The Jacksonville Jaguars enter Tuesday’s trade deadline with a clear priority: adding help along the defensive interior and in the back end of the defense. Several names have surfaced in the rumor mill, and the whispered asking prices vary widely. Here is a breakdown of the most notable options, who may actually be attainable, and where Jacksonville’s real opportunities may lie.
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New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore stands apart from most of the players on this list. The Patriots are one of the few teams in the league that share a conference with Jacksonville, and they are not exactly a team in free fall that needs to make a deal. At 5-3, they sit second in the AFC East, two games behind the 6-1 Buffalo Bills.
However, Barmore’s role has shrunk in 2026. With Milton Williams and Cory Durden dominating the defensive snaps, Barmore’s snap share has dropped from 66% last season to 44% across seven games, and he has struggled at times, particularly against the run. Yet, his 3.5 sacks in seven games, however, are exactly the kind of interior pass rush Jacksonville is looking for. Through Week 8, Barmore has:
- PFF overall grade of 69.2 (25th), 78.7 pass rush (9th), 44.8 run defense (102nd)
- 3.5 sacks, 14 pressures (7 hurries, 3 hits), and a forced fumble on 217 snaps
- However, just three solo tackles and 5 stops via PFF
Acquiring him would be a bet that he returns to the form he showed from 2023 through 2025. Reports indicate that Jacksonville checked in with New England. The rumored asking price for Barmore is Arik Armstead plus a second to third-round pick. Barmore is under contract for two more seasons, while Armstead is set to become a free agent this offseason. If you view Armstead, an older veteran on a contract year, in the context of recent similar NFL trades, his value would be that of a fourth or fifth-round pick, resulting in this trade being the equivalent ask of a third and a fourth for Barmore.
My read: Baltimore is a great contingency plan if multiple of the top two to three options were to fall through. However, bringing in Barmore while jettisoning Armstead carries some risk, especially considering that cost.
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The Carolina Panthers actually offer two possibilities. Bobby Brown III, the roughly 330-pound defensive tackle, plays the three-four defensive tackle spot in Carolina but would project as a nose tackle in Jacksonville’s 4-3 front. He is the more affordable option of the two Panthers prospects.
- Bobby Brown: 70.1 PFF overall (24th), 62.5 pass rush (65th), 52.0 run defense (76th)
- 0 sacks, 7 pressures (all hurries), on 142 snaps
However, when discussing big fish, teams have also reportedly inquired about the better of the two Browns, Derrick Brown, who would be a far more expensive piece. He could play nose tackle while contributing more as a pass rusher for Jacksonville. Carolina reportedly does not want to move him, however, and he is under contract for two more seasons. With that context, the Panthers could easily ask for a first-round pick and possibly more.
- Derrick Brown: 76.5 PFF overall (13th), 65.2 pass rush (51st), 84.7 run defense (4th)
- 0 sacks, 15 pressures on 333 snaps
What makes the Panthers an interesting, potential trade partner, is the situation in Carolina is currently unsettled. The Panthers fired their defensive coordinator and passing game coordinator a week ago, and former Jaguars coach Todd Wash is now calling the defense as interim coordinator. A new hire and a revamped defense are likely coming this offseason. Without the knowledge of who is going to be the next defensive coordinator or what system they will run, it could make total sense to allow the incoming defensive coordinator a clean slate with more resources to build it out in their image. However, with Carolina leading their division with a sub .500 record, another layer of complexity is added towards completing a deal.
My read: the Jaguars would love Derrick Brown as their big fish. However, they would be happy to land Bobby Brown as a contingency. A Panthers loss on Sunday would go a long way toward providing some clarity to this prospective negotiation.
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There are team executives around the NFL who currently believe they have a real chance to land Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea at this deadline. And there are rumors that Jacksonville reached out to gauge interest in the big man over the past week. Vea’s primary obstacles somewhat resemble the Derrick Brown situation, however. Tampa Bay sits one game back in the division, Vea is 31 years old with one year remaining on his contract, and the Buccaneers are rumored to be asking for a first-round pick.
- 55.6 overall grade (79th), 58.8 pass rush (85th), 48.9 run defense (85th)
- 1 sack, 13 pressures, 8 solo tackles and 5 assists on 348 snaps
- That’s a notable drop from last year’s 72.8 overall, 77.0 pass-rush, and 62.5 run-defense grades, coupled with 51 pressures, and 4.5 sacks
Vita has also been heavily linked to the New York Giants, which raises the possibility of a bidding war that helps Tampa Bay get the first-round pick it seeks.
My read: With Jacksonville losing Davon Hamilton, they clearly are searching far and wide to confirm all available options. Vita is a dominant nose tackle option. However, the probability of Tampa trading him in such a close division race becomes the primary inhibitor. Jacksonville would have to significantly overpay to force the Buccaneers’ hand in moving off of Vea.
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Trade conversations involving the Arizona Cardinals must start with safety Budda Baker, the versatile defender who can line up anywhere from deep safety to the line of scrimmage. Through eight games, he has 51 tackles, one interception, and 3.5 sacks. At 30 years old, he is under contract through next season with a $20 million cap hit unless he is extended.
- 61.5 overall grade (43rd), 51.3 coverage grade (68th), 73.8 run defense (34th)
- 1 interception, three passes defenses. allowing a 117.8 passer rating when targeted. 35 solo tackles and 9 assists in 502 snaps
An unnamed NFL executive spoke with The Athletic, stating that, as was the case at last year’s deadline, he believes Baker cannot be pried away from Arizona. Even if he does become available, there are no guarantees that Jacksonville would be the eventual landing spot. Baker has been linked to Buffalo for two straight offseasons. Jacksonville has been linked to Baker per multiple reports, and some analysts have Budda valued at a 2027 third-round pick. Also, while Jacksonville is on the phone, it would be fair to ask about nose tackle Roy Lopez or Edge Josh Sweat as well, though that has not been reported.
My read: With the loss of Eric Murray for the season, Jacksonville could use a consistent veteran option on the back end, allowing them to use Ray Lane as the third safety that Anthony Campanile loves to use so frequently. Yet, this one is more difficult to read, as Baker has seemingly been on the trade block since 2023, with no movement. This one feels like a true coin flip.
Philadelphia Eagles’ DT Duo
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 04: Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo #97 waves to the fans during the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles on October 4, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.(Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
According to multiple recent reports, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo may be one of Jacksonville’s primary targets. Ojomo is a 25-year-old, 292-pound Nigerian-born interior lineman. The challenge is that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is one of the league’s shrewdest negotiators and has reportedly turned away multiple teams asking about Ojomo. Many around the league believe a team could, theoretically, land him for a second-round pick if Roseman were to ever soften his stance.
- Moro Ojomo: 57.6 overall grade (72nd), 56.5 pass rush (97th), 57.1 run defense (57th).
- 0 sacks, 18 pressures, 14 solo tackles and 7 assists on 335 snaps
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 1: Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles sacks Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders during the third quarter of an NFL football game at Northwest Stadium on November 1, 2026 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) Getty Images
The more significant complication is that Philadelphia recently extended its other 25-year-old, two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Roseman is reportedly pushing inquiring teams towards a Carter trade instead. The more expensive option would clearly help in jump-starting the Eagles’ coming retooling. Philadelphia reportedly prefers to extend Ojomo, or at least that is how the team is currently posturing. With a negotiator of Roseman’s background, it is possible this is all simply an effort to drive up Ojomo’s eventual price. As it stands, the reported asking price for Carter is a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, and an additional second or third-round pick.
- Jalen Carter: 58.1 overall grade (68th), 57.1 pass rush (93rd), 58.5 run defense (51st).
- 4 sacks, 18 pressures, 10 solo tackles, and 7 assists on 468 snaps. He’s also forced 3 fumbles on the season.
- Carter’s overall grade rose slightly from 55.1 in 2025, while his 2026 pass rush dropped from 78.8, coupled with 41 pressures, and 3 sacks
My read: Jacksonville would prefer to add Ojomo at his reported cost over a deal for Jalen Carter at a rate approaching the Myles Garrett trade. However, beggars can’t be choosers, and Jacksonville clearly is in need of additional defensive tackle talent while their Super Bowl window exists.
07 November 2026, Saxony-Anhalt, Veckenstedt: Normen Wolf carries a mirror carp to the sorting table at the Veckenstedt Fish Farm. The Veckenstedt Fish Farm expects to harvest about 30 metric tons of carp for the entire fishing season. Photo: Matthias Bein/dpa (Photo by Matthias Bein/picture alliance via Getty Images)
When fans and local media mention that the Jacksonville Jaguars are big-game fishing at this 2026 trade deadline, the national reporting and rumor mills seem to back that up. Jacksonville has reportedly spoken to teams about:
- Derrick Brown
- Jalen Carter
- Vita Vea
Those are the biggest fish reasonably available, and it would seem that Jacksonville general manager James Gladstone is at least somewhat comfortable with the prices being discussed. Yet, even if Jacksonville were to strike out on all three prospects, I believe the team may still walk away Tuesday with one to two very good players. These are just the names that we are hearing about; I can’t imagine what other names aren’t being mentioned nationally or publicly that could shock everyone on Tuesday. Time to wait and see, Duval.