Throughout the draft cycle, there's plenty of speculation. Some turn out to be true, but plenty it's just noise. For instance, Travon Walker has been the subject of trade chatter after free agency. However, it's hard to picture a scenario where the Jacksonville Jaguars would trade him.
Sure, Walker hasn't been nearly as dominant as Aidan Hutchinson, but that doesn't mean he's been bad. In fact, he's been low-key consistent, tallying 10 sacks in back-to-back seasons. With Anthony Campanile taking over the defense, it wouldn't be shocking to see the former Georgia Bulldog have a breakout season.
Add the fact that he's set to have manageable cap hits in 2025 and 2026, and Jacksonville wouldn't be incentivized to trade him, even if someone offered a couple of second-round picks. Having said that, there are a few other Jaguars who have a chance of landing on the trade block before or after the draft. These four come to mind.
Luke Fortner, center
When the Jaguars drafted Luke Fortner, they thought they had found a long-term replacement for Brandon Linder. However, that hasn't been the case. A third-round pick in 2022, the former Kentucky Wildcat was inconsistent as a rookie but flashed enough to make you think that he could improve. He didn't and instead took a massive step back in 2023.
Fortner struggled so badly in his sophomore campaign that Jacksonville signed veteran Mitch Morse to start at center. Morse is now retired, but the team's brass showed that they're not high on Fortner when they signed Robert Heinsey in free agency.
The Jags could continue to beef up their trenches in the draft, and if they do, Fortner could be the odd man out. Then again, he's started 32 games, and teams in need of depth at center could probably get him in exchange for a seventh-round pick.
Cole Van Lanen, offensive tackle
While Walker Little has been discussed as trade fodder, fellow offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen has a higher chance of switching teams in the upcoming months. The former Wisconsin Badger can line up on either side and even play guard if needed.
The new regime just gave him a one-year tender, but his versatility at the line of scrimmage may prompt teams to give Jacksonville a call. Furthermore, the Jags just signed Fred Johnson, so they can afford to move on from Van Lanen.
When you consider that the Jaguars wouldn't free up cap space if they traded Walker but would save up $3.4 million with Van Lanen, it's easy to see who has a higher chance of getting traded.
Travis Etienne, running back
Since the end of the 2024 season, there's been speculation about the Jags trading Travis Etienne. While he remains on the roster despite the fact that Christian Kirk and Evan Engram got the boot, he could find himself suiting up for a different team in 2025.
There's no doubt that Etienne can play, having amassed more than 1,400 yards from scrimmage in both 2022 and 2023. Having said that, this is a deep running back class, and the new regime hasn't shied away from moving on from players inherited.
When you add it all up, it's not shocking that Pro Football Focus thinks Eitenne is Jacksonville's best-remaining trade asset.