The Jacksonville Jaguars won the Tank Bigsby trade. That already looks evident. Two weeks into his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, the running back has struggled to make any impact whatsoever. The fifth and sixth-round draft picks the Jags got in return will help this team to fill in some holes in 2026. It's a great move for this new regime.
But it could have been so much better if they were just a little more patient.
After a chaotic Week 3 in the NFL, multiple playoff hopefuls are left with a glaring need at running back. If Jacksonville had held onto Bigsby for a couple more weeks, it would have had all of the leverage in trade talks for the young back.
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Jaguars could have scored even bigger on Tank Bigsby trade
Desperation is the main ingredient in an overpay, especially when playoff chances are on the line. With multiple running backs suffering injuries in Week 3, a few teams sorely need help at the position.
The Los Angeles Chargers saw their rushing attack take a major hit when Najee Harris suffered a torn Achilles' tendon in their game against the Denver Broncos. Now, their backfield is almost entirely dependent on rookie Omarion Hampton, who has been inconsistent through three weeks. The Chargers currently lead the AFC West at 3-0 and could be in the market for help at running back in the coming days.
The Arizona Cardinals took on a similar fate, as veteran James Conner suffered a foot injury that will require surgery. He'll miss the rest of the season and may never return to his best. With Conner sidelined, the Cardinals will rely on second-year back Trey Benson. The former third-round pick has shown flashes of potential, but he may not be ready to carry the run-heavy offense of a playoff hopeful.
The week before, the Minnesota Vikings lost Aaron Jones for significant time. Their desperation drove them to bring Cam Akers back, but they could still use help at the position.
With multiple teams potentially on the lookout for running back depth, the Jaguars could have had a bidding war for Bigsby. What once was a pair of late-round picks might now be a fourth or even third-rounder. Of course, you can't blame general manager James Gladstone for making the move when it was available. It looks like Jacksonville will still come out on the right side of history on this trade, but the results could have been even sweeter if they had waited to make the move.