Jaguars trade Dante Fowler to the Los Angeles Rams
By David Levin
Minutes before the NFL trade deadline, the Jacksonville Jaguars send defensive end Dante Fowler to the Los Angeles Rams in return for draft compensation.
Dante Fowler wasn’t going to be part of the Jacksonville Jaguars 2019 plans. The fourth-year defensive end was traded on Tuesday to the Los Angeles Rams for draft picks. Per Jaguars.com, Fowler, a 2015 first-round draft pick, was sent to the Rams in exchange for a 2019 third-round draft pick and a 2020 fifth-round pick.
There had been talk this offseason that since the team did not pick up the former Florida standout’s fifth-year option, this would be his final season in North Florida. The Jaguars wanted to get something in return for Fowler instead of releasing him at the end of the season.
Fowler’s name had been linked to the New York Jets this offseason, in a deal that could have brought quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to Jacksonville to compete with current quarterback Blake Bortles. Bridgewater is now a backup in New Orleans behind Drew Brees.
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Fowler had a controversial career in Jacksonville that started off with a knee injury that wiped out his rookie season. He was suspended for the first game of the 2018 season for violating the NFL’s code of conduct and was suspended during training camp for a week (with Jalen Ramsey) for being involved in a skirmish with teammates on the practice field.
"Per the Jaguars public relations department, “Fowler, the 2015 NFL Draft’s third overall pick, has appeared in 39 games for the Jaguars and made one start. In 2018, he’s registered five tackles, 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. In 2017, he recorded a career-high 8.0 sacks and played in all 16 regular season games. Fowler recorded a career-high 32 tackles in 2016.”"
The deal works out well for the Jaguars as they are able to add more draft picks for the 2019 NFL Draft. The team now has seven picks.
If the selection process were held today, Jacksonville would select ninth overall by virtue of their 3-5 record. The Jaguars currently sit third in the AFC South after losing four straight games before heading into the bye week.
"As the website points out, “The Jaguars have eight picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, including one selection in the first, second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh rounds, as well as two selections in the fifth round (one acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in today’s trade).”"
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The move now opens the door for more playing time for Dawuane Smoot, the team’s 2017 third-round pick out of Illinois.