By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in an interesting position this offseason.

On one hand, a 13-4 season, an AFC South title, and a playoff appearance say this team is firmly in contention.

On the other hand, a first-round exit to Buffalo showed that they are not quite elite yet.

The problem facing General Manager James Gladstone is simple to describe but difficult to solve: Jacksonville is trying to improve without a first-round pick and while operating under real salary cap pressure.

That reality makes one thing clear. The Jaguars cannot win the offseason through free agency. They will have to win it through calculated trades. And the keyword there is calculated.

The easiest headline move would be trading wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

The speculation makes sense on the surface. Thomas did not build on his incredible rookie season, and with Travis Hunter now expected to spend most of his time at cornerback, Jacksonville could argue that flipping Thomas for draft capital solves multiple problems.

Some speculation has surrounded sending Thomas and a fifth-round pick to Buffalo for Keon Coleman and a late first-round selection, and that has generated plenty of debate. But I think that’s exactly the kind of move the Jaguars should avoid.

Trading Thomas now would be selling low. Sophomore slumps happen, especially when a new system arrives.

Liam Coen’s offense is still evolving, and Thomas remains one of the few players on this roster who has already proven he can look like a true No. 1 receiver.

Jacksonville does not need more developmental wideouts. It needs certainty. Keon Coleman might become a solid player, but swapping Thomas for another question mark just to reclaim a first-round pick feels like solving a paperwork problem, not a football problem.

The smarter approach is to treat Brian Thomas Jr. as untouchable unless an overwhelming offer arrives.

While the Jaguars shop the trade market, they should be targeting two specific areas. First, and probably most importantly, is the offensive line.

Protecting Trevor Lawrence remains the single biggest variable between Jacksonville being good and being dangerous. The team already has expensive contracts tied up there, and moving players like Walker Little could create flexibility while bringing back mid-round capital.

That kind of move is less glamorous but far more practical. Turning surplus linemen into draft picks and cap space is the kind of quiet roster management that contenders use to sustain success.

Second, work must be done on the defensive interior. The Jaguars improved dramatically in 2025, but when they were knocked out of the playoffs, Buffalo controlled the line of scrimmage late.

That is the difference between a divisional-round team and a true Super Bowl threat.

If Jacksonville is aggressive anywhere, it should be in acquiring proven rotational defensive linemen who can play immediately, even if it costs a Day-2 pick.

And that leads to the real philosophy the Jaguars should embrace: quantity over splash.

Without a first-round pick, Jacksonville’s value lies with its depth.

The current draft setup includes a large number of picks across the middle rounds. Rather than forcing a flashy trade to reclaim a first-round headline, Gladstone should use those mid-round assets to package smaller deals.

Think veteran upgrades, role players who fit specific needs, and controllable contracts that avoid cap headaches.  Because the cap matters here.

Jacksonville is projected to start the offseason slightly over the salary cap, meaning every move must carry long-term flexibility.

Big splashes are off the table, but strategic trades combined with restructures can quietly rebuild the roster without weakening the core.

The Jaguars don’t need a roster overhaul. They need refinement.

Keep Brian Thomas Jr. unless the offer is overwhelming. Move expendable contracts for mid-round value. Target trenches, not headlines. Use depth picks as currency rather than desperation.

If Jacksonville treats the trade market like a scalpel instead of a sledgehammer, they will give themselves a better chance to take the next step from division winner to legitimate AFC contender.