Even before the Jacksonville Jaguars lost DaVon Hamilton for the season, they were looking for reinforcements at defensive tackle. That's probably why it's not particularly surprising to find out that they've been linked to Moro Ojomo ahead of the November 10 deadline.
Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN shared a column in which they shared everything they're hearing across the league ahead of Week 10, with Fowler stating that Jacksonville could target Ojomo even though the Philadelphia Eagles may not be inclined to trade him.
Keep in mind that Fowler isn't reporting that the Jags are zeroing in on Ojomo, but rather that he could address their need at defensive tackle in light of Hamilton's injury, and he's right. The Lagos, Nigeria native may be their best option available.
Why Moro Ojomo makes sense for the Jaguars
With Daron Payne off the table after landing on the injured Reserve, Ojomo has become Jacksonville's most obvious trade target.
While DaVon Hamilton was a huge reason the Jaguars had the top-ranked run defense, he's not that great a pass rusher. For his part, Arik Armstead has had his moments this season but hasn't necessarily been a game-changer. When you factor in that Albert Regis has been off to a slow start to his rookie season, it's easy to see why Jacksonville wanted to bolster the interior defensive line.
With Ham out of the picture, it's only fair to assume that general manager James Gladstone has only prioritized the pursuit for help at defensive tackle. That's where Ojomo comes in, and here's what Jeremy Fowler had to say bout him.
"But the point stands that Jacksonville could make a move for a key player at the right price," Fowler wrote. "This could be edge or interior help, in part because the Jaguars have versatile players such as Travon Walker, who can play multiple spots up front. Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo is a person of interest here, though Philly is inclined to keep and potentially extend him."
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that the Eagles have been getting inquiries about Ojomo but aren't seemingly open to trade him. That said, they could just be trying to drive up his price. If that's the case, they could be looking for a Day 2 pick, a third or even a second.
While that may seem like a steep price, that would be less cost-prohibitive than trading for Jalen Eagles.
Related: 4 best DaVon Hamilton trade replacements the Jaguars must target
Why Moro Ojomo may be a more realistic target for the Jaguars than Jalen Carter
There's been chatter online that the Jaguars have two first-rounders and a third on the table for Jalen Carter, but that's nothing more than speculation. There are no credible reports that they made such an offer. That said, Philly would surely want at least a first and maybe a second or a third if he were available, which isn't the case.
On the other hand, the Eagles would probably be open to trading Moro Ojomo, and trading him could be cheaper. Maybe the Jaguars could get a deal done if they offered a third and a fifth, or something along those lines. After all, Philadelphia may have trouble keeping Ojomo, who's set to become a free agent in 2027, after paying Carter or Jordan Davis.
In Jacksonville, Ojomo would give the Jags a much-needed (and immediate) boost on the interior defensive line. Although he's not nearly as great as DaVon Hamilton is against the run, he's a much better pass rusher.
The truth is that it wouldn't be shocking to see the Jaguars make a push for Moro Ojomo or any other big-name defensive tackle just before the deadline, based on James Gladstone's history of making aggressive deals. For the time being, though, there's nothing concrete.
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