At 4-2, the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars are positioned to be a trade deadline buyer in a market where plenty of teams are early sellers. Winless Miami, a slumping Eagles squad, and a struggling Commanders team have all created an early 2026 where a few surprising veterans may be in play. With the Jacksonville defense recently putting up a season-high rushing yards surrendered (114) and points allowed (34), the bye week felt like the perfect time to evaluate where could the Jaguars take a swing via trade after a 2025 season featuring 10 total draft day and in-season trades.
Here are a few potential trade targets for James Gladstone and the Jaguars’ defense, as the November 20th trade deadline approaches.
Defensive Tackle (4)
Daron Payne, DT, Commanders
Projected Trade Value: Brian Thomas Jr for Payne (player for player)
Payne (29) has 14 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in the six 2026 games played and is currently in the final year of a four-year, $90 million extension he signed in 2023. As he carries a current $27.95 million cap hit, any trade would likely require Washington to eat part of his salary, though sending Brian Thomas Jr. (BTJ) the other way, still on his rookie contract, makes that math work. With Washington’s loss of Terry McLaurin for the year due to a torn patellar tendon, and the team sitting at 1-4-1, just two games out of the division lead, optimism for salvaging the season still exists. While Payne’s 108th ranked PFF pass rush grade (55.3) doesn’t pop, the Jacksonville appeal for Payne is a possible role change. Since his 11.5-sack season in 2022 playing primarily 3-technique defensive tackle, Washington has mostly used him as a nose tackle who absorbs double teams in recent years. His role in Jacksonville could be more fluid, playing more of that rotational 3T role with Arik Armstead, or in the 2I role on obvious passing downs, with Davon Hamilton off the field. He would also allow Travon Walker to rush exclusively from the edge instead of kicking inside.
Zach Sieler, DT, Dolphins
Projected Trade Value: Conditional 2027 5th-round pick (that can become a 4th with performance escalators)
Sieler has 12 tackles, two sacks, and five tackles for loss, plus 11 quarterback pressures through five starts for the winless, rebuilding Dolphins. Sieler has had a down season in the struggling Miami defense, reflected by his “down” 62nd ranked PFF pass rush win rate of 63.0. He’s under contract through 2029 and only $10 million of his salary becomes guaranteed in March 2027. The ninth-year veteran has said publicly that he wants to stay in Miami and win there. However, an opportunity to remain in the state whole playing for a contender could serve just as strong a selling point for the 31 year old.
Moro Ojomo, DT, Eagles
Projected Trade Value: 2027 4th-Round Pick
Ojomo, 25, has 13 tackles, 12 quarterback hurries, three hits, and no sacks through six games. Though his pass-rush numbers are somewhat better than that suggests, as his 10.6% pressure rate leads Eagles defensive tackles and is well above the 7.9% league average for the position. However, PFF rates his pass rush grade 114th of 129 qualified interior defensive linemen at 54.0. He’s in the last year of his rookie deal at a $3.67 million base salary, and he posted six sacks last season. With Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis now extended and Philadelphia sitting at 2-4, he looks like he could be the obvious odd man out. With quarterback Jalen Hurts on IR for the remainder of the year and a playoff birth seemingly out of play, a move for future capital makes sense here.
DeForest Buckner, DT, Colts
Projected Trade Value: 2027 3rd-Round Pick + Brian Thomas Jr.
At 32, Buckner is still producing like the elite defensive tackle we’ve seen since 2016. He has started all six games in 2026 with 26 tackles, four sacks, three passes defended, and nine pressures. His contract expires after this season, and a new team would take on his $8.7 million cap hit. He has also been openly frustrated with the Colts’ direction, and Indianapolis recently fired its general manager, signaling a change of guard. Buckner could be a cornerstone in that future rebuild. However, it seems more likely that the team would use the picks gained in his trade in a future roster build. A team trading an elite player to a divisional rival makes this the toughest sell. Two teams trading players in a swap to divisional rivals feels highly unlikely. But with the Colts still in need of receiver help, with Alec Pierce still nursing his offseason heel injury that was re-injured in Week 2, the win-win for both teams clearly exists. Buckner’s 2026 75.3 pass rush grade (13th) reflects a significant upgrade to Arik Armstead’s 56.1 (103rd of 129 qualified edges).
Edge (3)
Will McDonald IV, DE, Jets
Projected Trade Value: 2027 3rd-Round pick (can become a 2nd with sack escalators)
The biggest benefit in trading for McDonald is that he wouldn’t have to carry Jacksonville’s pass rush. He would be free to just win his one-on-one matchups. With his burst and closing speed, the Jaguars could employ a heavier rush-four approach. McDonald had 10.5 sacks in 2024 and eight sacks and 42 pressures last season. This year he has two sacks and 12 pressures in five games, a 14.1% pressure rate. PFF currently grades McDonald with a 71.5 pass rush grade (26th). The Jets picked up his $14.4 million fifth-year option for 2027, so he comes with another year of team control. He’s clearly a good player and still under team control for 2027, but at 2-4 and in a division with the Bills and Patriots, the Jets are obviously looking at another rebuilding year. But they may think they have a legitimate shot at the playoffs in 2027 and choose to hold onto him. A pick that could become a second rounder could move them closer to the trade deadline.
Josh Sweat, DE, Cardinals
Projected Trade Value: Conditional 2027 4th-Round Pick
Sweat is through the guarantees on his four-year, $76.4 million deal he signed in 2025, which gives any buyers flexibility. He’s 29 and in the middle of his prime. But this year has seen a slight dip in his production. He has just two sacks, 6 hurries, three tackles for loss, and 10 pressures, well below his 12-sack, 13-tackle-for-loss 2025. PFF grades Sweat with a 2026 59.2 pass rush grade, 75th among the 115 qualified edges.
Khalil Mack, DE, Chargers
Projected Trade Value: 2027 4th-Round Pick
At 35, Mack is on an expiring deal on a team that sits at 0-6. He has started every game with 19 tackles, three sacks, five tackles for loss, and 11 pressures. The Bears have frequently been mentioned as a potential landing spot for him, though I think Jacksonville could be just as likely. L.A. has reportedly told teams it isn’t interested in dealing, but that stance may not survive many more losses. PFF currently rates Mack with a 75.2 overall grade, 25th among all qualified edges. His 66.1 pass rush grade (40th) is also higher than both Josh Hines-Allen (64.5; 46th) and Travon Walker (62.8; 57th).
Cornerback (2)
Zyon McCollum, CB, Buccaneers
Projected Trade Value: 2027 3rd-Round Pick
McCollum’s 2025 season was a disappointment, but the early returns in 2026 are mixed, despite the team’s 1-5 record. PFF has him at a 63.4 coverage grade (44th), with opposing passers posting a 75.0 rating when targeting him in coverage. But he also has three passes defended, a fumble recovery, a quarterback pressure, and two run stuffs through six games. Given McCollum’s superior man coverage (69.4 PFF coverage grade) paired with his 2024 and 2025 resume, where he was better in zone, he could be a piece that soundly fits in Anthony Campanile’s multiple coverage scheme. As he’s in the first year of a three-year, $48 million extension, the cap picture would obviously be somewhat lopsided. A new team would owe roughly $1.3 million this season, then increase to $15.4 million in 2027 and $16 million in 2028, with a potential out after next season.
Tariq Woolen, CB, Eagles
Projected Trade Value: 2027 4th-Round Pick
Woolen is almost certain to leave in free agency, since Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell are due for extensions. On an expiring contract with a losing team, he’s a natural rental. He has started all six games with 24 tackles, four passes defended, and a forced fumble, but no interceptions. PFF has graded him 71.3 overall, 17th among corners. A buyer would absorb only about $910,000 of cap. Similar to the Ojomo trade, Philadelphia is sitting at 2-4 and unlikely to be a playoff team, it makes since to get something for a player heading to free agency after this season.
Safety (1)
Jessie Bates, S, Falcons
Projected Trade Value: 2027 Conditional 3rd-round pick (could escalate to a 2nd based on performance)
Bates is in the final year of his contract and could ask for a new deal that Atlanta may not want to pay. The Falcons are also leading the NFC South, so a deal isn’t a given. He has 31 tackles and two passes defended through six games, with no 2026 interceptions. PFF has him at 69.5 overall (25th) and 68.3 in coverage (15th). He has 27 career interceptions, and plenty of contenders could use that ball skill from a middle field safety. That, however, is exactly the reason that Atlanta would be resistant to letting him go.
Additional Candidates (3)
In addition to those mentioned, a few others may potentially be available in the right circumstances, such as:
- DT Vita Vea (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- DE Josh Uche (Miami Dolphins)
- S Budda Baker (Arizona Cardinals)
Vea seems unlikely to be moved to Jacksonville, though anything is possible at the right price. Others may be less of a scheme fit, such as Baker, who’s a quality chess piece to move around the secondary, in the same role as Antonio Johnson. However, he may be less of a fit for a Jacksonville defense with a bigger need for a roaming, sideline-to-sideline safety.
Are there any additional names that could be on November’s trade block? Who are your top targets for the Jaguars in the coming weeks? Give us your thoughts in the comments!