In a day defined by the Jacksonville Jaguars' pre-NFL trade deadline dealings, the team's last move proved most consequential of all.
After completing two additional deals earlier in the day to boost their defense, the Jaguars agreed to acquire defensive tackle Jordan Davis from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.
The move served as a loud statement of purpose for both franchises. For the Jaguars, it was the strongest push yet in an ongoing effort to equip an otherwise stellar roster with everything it needs to make a title push. The Eagles, meanwhile, appear to be preparing themselves for a potential reset after rampant injuries and an ongoing seven-game skid dashed any hope of the organization
remaining in the NFC's contending class.
But who made out better in the deal? Grades for each team:
Jaguars trade grade: C
In for a penny, in for a 336-pounder?
With Monday's earlier trades to secure safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the New Orleans Saints, the Jaguars had already made clear their belief in this group's ability to run with the AFC's best. But those moves seemed more about isolated opportunities rather than changing the course of the franchise.
This decision, however, belongs in its own category. In burning serious draft capital to land a monstrous presence in the middle, general manager James Gladstone is harkening back to his roots and having a full Los Angeles Rams moment.
But is Davis the kind of player who truly puts Jacksonville over the top?
Gladstone likes to talk about players who have "gravity." At 6-6 and 336 pounds, Davis certainly qualifies as one. Trying to properly account for him while also keeping edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker at bay will be exceedingly difficult for any opponent. And the Jaguars simply haven't enjoyed rolling out this kind of force in the middle for quite a while.
Still, defensive tackles who fetch this kind of price tag typically offer far more against the pass than Davis does. His 6.6% pressure rate, while close to a career high, is nowhere near the likes of Jeffery Simmons and the other elite disruptors at the position.
There's a strong case to be made that Davis can be a force multiplier for Anthony Campanile's unit, which has proven to be plenty opportunistic in sustaining itself with pressure and takeaways. But Jacksonville is now without its first two selections in next year's draft. The Rams fueled their outlier approach to top picks by continually finding starting-caliber options – particularly at non-premium positions – in the middle to later rounds of the draft. Gladstone hasn't shown himself capable of that just yet. And given the uncertain state of the offensive line, that hubris could one day take a serious toll on Jacksonville's roster.
Jacksonville might have arrived at the same conclusion that other teams have in determining that a first-round pick can be worth the instantaneous returns from landing a top-tier defensive tackle. The Jaguars certainly paid as though they're getting such a player, who's already making top-of-market money. It's far from a certainty, however, that the bottom line will match the spend.
Eagles trade grade: A-
Regardless of whether Roseman goes any further in parting with veteran pieces, this was a shrewd value move.
And when it comes to deciding whether to pull the plug early on a marquee player, few NFL decision-makers have a better track record than the architect of the Eagles.
Davis was a sensible option for Philadelphia to keep when it was at the front of the pack in the NFC. With the team fading considerably and staring down major changes in the near future, however, the 2022 first-round pick became expendable.
This is the kind of return one might expect for a borderline elite defensive lineman. Davis, however, likely wasn't among the three most critical defenders on the Eagles' roster.
In the next three draft classes, Roseman is now equipped with 10 picks in the first two rounds. That gives him incredible flexibility to target a quarterback of the future as he sees fit and fast-track a return to relevance.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who won Jordan Davis trade? Grading Jaguars, Eagles in deal
