The Jacksonville Jaguars have their work cut out for them this offseason. Although they did a good job of addressing the larger scale roster last year, they'll need to make upgrades to several position groups if they want to return to the playoffs in 2026.
Working against the Jags is that they'll be dealing with a cap crunch, but if they manage to get a bit of cap relief, they could pull off a handful of trades that would get them over the top.
Just recently, John Shipley of Sports Illustrated made three trade suggestions that would fix some of Jacksonville's most glaring needs. One of them would solve their struggles on the interior defensive line.
The Jaguars need to call the Commanders about Daron Payne
There's no doubt that the Jaguars need to boost their production at defensive tackle. To make it happen, John Shipley suggests they trade for Daron Payne, noting that the Washington Commanders veteran has been somewhat underwhelming, but a change of scenery would help him get back on track.
"Daron Payne will need a new deal soon, but he certainly has not had his game unlocked since the Commander hired Dan Quinn," Shipley wrote. "Their entire defense has struggled, and a a result, a top-tier player like Payne now looks like he might be a better fit elsewhere. Payne is still just 28 and can make a big impact against the run and pass, even with down seasons lately."
Payne is entering a contract year, so trading him may not be cost-prohibitive. Let's say a fourth and a sixth get a deal done, like it did with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, the Jags should definitely consider making a push for him.
The Commanders, for their part, would most definitely embrace the possibility of moving on from the 2018 first-round pick. After all, he counts $28.01 million against the cap in 2026. Trading him would allow them to free up $16.81 million in space.
Granted, Payne was a bit inconsistent in 2025 but was far from dreadful. In fact, his absence was noticeable late in the season when teams had no trouble running over Washington. The former Alabama standout has averaged 33 total pressures the past three seasons. Jacksonville would be thrilled to have that kind of production at defensive tackle.
Moreover, there's a chance Payne could once again put it all together and wreak havoc as he did in 2022 when he registered a monster 12 sacks and 49 total pressures. Simply put, trading for him would be a solid bet by general manager James Gladstone.
Related: 3 pipedream trades that would turn the Jags into a top contender
Why trading for Daron Payne would turbocharge the Jaguars defense
The Jaguars allowed the fewest yards against the run in the NFL last year. That said, they struggled to bring the heat from the interior defensive line. DaVon Hamilton is a stud against the run but isn't much of a pass rusher. Similarly, Arik Armstead got off to a hot start but faded down the stretch. Maason Smith is also in the mix but was a non-factor in 2025. It's abundantly clear that Jacksonville needs to bring in a couple bigs to fortify the trenches.
The draft will offer several appealing options in Rounds 2 and 3. However, the Jags need immediate help. That's why trading for a veteran who can contribute right off the bat, like Daron Payne, is a feasible course of action. Heck, there's a chance he could enjoy a career revival playing under defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
At worst, Payne would give Jacksonville a veteran presence that can hold the fort while the team's brass finds a long-term answer at defensive tackle. At best, he could fix the team's issues up front.
When you take into account that James Gladstone hasn't been afraid to make trades that will make the team better, making a run for Daron Payne totally makes sense.