Jacksonville Jaguars GM James Gladstone met with local media members on Tuesday afternoon after a busy few days, which included acquiring Jessie Bates, Davon Godchaux, and Jordan Davis via trades.
In case you missed it, here are the key takeaways from what Gladstone had to say.
- Gladstone said the additions aren't only about individual talent, but they're about team building. The three players acquired will "mesh" with the rest of the team and elevate how the Jaguars operate.
- "The idea that this is an all-in move isn't necessarily how I'd characterize it," Gladstone said. "I characterize it as getting better as a football team." The intent behind any decision he makes is to do what's best for the organization and the team.
- Gladstone said the
trade for Bates began in the early hours of Monday morning. Early in the afternoon, the conversations with the Saints about Godchaux began to take shape, and he then quickly turned his attention to Davis with the Eagles. Gladstone said conversations about the Davis trade didn't begin until Monday afternoon.
- Gladstone says he has a lot of trust in Coen, Lawrence, and the coaching staff, which contributed to the moves made at the trade deadline.
- "You can see very quickly that Jessie is a match for all the elements that we look for in both a player and a person," Gladstone said of Bates.
- "That was a major piece to the puzzle," Gladstone said of where Davis is at in his career. Defensive tackle is a position that "ages well," he said. His continued development is a "big piece" to the why behind the trade.
- A big priority for the Jaguars' defense is stopping the run, and with a lot of season left, making sure the team has options down the stretch is important.
- Gladstone on Brian Thomas Jr.: "We have a ton of value when it comes to BTJ. His role and what I imagine his contribution will be down the stretch here is going to be notable. He's such a good person to work with, he's such a good teammate, and so I expect a lot of good in what lies in front."
- Gladstone says he and the organization do value draft picks, but it's in the volume of picks, with compensatory picks being a part of that process. “We value picks. We don’t always use them on the three days that exist in April.”
- After three big trades on Monday, how did Gladstone spend Tuesday? He watched a lot of college football in preparation for the NFL draft.
- Gladstone laid out what makes up the Jaguars' defensive identity: stopping the run, limiting explosive plays, and forcing takeaways. The three trade deadline additions will help in those areas.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Takeaways from James Gladstone's post-trade deadline press conference
