Could the Jacksonville Jaguars reunite Arik Armstead with his former Oregon and San Francisco 49ers teammate, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner? A trade with division-rival Indianapolis Colts might seem unlikely at first glance, but NFL history says it's not out of the question.
The Jaguars return from their Week 7 bye with plenty of questions about what they need to address before or at the NFL trade deadline.
HERE TO STAY? Brian Thomas Jr. can still help Jaguars, according to coach Liam Coen
Right now, the team's offense is firing on all cylinders, ranked fifth in EPA (Expected Points Added), including fourth in drop-back EPA, ninth in EPA/rush and fifth in successful plays at 48%. The team ranks in the top 10 in all advanced offensive metrics.
Defensively, though, the team has plenty of room for improvement. While they rank fourth in EPA/rush allowed at -0.137, they are 24th in sack rate, 18th in EPA/dropback and 14th in EPA/play.
Last week, we looked at four players who could move the needle for the team's defense. With several teams now expected to be sellers at the deadline, Jacksonville could get involved.
When is the 2026 NFL trade deadline?
The 2026 NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m. ET, just after Week 9.
The Jaguars will return from a road trip to face the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football as the NFL trade deadline approaches.
Could the Jaguars realistically trade for DeForest Buckner?
The Jaguars rank 20th in defensive tackle pressure rate through Week 7, with 30 pressures (7% pressure rate) on 430 rush snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jaguars swapped former second-round picks, sending DT Maason Smith to the Atlanta Falcons for DT Ruke Orhorhoro.
For now, the team is getting solid returns on the deal. Orhorhoro has 11 pressures in 94 pass-rush snaps (11.7% pressure rate) and leads the team, while Smith has 14 pressures in 164 snaps (8.5% pressure rate). Both players have one sack so far this season.
Still, if Orhorhoro was not on the team, Jacksonville would rank 27th in defensive tackle pressure rate. The roster has little help right now. That's where Buckner could come in.
Buckner, 32, ranks 29th among eligible defensive tackles this year, with a 9% pressure rate. He would lead the Jaguars' defensive tackles with 20 pressures.
But could the Jaguars acquire him?
Intradivisional trades are uncommon, but not impossible.
In 2022, the Detroit Lions traded former first-rounder tight end T.J. Hockenson, who was a major part of the team's offense at the time, to the Minnesota Vikings. At the time, the Lions were 1-6, while the Vikings were 6-1. The Vikings acquired Hockenson for second- and third-round selections.
The Colts, 2-5 and slated to play the Jaguars this Sunday, could face a similar problem. Indianapolis just fired general manager Chris Ballard, who had been with the franchise for a decade. The move signals the team is ready to rebuild, and a new voice could offload older veterans for draft picks.
Reuniting Buckner, 6-foot-7 and 295 pounds, with Armstead, 6-foot-7 and 290 pounds, could unlock more from the latter.
Armstead and Buckner have wreaked havoc together before. The duo earned the nickname "Twin Towers" because of their 6-foot-7-plus frames, helping anchor a 49ers defensive line that powered the team to Super Bowl LIV. Armstead recorded 10 sacks, while Buckner added 7.5 in 2015.
A reunion in Jacksonville could give the Jaguars another imposing interior presence and an opportunity to rekindle a partnership that lasted seven seasons between college and the NFL.
Other Jaguars defensive line trade targets
If the Jaguars can't land Buckner, here are a few other defensive tackles worth exploring ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
- Zach Sieler (Miami Dolphins): 31 years old, 6-foot-6, 300 pounds. Has 13 pressures, two sacks and a 7.6% pressure rate in 20265. Under contract through 2029, though Miami's struggles could make him a potential trade candidate.
- Moro Ojomo (Philadelphia Eagles): 25 years old, 6-foot-3, 292 pounds. Has 15 pressures and an 8.7% pressure rate this season. An impending free agent who could be available if Philadelphia decides to sell.
- Daron Payne (Washington Commanders): 29 years old, 6-foot-3, 320 pounds. Has 17 pressures, one sack and a 9.1% pressure rate this season. His expiring contract could make him another interesting trade option.
The Jaguars may have to move money around to acquire Buckner, or any other high-priced trade candidate. Jacksonville has about $4.66 million available in cap space, according to OverTheCap. Buckner would cost an acquiring team about $6.5 million in remaining salary at the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky at Demetrius.
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider subscribing to support local journalism in Northeast Florida.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Could Jaguars reunite Arik Armstead with DeForrest Bucknet at trade deadline?