The Jacksonville Jaguars finished the 2023 season with the fewest sacks in football, but offseason additions could make defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris a popular trade candidate. A former undrafted free agent, the UTEP product overcame the odds to establish himself as a solid starter at the NFL level. Last year, Robertson-Harris finished the season with 3.5 sacks, 34 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, 11 quarterback hits, and a 62.3 PFF grade, the 52nd-best mark out of 130 eligible players. While he’s no superstar, he’s a reliable player who belongs on an NFL field.
Unfortunately, Jacksonville might not have room for him on the roster. The team heavily invested in the defensive line, adding Arik Armstead in free agency and selecting Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson in the 2024 NFL Draft. With these three players all vying for playing time, Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report believes the team could trade Roy Robertson-Harris before roster cuts begin. If that’s the case, then look for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers to aggressively pursue him.
Saints, Panthers, Could Fight In Roy Robertson-Harris Trade Sweepstakes
The New Orleans Saints have one of the biggest ‘boom or bust’ defensive lines in the league. In a perfect world, 2023 first-round pick Bryan Bresee will build on his promising rookie season, free agent signee Chase Young will stay healthy and productive, and veteran Cameron Jordan will show that 2023’s drop in production was just a fluke. There’s a lot of ‘ifs’ there, especially with Bresee. While the Clemson product showed flashes as a pass rusher, he was one of the league’s worst defensive tackles against the run. This line could use some more stability, and they could get it with a Roy Robertson-Harris trade.
Roy Robertson-Harris won’t win Defensive Player of the Year honors, but the trade target can start for this defensive front. Dennis Allen must make the playoffs if he wants to keep his job, so the coach should be willing to part with a late-round pick for the defensive tackle. The NFC South is better now than it was a year ago, but it’s still one of the league’s weaker divisions. Seeing as the offense lacks the pieces to be elite, New Orleans should focus their energy on building a defense that can win low-scoring games.
Panthers Defensive Line Woes
The Carolina Panthers have a remarkable defensive tackle in Derrick Brown and a solid veteran in the newly-signed Jadeveon Clowney, but that’s about it. Perhaps D.J. Wonnum can step up in a new environment, but this defense will need more pieces if they want to improve on their league-worst 2-15 record from 2023. While the offense added several key pieces like guard Robert Hunt and first-round pick Xavier Legette, they still need to improve the defense. Roy Robertson-Harris isn’t a true difference-maker, but a trade could set him up to be the perfect second fiddle to Brown.
Derrick Brown is one of the best defensive tackles in football and will always be the primary focus of opposing interior offensive lines. This should free up Robertson-Harris to make more plays against single blocks, which could lead to a career season. Even with the additions to the offense, Carolina will likely still need to win on defense, and a Roy Robertson-Harris trade could go a long way in controlling the line of scrimmage.
Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck – USA Today Sports
