TRADES THE JAGUARS SHOULD PURSUE BEFORE THE DEADLINE

Taven Bryan (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)

Let's make a deal!

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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The NFL trade deadline for the 2020 season is Tuesday, November 3rd (VOTE), at 4 pm EST. With the Jaguars sitting at 1-6, should they attempt to make some trades before the deadline?

The answer, my friends, is yes. Many will suggest that a young team with a terrible record should only be sellers, and while I believe there are a couple of players the Jaguars would be wise to part ways with, there are also a few situations around the league that Jaguars should keep tabs on. The Jaguars are an awful team, but that doesn't mean they need to wait until the 2021 offseason to start adding young talent.

Let's take a look at a few trades that would make sense for these young Jags. 

Players to Deal

Taven Bryan

With his lack of impact from the 3-tech spot, Taven Bryan is proving week in and week out that he was a waste of a first-round pick. Of the two positions on the defensive interior, 3-tech is the one designed to create disruption in the run game and pressure against the pass. Far too often, Bryan struggles to make any impact for the Jaguars. In his third year as a pro, the development simply hasn't been there for the "Wyoming Wild Man." The Jaguars can't go into 2021 with the same plan on the defensive line's interior. They should look to get anything they can for Taven Bryan. He has registered only 3.5 career sacks and has regressed in 2020, but some teams may feel like they could tap into the potential he showed at Florida and at times in Jacksonville. 

DJ Hayden

Since he arrived in Jacksonville in 2018, DJ Hayden has been one of the most consistent players on the defensive side of the ball for the Jaguars. But Hayden's contract is set to expire after the 2020 season, and the Jags have multiple young players that could potentially fill his role at nickel cornerback. Either Tre Herndon and rookie Josiah Scott could fill that role.  The potential snag is here is that Hayden isn't currently healthy (hamstring). But he is eligible to return from IR and could help a title contender in the slot. Hayden isn't likely to be a Jaguar in 2021, so recouping some draft capital for him right now would be a prudent move. 

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Players to Pursue

Quinnen Williams

The Jets have been rumored to be seeking a trade partner for the third overall selection in the 2019 draft, Quinnen Williams. Williams is the brother of Jaguars' linebacker Quincy Williams. Cultivating a reunion between the two could be a wise move. This take is dependent on what the Jets are looking for in return. Still, Williams has positional versatility along the defensive line and could be exactly what the Jaguars thought they were getting in Taven Bryan. Williams has registered 5.5 sacks in just a season and a half of play. If the Jaguars acquire Williams, they will control his contract (if they used the fifth-year option) through the 2023 season. 

Desmond King

On Monday morning, Adam Schefter reported that the Chargers are shopping cornerback Desmond King. King would provide assistance for the Jaguars at multiple positions and is only 25 years old. He can play slot cornerback, strong safety, and free safety. The former All-Pro also has excellent punt return ability, an area the Jaguars have struggled with in recent years. If the Jaguars could add King to the mix for a day three pick, he would make a lot of sense for a team with one of the worst defenses in football. The only downfall here is that his contract is set to expire after the 2020 season, so the Jags would need to be ready to sign King to a long term deal. 

While there are plenty of trade options for the Jaguars that could help the team in the present and the future, we may not see much activity from Dave Caldwell and company as the trade deadline approaches. 

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