It's fitting that the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't leave their chaotic win against the Philadelphia Eagles unscathed, as there's a strong chance that Anton Harrison will be out for a significant amount of time.
Losing Harrison sucks for multiple reasons, but his growth at left tackle was giving Jacksonville hope that it had finally found a long-term answer for that position. Now that we're in the thick of the NFL season, finding a veteran offensive tackle worth his salt is going to be quite difficult. Luckily, the Miami Dolphins appear to be sellers going into the trade deadline.
Rumor has it that Austin Jackson, a former first-round pick, isn't likely to get a new deal from the 'Phins. In fact, some estimates project that he could be acquired for a late-round pick. If true, James Gladstone could arrange the terms of the deal right now and finalize it when the Jags return to the US. That would give Liam Coen and his staff some breathing room while they wait for the final update on Harrison's status.
Austin Jackson's contract makes him the Jaguars' perfect short-term fix
An interesting tidbit to consider is that Jackson is technically in the last year of his contract. Gladstone could bring him in as a one-year rental since his 2027 season is already voided. Daniel Faalele is still waiting for his chance to shine, so the Jags can't let the active roster get too crowded before looking at the other moves they can make.
Unfortunately, a former first-round pick in the trenches wouldn't be available if he were an elite talent. Coverage of his play shows that Jackson has been underwhelming and inconsistent during the early part of the season.
Beggars can't be choosers, and offensive tackles with any level of potential don't grow on trees. Anton Harrison's ambiguous health status creates an opportunity for a developmental prospect to get some reps and make a name for himself in Jax.
If he plays well, the Jaguars will have someone who can keep the train rolling. Likewise, Jackson will have the tape necessary to rebuild his reputation before hitting free agency.
Where would Austin Jackson fit on the Jaguars depth chart?
On paper, Cole Van Lanen would move back to left tackle for the time being. Walker Little will probably be the right tackle until Jackson is brought in.
Jacksonville's right tackle position is tricky because Anton Harrison had it locked down for years. With him moving to the left side, all the competition during the preseason was focused on the same position Jackson plays for the Dolphins. That means the coaches have already seen how serviceable Little can be on the outside.
Jackson has also played some guard in the past, but Emmanuel Pregnon and Ezra Cleveland are unlikely to be benched for a new arrival. That prevents Little and backups like Wyatt Milum from shifting inside to give Jackson a chance to see the field.
The current landscape of the situation shows that trading for Jackson would be a depth move at best. Of course, that's probably how the general managers on both ends of the transaction feel.
So why make the move?
Miami is looking for extra capital in a 2027 draft that is supposed to be loaded. On the flip side, the Jaguars are desperate to make sure their magical run isn't derailed by injuries in the trenches.
If you're on the pro scouting staff, you have a wealth of NFL film to watch before sending your report to Gladstone. If he's truly that bad, you at least have another tackle in the building in case an emergency happens.
And we all know the importance of having someone available when an emergency happens.
The deal probably won't happen this week because of the difficulties of bringing someone in while temporarily operating overseas. However, the Jags need to move fast if they want to get insurance for a position that has lacked elite talent for a while.
Jackson might not be the best the market has to offer, but he's definitely better than nothing at all.
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