If everything goes according to plan, the Houston Texans might not need to worry about winning in the AFC South.
The reason? TheJacksonville Jaguars might be the team to beat in 2026.
After making two trades earlier in the day, the Jaguars traded a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for defensive tackle Jordan Davis, completing the trifecta of trades to better the defense amid a run toward the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Jacksonville already bolstered its secondary by trading a 2027 second-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III. As for their trenches, the Jaguars shipped off a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for defensive tackle
Davon Godchaux.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 9, 2026
Giving up a first-round pick is a steep price for a team that could use the draft compensation entering 2027, but Davis, a former first-round pick out of Georgia, is under contract through the 2029 season after signing a three-year, $78 million extension with the Eagles earlier this year. He'll become the long-term anchor of the staff moving into the future.
Davis, 26, was coming off a career season in Philadelphia, posting career highs in sacks (4.5), tackles for loss (9), quarterback hits (6), tackles (72) and passes defended (6). He will now pair with veteran Arik Armstead and Godchaux as the stars of Jacksonville's pass rush up the middle.
Adding in Godchaux and Davis should only strengthen a promising run defense entering the second half of the regular season. Currently, the Jaguars rank fifth overall, allowing less than 90 yards per game and 3.4 yards per rush attempt.
The Texans face off against the new-look Jaguars on Dec. 20 at Reliant Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans rival goes all-in for 2026 with trade for Eagles standout DL Jordan Davis
