Grade the trade proposal: Jaguars send Roy Robertson-Harris to LA Rams

The Jacksonville Jaguars beefed up their defensive line in the offseason. First, they signed Arik Armstead in free agency. They later used a pair of draft picks on Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson. Following the additions, the Jags now have a surplus at defensive tackle. This has led Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report to believe that they can afford to trade veteran Roy Robetson-Harris.

Ballentine drew up a list of trades each NFL team should make before the start of the league and suggests the Los Angeles Rams acquire Robertson-Harris, pointing out that they need a run-stuffer in the middle of the trenches that can demand attention. To get a deal done, he suggests the Jaguars get a fifth-round pick in exchange for the veteran defensive tackle.

"Roy Robertson-Harris has been a solid veteran for the Jaguars defensive line, but they acquired Arik Armstead and drafted Maason Smith this offseason. That could leave Robertson-Harris with a smaller role.

A trade would save the Jags $2.5 million against the 2024 cap and get them out of an $8.9 million cap hit for next season. Meanwhile, the Rams would get some much-needed interior depth."

Robertson-Harris, an undrafted free agent in 2017, signed a three-year deal with the Jags in 2021. He was one of the most meaningful acquisitions of the Urban Meyer era and of the few players the team acquired that year who remain in place. The front office valued the former UTEP Miner enough that they gave him a three-year extension in 2023. During his three-year stint with the Jags, he's appeared in 48 games with 47 starts, logging 109 total pressures and 9.5 sacks, solid numbers for a defensive tackle.

Earlier this year, Doug Farrar wrote for USA Sports that Robertson Harris was Jacksonville's most underrated player, citing his career-high 42 total pressures in 2023 and his skill set as the reasons. He went on to say that the veteran will give defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen a fun piece to work with.

On the other hand, Robertson-Harris has also struggled at times. He wasn't particularly great down the stretch in 2023. His outing against the Tampa Buccaneers in Week 16 is one he'd surely like to forget. In that game, he posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 45.3, missing three total tackles.

In his defense, the Jaguars defense was going through the motions late in 2023, with position groups no longer talking to each other. With Ryan Nielsen in the fold, there will be a renewed emphasis on technique and fundamentals. Robertson-Harris should most definitely benefit from it.

Would it make sense for the Jaguars to trade Roy Robertson-Harris?

Roy Robertson-Harris has been a mainstay of the Jacksonville Jaguars defense but their depth at defensive tackle could allow them to place him on the trade block. Apart from newcomers Arik Armstead, Maason Smith, and Jordan Jefferson, DaVon Hamilton, and sophomore Tyler Lacy are back in the mix.

By trading Roy Robertson-Harris, Smith and Jefferson could get playing time early in the season. That said, it wouldn't make sense from a financial standpoint, as the Jaguars wouldn't create as much cap space as Alex Ballentine suggests. Per Over the Cap, if they designate the Oakland native as a post-June 1 cut, they would only get $400,000 in space this year, not $2.5 million. Moreover, his departure would leave $4 million in dead money.

When you factor in that Jacksonville would only get a fifth-round selection, trading Robertson-Harris may not be the best course of action. Already, they have extra third and fourth-round picks in 2025 after moving down six spots in this year's draft.

The truth is that the Jacksonville Jaguars aren't in need of draft picks, and Roy Robertson-Harris will be an important piece of their defensive line rotation in 2024. For those reasons, trading him (at least this year) feels like an unnecessary move.

Grade: C

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