate that concern.
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
Even when the Jaguars are aggressive at the trade deadline, you still suck.
The Jaguars visit the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday.
Jesse from CA
Well, O. Gladstone continues to not shy away from aggressively pursuing talent. I am just worried we are mortgaging our future and potentially closing our window way sooner than necessary to go all in this year. Maybe I am getting old, but I have always believed you build through the draft, and goal is to make playoffs every year hoping you get hot on a few of those years to make a run. I just hope we win it all this year, or it is going to hurt next year. O, where are you at on this one?
Nothing that happened Monday and nothing about the Jaguars' roster – or salary-cap situation – indicates that they can't be good – really good – in 2027.
Chris from Glens Falls, NY
Masterclass work by Gladstone. Getting an in-prime Davis with term on his deal makes dealing that first totally worth it. Bates gives them the much-needed secondary upgrade that is an easy candidate for an extension. Godchaux makes for important depth. Kudos for going all-in with the team playing great. Here's to hoping the gods are on Duval's side in the postseason!
You can't control the football gods. What you can do is get all the percentages possible in your favor and the Jaguars appear to have done that.
Haney from Little Elm, TC
In terms of Davis' contract, how does that affect this year's salary cap? Do they have to cut anyone to make room for the cost of his current deal?
The Jaguars will not have to release players to make room for Davis' contract.
Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL
Jon, please tell me this is not a case of mortgaging the future just to win this year. I would hate to waste several years of the Trevor Lawrence window because he doesn't have the horses because we don't have cap space and no draft equity.
Two thoughts. One is that the Jaguars' window is open as long as Lawrence is healthy and playing like is now – like an elite quarterback. Two is that while no situation is identical, the Rams of the last decade or so took a somewhat similar approach with draft capital at times and have had one losing season in that span … so it's not as if there's not some history that teams can sustain winning with this approach.
Ed from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Good trades, but my concern is that these players getting traded, having to move family, etc. will lose a step or maybe two for a few games. In your experience, do you feel that these tradees will perform at the high level expected?
There likely will be a bit of an adjustment period – a game or two(ish) perhaps a bit more for Bates than for Davis and Godchaux because of the nature of the positions.
J. Hooks from Mandarin
Realistically, how long do you think it will take these guys to get assimilated and comfortable enough in Camp's system to see them on the field for game day?
Six days.
Big Jags Fan from Jacksonville
GM James' mentor Les Smith of the Rams has been quoted stating "f*** the picks" when asked about trading away draft picks to acquire players that can take them deep into the playoffs. I like this aggressiveness to win while the window is open for the Super Bowl. How do you feel about this approach?
The Jaguars' window for the Super Bowl is open as long as Lawrence is in his prime. The Jaguars were aggressive Monday, but not ridiculously so. Trading what likely will be a first-round selection and a future second-round selection for a 26-year-old elite defensive tackle is not ridiculous. Nor is trading a sixth-round selection for a defensive tackle. Nor is trading a second-round selection for a front-line safety in his prime.
Joe from Living in St. Johns, down by the river
Monday was a good day to be a Jaguar fan John. "Jimmy Stones" is playing to win!
Always has been, always will be.
