I know, I know—you're tired of hearing about trade propositions that we think would make the Jacksonville Jaguars a better football team. And going into the season, I doubted we'd be discussing midseason trades as much as we have, but that's because of two reasons. The first is James "Trade 'em while you got 'em" Gladstone's approach and his lack of fear in making bold moves. We learned this as early as the NFL Draft and were reminded just a couple of weeks ago when the Jags swapped cornerbacks with the Cleveland Browns.
The second reason? The surprisingly good yet inconsistent play of Jacksonville under new head coach Liam Coen. I know that's a wild statement after two straight losses by a combined total of 36 points, but if I told you that Jacksonville would be 4-3 going into the bye with a win over Kansas City on Monday Night Football, you'd have been happy with that.
So relax.
All that to say this: The Jaguars might not be (and probably aren't) done trying to make this team better. They want to win now, and they've shown flashes that they can get it done. Here are three trade targets that just might be in Gladstone's sights.
Jaguars trade target No. 1: Baltimare Ravens tight end Mark Andrews
I'm not suggesting the Jaguars miss former tight end Evan Engram (though I sure do), or that the current starting tight end, Brenton Strange, isn't good enough (he is). But Strange is out with an injury until at least Week 11, and the other options at the position are limited, so it might be in the stars for Gladstone to reach out to the abysmal Baltimore Ravens and see if Mark Andrews is in the market.
Even when Strange comes back, quarterback Trevor Lawrence seems to have a distinct lack of reliable receiving targets. Adding another big body up front who can block and catch the ball—which will in turn bolster a suddenly struggling run game—might be key to unlocking a passing attack that was supposed to be a strength this year.
Related: 3 Jaguars rookies who deserve more playing time after BYE week
Jaguars trade target No.2: Cincinnati defensive end Trey Hendrickson
Get your groans out of the way. Done? Good. I know edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker are good, and that Dawuane Smoot is solid, but the Jaguars have a league-low eight sacks this year. Compare that with Cincinnati defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who has four alone. Jacksonville is getting pressure, but they're not getting home.
Maybe that's a result of a secondary that's allowing 245.7 yards per game, or maybe the secondary is struggling because the rushers aren't getting home. Either way, Hendrickson brings an element of explosiveness that could be game-changing. The problem? The Bengals are 3-4, not yet out of the playoff race, and I doubt they're entertaining a deal.
Jaguars trade target No. 3: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle
This one feels more doable, if I'm being honest. The Miami Dolphins are in complete disarray, with a terrible 1-6 record. The head coach is under fire, with former New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi calling the situation "a joke" (2:30 mark). Without getting into too many more details, suffice to say that the Dolphins aren't exactly in playoff contention, and players are disgruntled and potentially looking for new opportunities.
With Jacksonville's continued struggles at wide receiver—a position many thought would be a strength this year—reaching out to the Dolphins for star receiver Jaylen Waddle might be the next move. Even with their 1-6 record, Waddle has caught 30 balls for 405 yards, numbers that would be team-leading on the Jaguars.
Related: 3 Jags players who deserved to be benched after disastrous loss to Rams
Final thoughts
I'm well aware that these are long shots, but I would have said the same thing about trading up in the draft to acquire Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Time will tell if that was the right move, but these in-season trades might be what the Jaguars need to keep their season alive after a struggling stretch.