General manager James Gladstone is leaving no stone unturned ahead of the November 10 trade deadline. Just hours after the Jacksonville Jaguars acquired Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III, they took another wild swing when they traded for defensive tackle Davon Godchaux.
Although Bates will give the secondary a massive boost, defensive tackle was arguably a bigger need than safety ahead of the deadline because the Jags lost DaVon Hamilton to a quad injury for the remainder of the year.
While Godchaux isn't as big a name as either Jalen Carter or Derrick Brown — both of them were linked to Jacksonville, but both of them appeared to be off-limits — he'll most definitely help fill the void left by Hamilton's absence on the interior defensive line. This begs the question, just how much did Jacksonville have to give up in return for Godchaux?
Full details of the Jaguars trade with the Saints for Davon Godchaux
Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Jaguars sent a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick that can become a 2027 sixth-rounder if they acquire one — Jacksonville doesn't currently have a sixth-round selection next year.
All things considered, that's not a bad price to pay for a run-stopper. And tha'ts the thing, Godchaux isn't great at bringing the heat, having registered just five career sacks since 2017. However, he's most definitely going to help shore up the run defense after losing DaVon Hamilton.
And from a cap perspective, trading for Godchaux will be relatively cheap. After New Orleans converted most of his 2026 salary into a signing bonus, he was slated to make an affordable $1.3 million this season. But since it took place just one day before the deadline, Jacksonville only has to pay the remaining $650,00 for the year.
Keep in mind that this could turn out to be a one-year rental, since Godchaux is scheduled to become a free agent in 2027.
Related: Trade deadline big board: Latest rumors, team needs, potential targets & more
What's next for the Jaguars after trading for Davon Godchaux?
It's hard to tell, but based on James Gladstone's history of making trades, the Jaguars may not be done making deals before the trade deadline. They could still trade for another defensive tackle, one that can bring pressure from the interior. However, Jacksonville could also look for an actual edge rusher.
Josh Sweat may be the best option available, but the Jags could make a run at Khalil Mack. The Los Angeles Chargers have yet to win a game, so maybe they're open to trading the veteran pass rusher.
Of course, the Jaguars can't simply keep making trades for the sake of it. Gladstone has stated that trading isn't just about acquiring talent but also about roster building and finding the best possible fit.
But even if the Jaguars are done after trading for Davon Godchaux, it's fair to say that they did everything they could to address the larger scale roster, and with that, increase their odds of making a deep playoff push.
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