Grading the Maason Smith — Ruke Orhorhoro trade: Jags improve interior of defensive line by addition and subtraction
The Jags and Falcons pulled off a switcheroo of 2024 second round draft picks. And the Jaguars likely got the better end of the deal.
The Jacksonville Jaguars enter the 2026 NFL Draft with plenty of questions on the defensive side of the ball. From finding help at edge rusher to defensive tackle depth to potentially a starting inside linebacker, the Jags have plenty of ways they could go when they go on the clock in Pittsburgh.
Well, one of those areas might have just gotten a bit less desperate after Friday. The team announced that it’s traded defensive lineman Maason Smith to the Atlanta Falcons straight up for defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro.
A much-needed new home for Smith
The Jags selected Smith with the 48th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. 13 picks earlier, the Falcons took Orhorhoro with pick No. 35. So, this basically amounts to a second round pick swap heading into year three for both players.
And in Smith’s case, that’s a necessity. The former LSU Tiger found himself phased out of the team’s plans and on the outside looking in by the end of last season. He was a healthy scratch in weeks 16-18. According to Pro Football Focus, he logged 191 pass rushing snaps last year, and he generated just 11 pressures for a 5.75% pressure rate.
It felt like Smith was in serious jeopardy of not being a part of the 53-man roster once this August came and went if he remained in Jacksonville, and now, that question is moot.
A bit more flexibility
Orhorhoro saw far more action last year, logging 599 defensive snaps after just 43 in his rookie season. In 390 pass rushing snaps, he totaled 30 QB pressures (7.7% pressure rate) with 25 combined tackles, 3.5 sacks, and four tackles for loss.
He also showed the ability to move around a bit last year on the line for the Falcons. While he played the vast majority of his snaps as a 3-technique in the B gap, he still saw 167 snaps in a defensive end or LEO position last year for Atlanta. That versatility speaks to his quickness and athleticism, which Jacksonville defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile will try to harness.
Grade: A
I think James Gladstone pulled off potentially terrific move here, particularly under the circumstances. The way things have gone down with Smith in Jacksonville were simply untenable, and this gives him a fresh start with a franchise that can perhaps get more out of him.
Jacksonville adds some pass rush juice from the inside and finds a potential rotational/depth option, at worst, for a group that had major question marks coming into the draft. It also gives Gladstone a bit more flexibility as far as what he can do next week from a need/best player available perspective.
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