The Jacksonville Jaguars are currently dealing with a cap crunch, even after the NFL announced an increase to the salary cap for 2026. Once they get out of the red, they'll need to address a handful of needs if they want to make the playoffs for the second year in a row.
While the cap may limit the Jags' ability to make splash signings in free agency, they could try other venues to make upgrades to the roster. General manager James Gladstone showed last year that he's not afraid to make trades if they'll improve the team. That's why nobody will bat an eye if he gets on the phone and tries to get a few deals done throughout the offseason.
Just recently, an NFL analyst made a handful of trade suggestions for the Jaguars, and there's one that Gladstone should set his sights on.
The Jaguars are being urged to get in touch with the Chiefs to trade for Trent McDuffie
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report drew up a list of players each NFL team should trade for and chose Trent McDuffie for the Jaguars, pointing out that he may be available because the Kansas City Chiefs are dealing with a cap crunch.
"Greg Newsome II and Montaric Brown are both free agents," Ballentine wrote. "The Chiefs have a tough cap space situation to manage and have resorted to trading a star cornerback before. They could make McDuffie the next L'Jarius Sneed, and the Jags should be interested."
For context, the Chiefs applied the franchise tag on L'Jarius Sneed in 2024 and later traded him to the Tennessee Titans in return for a third-round pick and a swap of seventh-round selections.
Circling back to McDuffie, Kansas City drafted him 21st overall in 2022. He earned First and Second-Team All-Pro designations in 2023 and 2024, respectively, so he could most definitely give Jacksonville a boost at corner. Later, Ballentine argues that McDuffie would be the perfect starter opposite Travis Hunter in the boundaries.
"His ability to play both inside and out would pair well with Travis Hunter, who might only be a part-time corner," Ballentine said.
Precisely because Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown are scheduled to become free agents, James Gladstone said in his end-of-the-season press conference that Travis Hunter could see more playing time at corner once he returns from the LCL injury that cut his rookie campaign short.
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Why the Jaguars could have trouble trading for Trent McDuffie
There's no doubt that trading for Trent McDuffie would be huge for the Jaguars. That said, it won't come cheap. Last year, the Indianapolis Colts gave up two first-round selections for Sauce Gardner. It's possible that the Chiefs will be looking for similar compensation in return for the star corner, but maybe a first and a second (possibly a first and a third) could get a deal done.
The issue is that the Jaguars don't have a first-round selection in 2026 after trading for Travis Hunter last year. Having said that, they still have their second and three thirds, so they could offer one of those picks and give up their first in 2027.
The biggest roadblock to trade for McDuffie, though, would be giving him a new deal. If Kansas City moves on from him, it's because it won't have the space to re-sign him. The former Washington Huskie will be playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. He'll surely be looking for an extension, and the Jaguars are also dealing with a cap crunch.
Nevertheless, the prospect of getting a shutdown corner is too good to pass up, and the Jaguars should most definitely consider making a trade for Trent McDuffie, regardless of the cost. Of course, there's a strong chance that they'll pass on him and look for more affordable ways to address the position.