3 high-profile WRs the Jaguars could trade for to keep up with the Texans

The Jacksonville Jaguars got objectively better in free agency, but the Houston Texans remain the team to beat the AFC South. Coming off their first division title since 2019, they've made several high-profile moves that put them in a favorable position to repeat as champions next season.

Back in free agency, the Texans traded for Joe Mixon and signed defensive end Danielle Hunter. For a brief moment, it looked like they were done making moves. However, they added yet another weapon to C.J. Stroud's arsenal when they traded for wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Diggs gives Houston a No. 1 receiver who'll make their offense better. Besides drawing coverage away from Nico Collins and Tank Dell, Mixon should go against lighter boxes frequently. This doesn't bode well for the Jaguars, who are set to face them twice in 2024.

So what can the Jaguars do to keep up with Houston? They should restock their secondary but they might also need to consider fighting fire with fire. Just like the Texans traded for a top-notch receiver, Jacksonville should follow in their footsteps and acquire their own. These three could most definitely help them tip the scale in their favor.

3. The Jaguars could trade for Bengals WR Tee Higgins

This trade may be the easiest to pull off. Tee Higgins wanted to get a long-term deal but the Cincinnati Bengals used the franchise tag on him instead. Not pleased with the decision, Higgins requested a trade.

While there haven't been any updates, it's fair to assume that Higgins' stance hasn't changed and the Jaguars could be a potential trade destination due to the presence of Trevor Lawrence.

Back at Clemson, Higgins' was Lawrence's top receiver, so they already have a strong rapport. But even without Lawrence, Higgins has managed to put up pretty good numbers for the Bengals. He's crossed the 1,000-yard mark twice in his career and he came close as a rookie, tallying 908 yards. Although he's coming off a somewhat down season, he's still one of the best receivers in the league.

Already, Lawrence said he would welcome to opportunity to play with Higgins again. In the same breath, the star quarterback acknowledged that it may not be likely, and he's right. A trade may not be on the horizon, but it shouldn't be ruled out until Higgins signs a new deal or is traded to another team.

2. The Jaguars could trade for 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk

Brandon Aiyuk has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, a feat worth recognizing when you take into account that he thrived on an offense that also features Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle. Moreover, the former Sun Devil earned a Second-Team All-Pro designation in 2023, so it's not surprising to see him look for a deal that reflects his status as one of the top wideouts in the league.

Unfortunately, Aiyuk and San Francisco haven't been able to strike a long-term deal. In fact, general manager John Lynch says that he wouldn't be opposed to the star receiver playing out the fifth year of his rookie contract without an extension.

This contract impasse has led several teams to inquire about Aiyuk's availability. The Jags were one of them. They reportedly showed interest in trading for him after losing Calvin Ridley in free agency. However, the San Francisco 49ers' asking price drove them away.

Besides the No. 17 pick in the draft, the Niners wanted wide receiver Zay Jones. On top of that, Jacksonville would've had to give Aiyuk a new deal. Simply put, a trade would've been cost-prohibitive but maybe San Francisco will be willing to reduce their asking price after seeing that the Bills only got a second-rounder in exchange for Diggs.

49ers general manager John Lynch has made it clear that Aiyuk won't be traded, noting that there's nothing better than "drafting a player and watching him flourish". On the other hand, head coach Kyle Shanahan says that he saw a similar situation unfold in negotiations with Kittle, Samuel, and Joey Bosa, so it may be a matter of time before they strike a deal.

If they don't, they'll have a willing trade partner in the Jaguars, who are still looking for Ridley's potential replacement.

1. The Jaguars could trade for Vikings WR Justin Jefferson

Out of all the trades the Jaguars could pull off, this one is the least likely. That said, you should always expect the unexpected when it comes to the NFL. Situations that may at one point look far-fetched end up taking place. For proof, look at the Stefon Diggs trade. Nobody outside of Nate Burleson thought Diggs would leave the Bills, but that's precisely what ended up happening.

On the other hand, Justin Jefferson is arguably the best receiver in the league, so trading for him would not come cheap. A first-round pick in 2020, the former LSU Tiger has posted four straight 1,000-yard seasons. Furthermore, he's already broken several league and team records in his young career.

His 5,899 receiving yards are the most ever by a player in the first four years of their NFL career. This feat becomes more impressive when you take into account that he missed seven games last year. Jefferson also won Offensive Player of the Year honors that year and set new Vikings records for the most yards and receptions in a season.

Colin Cowherd suggests the Minnesota Vikings trade up Jefferson to move up from pick No. 11 to No. 3. Andrew Harbaugh of USA TODAY Sports, for his part, proposes that the Pittsburgh Steelers give up a couple of first-rounders and a second-round selection in exchange for the three-time Pro Bowl receiver.

To land Jefferson, the Jaguars may need to offer a couple of first-round picks and a player. Or maybe first and second-round picks in 2024 and a player like Cam Robinson. The price would definitely be high but the odds of drafting a receiver who has a better career than Jefferson are very low, so it would be worth it.

Then again, the Jaguars have needs beyond wide receiver and trading for Jefferson would take up considerable resources, which they could use to round out their roster. In the end, though, Jacksonville would be getting plenty of bang for their buck if Jefferson helps them dethrone the Texans.

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