The Jacksonville Jaguars are in need of a No. 1 receiver after losing Calvin Ridley (who didn’t quite live up to that billing anyway) in free agency.
While it’s a loaded draft class at the position, the Jaguars have spent an interesting amount of time getting to know LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze, two players who probably won’t be on the board when Jacksonville picks at No. 17 overall. It’d be a surprise if either player even escaped the top 10 selections.
So would the Jaguars be willing, or even able, to swing a trade to get high enough in the order to nab one of the two pass catchers of the draft class? Here’s a look at comparable trades in recent NFL drafts, and what a potential deal to move up could look like:
2021: Dolphins trade up for Jaylen Waddle
Dolphins receive: No. 6 (used to select Jaylen Waddle) and No. 156 (5th)
Eagles receive: No. 12 (1st), No. 123 (4th), and 2022 1st round picks
While the Dolphins moved down a bit in Day 3 with their swap of fourth-round and fifth-round selections, it was the 2022 first-round pick that did most of the work in this deal.
2019: Steelers trade up for Devin Bush
Steelers receive: No. 10 (used to select Devin Bush)
Broncos receive: No. 20 (1st), No. 52 (2nd), and 2020 3rd round pick
While it wasn’t a receiver targeted, the Steelers moved up 10 spots to just barely squeeze into the top 10. That makes the framework of their deal with the Broncos a pretty reasonable baseline for a potential Jaguars trade.
2016: Titans trade up for Jack Conklin
Titans receive: No. 8 (used to select Jack Conklin) and No. 176 (6th) picks
Browns receive: No. 15 (1st), No. 76 (3rd), and 2017 2nd round picks
Like a hypothetical Jaguars trade, the Titans moved from the middle of the first round to the back half of the top 10. This deal lines up pretty equal and fair on the trade value chart with Tennessee giving up a Day 2 selection in both the current and next drafts.
2013: Dolphins trade up for Dion Jordan
Dolphins receive: No. 3 (used to select Dion Jordan)
Raiders receive: No. 12 (1st) and No. 42 (2nd) picks
It’s a lot higher than the Jaguars could conceivably consider, but the nine-spot climb is what makes this deal worth a look. On paper, the two picks the Dolphins parted with should’ve only been enough to get them to No. 4 or 5, but it proved to be a mistake either way.
2013: Rams trade up for Tavon Austin
Rams receive: No. 8 (used to select Tavon Austin) and No. 71 (3rd) picks
Bills receive: No. 16 (1st), No. 46 (2nd), No. 78 (3rd), and No. 222 (7th) picks
This is about the closest parallel possible with the Rams moving up eight spots into the top 10 to take a receiver. While there was a small move in the third round and a seventh-rounder involved, it was the No. 46 pick that did most of the work to make up the eight-pick value in the deal.
How much value do the Jaguars have to work with?
The Jaguars own eight selections in the 2024 NFL draft and haven’t made any deals involving their 2025 picks. According to the trade value chart, here’s how much of those picks are worth in a potential deal:
- No. 17: 296 points
- No. 48: 121 points
- No. 96: 39 points
- No. 114: 26 points
- No. 116: 25 points
- No. 153: 11 points
- No. 212: 4 points
- No. 236: 2 points
- 2025 1st round pick: An estimated 100-130 points
- 2025 2nd round pick: An estimated 50-60 points
- 2025 3rd round pick: An estimated 25-30 points
Hypothetical trade with Chargers (No. 5)
No. 5 pick value: 468 points
This is an awfully long way to go from No. 17. It really only makes sense if Los Angeles gives a bit of a discount or Jacksonville sees a chance to secure the No. 1 receiver of the draft class, Marvin Harrison Jr.
Projected deal:
Chargers receive: No. 17 (1st), No. 48 (2nd), and 2025 1st round picks
Jaguars receive: No. 5 (1st) and No. 105 (4th) picks
Hypothetical trade with the Giants (No. 6)
No. 6 pick value: 446 points
If Malik Nabers turns out to be the receiver the Jaguars covet, this might be the most reasonable spot to go up and get him. But like the last slot, it won’t be cheap.
Projected deal:
Giants receive: No. 17 (1st), No. 48 (2nd), and 2025 2nd round picks
Jaguars receive: No. 6 (1st)
Hypothetical trade with the Titans (No. 7)
No. 7 pick value: 426 points
Would the Jaguars really do a deal with their division rival? Would the Titans? Crazier things have happened. In 2021, the Cowboys and Eagles swapped the first-rounders that were used to select Micah Parsons and DeVonta Smith.
Projected deal:
Titans receive: No. 17 (1st), No. 96 (3rd), and 2025 1st round picks
Jaguars receive: No. 7 (1st)
Hypothetical trade with the Falcons (No. 8)
No. 8 pick value: 406 points
This is firmly in Odunze territory and perhaps the most reasonable and easy deal for the Jaguars to make.
Projected deal:
Falcons receive: No. 17 (1st) and No. 48 (2nd) picks
Jaguars receive: No. 8 (1st)
Hypothetical trade with the Bears (No. 9)
No. 9 pick value: 387 points
If Odunze is still on the board, the Bears may want to take him to pair with their new young quarterback. If they don’t, the Jaguars could easily be interested in a swap.
Projected deal:
Bears receive: No. 17 (1st) and No. 48 (2nd) picks
Jaguars receive: No. 9 (1st) and No. 122 (4th) picks
