Jaguars: The CJ Henderson trade shows cracks in rebuild, 2 takeaways

Before the start of the 2021 NFL regular season, reports surfaced about Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson being available via trade. At the time, no deal came to fruition and the former Gator remained with the team. However, things have now changed and the Jags have finally dealt him.

The Jaguars have announced they traded Henderson to the Carolina Panthers for tight end Dan Arnold. The second-year cornerback played the first two games of the season and missed the Jags’ Week 3 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals with a groin injury. He played 108 defensive snaps and logged eight total tackles and one tackle for a loss. Moreover, he allowed five receptions and one receiving touchdown on eight targets and posted a Pro Football Focus grade of 51.1. What Kind of player did the Jaguars get in Arnold?

The tight end signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2017 after going undrafted. He spent that year on the Injured/Reserve list, and made his debut in The Big Easy until 2018. He was waived in December 2019 and promptly claimed by the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent the 2020 season. He then signed with the Panthers this offseason, playing all three games and hauling in seven receptions for 84 yards.

If the Jaguars traded for Arnold, it’s because they weren’t pleased with their current tight end room. Also, they probably didn’t see Henderson as part of the rebuild. This move may help the team in the long run but it doesn’t look good right now. Here are a couple of observations about the deal.