It’s official; the Jacksonville Jaguars fanbase would like to see their team trade up into the first round of the NFL Draft this April. Following a strong first season for Liam Coen and James Gladstone, there is a feeling that the Jags are just one or two key pieces away from controlling the AFC South and becoming an annual participant in the postseason.
The Jags’ move for Travis Hunter last year means they are currently without any day 1 draft capital, forcing the front office would need to be aggressive once again if they intend to land a blue chip prospect. But any team looking to trade up needs a willing dance partner. With that in mind, which franchises may be in the market to move back in the draft in return for more picks? Let’s look at some options:
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With two selections in the first round, the Cowboys could very well be of interest to any team looking to move into the middle of day one for a specific target. Dallas has a defense that finished dead last in EPA allowed per play in 2025, alluding to the number of holes they have to fill this offseason. They’ve been fairly active in free agency, bringing in the likes of Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant as well as swinging a trade with the Green Bay Packers for Rashan Gary, but with plenty of work to be done, could they look to collect more picks?
Gladstone hasn’t been shy in sending future picks to other teams, a tactic he brought with him from the Los Angeles Rams. #12 would cost a lot, but if a pass rusher of Akheem Mesidor or Keldrick Faulk’s stature was still there at #20, the Jags could be persuaded to pull the trigger.
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After becoming the team to beat in the NFC North for two years, the Lions suffered a noticeable drop-off last year with the departures of both coordinators. An explosive offense was somewhat restricted by a deteriorating offensive line, and moves for Cade Mays (Panthers) and Larry Borom (Dolphins) are likely more for depth than to replace the likes of Graham Glasgow and Taylor Decker. With other key starters such as Alex Anzalone, David Montgomery and Amik Robertson also departing, could GM Brad Holmes be looking to acquire more picks on day 2?
A similar scenario to the one above, the late teens may be where we see just one of the elite pass rushers in this draft class remaining. If edge really is the position the Jaguars want to make a splash at, then it might well be worth making a phone call to Detroit.
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Heading into the draft with one of the fewest total number of selections, the Vikings have plenty of reasons to move out of day 1. An aging, expensive roster has hamstrung Minnesota’s ability to be active in free agency, relying on one-year prove-it deals for players looking to rebound whilst seeing stars like Harrison Smith, Javon Hargrave and Jalen Nailor exit. With plenty of holes to fill and not much money to do so, interim GM Rob Brzezinski may go for volume at a lower price, particularly when you consider his history as a salary cap specialist.
The Vikings sit just ahead of the Panthers, Cowboys and Steelers, at least two of which may be in the market for a defensive tackle. If that’s a position of interest, #18 may allow the Jaguars to jump ahead of the competition and get their pick of the prospects available, with Peter Woods (Clemson), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) and Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) all expected to be in play.
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The trade for DJ Moore means that the Bills’ only selection on day 2 of the draft is #91. Buffalo saw some attrition in free agency and have particular issues across their defense, where they need an injection of talent at edge rusher, safety and defensive tackle. The catch? They don’t have much money to play with, currently sitting just $12m under the cap. In order to address all these needs, there’s a very real chance Brandon Beane looks to stockpile day 2 picks and sacrifice their first round selection.
#26 is an ideal spot for a lot of teams looking to trade back into the first round, so if Jacksonville are interested they will need to be wary of aggressive competitors like the Philadelphia Eagles employing a similar tactic. The popularity of picks in the late-twenties is usually reliant on talent falling down the board, so this will likely be a draft day decision as real-time events dictate strategy. If Gladstone was able to swing a deal with Beane, it could potentially allow the Jags to gazump division rivals Houston, who are on the clock two selections later.
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