Andrew Buller-Russ
Last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars took a major leap forward in Liam Coen’s first season as head coach, winning 13 games and reaching the playoffs. The year prior, the Jaguars had won just four games under former Super Bowl champion head coach Doug Pederson.
It’s no surprise that general manager James Gladstone didn’t feel the need to swing big trades or execute high-priced free agency signings. Yet, the Jaguars did a lot of work on the margins of the roster, improving the team’s depth.
One area that didn’t get a lot of attention was the group’s pass-rushers. Jacksonville ranked 27th in sacks last season. Aside from drafting nose tackle Albert Regis in the third round, edge rusher Wesley Williams in the fourth, and Zach Durfee in the seventh, the Jaguars didn’t do much to address their pass-rush.
Of course, having Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker means the Jaguars already have their starting edge rushers, but do they have enough depth? What about a third impactful pass-rusher who can rotate in on obvious passing downs or when Walker and/or Hines-Allen need a breather?
Recently, Sports Illustrated‘s Eva Geitheim suggested that the Jaguars should call the Giants and trade for Kayvon Thibodeaux.
“Since James Gladstone took over as GM, the Jaguars have been unafraid to execute splashy trades, making deals for Travis Hunter and Jakobi Meyers, among others. One of the Jaguars’ biggest needs this offseason is edge rusher, which they did not address until Day 3 of the draft despite finishing the 2025 season with just 32 sacks, 27th in the NFL. Kayvon Thibodeaux has been a trade candidate for months, and could make sense for a Jaguars defense looking to improve its sack totals in 2026.”
SI’s Eva Geitheim on Jaguars trade for Kayvon Thibodeaux
Thibodeaux was the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He broke out with 11.5 sacks in his second season as a pro, but has recorded just eight sacks in the past two years. Still just 25 years old, Thibodeaux certainly has some untapped potential, and the Giants may be more willing to deal him after assembling a collection of pass-rushers.
Related: 2026 NFL QB Rankings: From NFL’s Worst Starting QB to the Best
