The NFL world was hit with a surprising piece of late-breaking news today, as the Jacksonville Jaguars officially traded running back Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. The move adds another wrinkle to a still-developing season and signals different strategic directions for both franchises as they look ahead to the playoffs and beyond. Bigsby, a 2023 third-round selection out of Auburn, came into the league with a solid college pedigree and early expectations of becoming a reliable part of Jacksonville’s offense. Yet, after a little over two seasons with the Jaguars, the former SEC standout is heading north to Philadelphia in what feels like a move designed for both teams to address immediate and long-term concerns. For the Jaguars, this trade is about clearing the depth chart and continuing to build around their top back, Travis Etienne, who has become the centerpiece of their ground game. For the Eagles, this is about reinforcing an already strong roster with more backfield depth, special teams capability, and insurance behind their star running back Saquon Barkley.
Tank Bigsby never really got the consistent workload that many thought he might after being drafted. In his rookie year, he served mostly as a change-of-pace back behind Etienne and flashed potential in certain situations but struggled with ball security and inconsistency in pass protection. He showed improvement in his second season, amassing a respectable 766 rushing yards and seven touchdowns while adding value as a kick returner, averaging over 32 yards per return. However, even with those improvements, he never quite managed to earn the coaching staff’s full trust as a feature back. With Etienne healthy and producing at a high level, Bigsby found himself limited to rotational duties again in the early weeks of 2025, including a disappointing five-touch, 12-yard showing in the season opener. The writing may have been on the wall. The Jaguars had a logjam in the backfield, and Bigsby was too talented to remain a peripheral piece, yet not consistent enough to unseat their primary option.
On the other side of the equation sits the Eagles—a team not only looking to defend their Super Bowl title but doing so with a front office that has been among the most aggressive in football. Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman has once again proven that he’s not afraid to pull the trigger on a low-risk, high-upside move that could pay dividends both this season and beyond. While Saquon Barkley is firmly entrenched as the Eagles’ RB1 and is coming off a monster season where he led the league with over 2,000 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, Philadelphia has already shown signs of needing additional depth. Rookie Will Shipley is battling a rib injury and AJ Dillon, while dependable in short-yardage, doesn’t offer the same kind of explosiveness or versatility that Bigsby potentially brings. With the season still in its early weeks, this trade helps mitigate injury concerns, adds another option for their multi-layered offense, and strengthens their special teams—an area where Bigsby has quietly excelled.
Looking at the compensation, it’s a fair deal for both sides. The Jaguars receive two picks in 2026—a fifth-rounder and a sixth-rounder. Notably, the fifth-rounder originally belonged to the 49ers and could elevate to a fourth-rounder if pass rusher Bryce Huff reaches eight sacks this season, based on prior trade conditions. That gives Jacksonville a chance to receive more meaningful value depending on Huff’s production. From a cap and contract perspective, Bigsby is still on his rookie deal, which runs through 2026, carrying a total value of just over \$5 million. The Eagles, then, are not only acquiring a player with some upside and recent production but also one under cost-controlled team control for another season after this. In today’s NFL, that kind of contract flexibility is invaluable, especially for a team that is constantly managing a tight salary cap due to star-laden contracts across the roster.
This move also speaks to the shifting priorities for the Jaguars. With a younger core and an offense becoming increasingly pass-heavy under quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville may be signaling that they prefer to reallocate resources toward offensive line depth, pass-catching weapons, or future defensive investments. By trading Bigsby, they open up more touches for second-year back Snoop Conner and rookie Keilan Robinson, who coaches reportedly want to get more involved. The decision suggests the Jaguars are content to roll with Etienne as their workhorse while reshaping the rotation behind him in the mold they prefer. Meanwhile, this is a classic Eagles maneuver—buy low on a player who may have untapped potential and fits the system. Bigsby’s game aligns well with the Eagles’ offensive identity. He’s a one-cut runner with decent vision, capable of handling between-the-tackles work and possessing enough speed to break outside when the blocking sets up. He’s not as shifty as Barkley nor as bruising as Dillon, but that’s what makes him an ideal third option. He brings a different skill set, which will be useful both situationally and strategically. Plus, his ability to contribute as a kick returner adds additional value on game day, potentially allowing the Eagles to keep an extra linebacker or defensive back active instead of carrying a designated return specialist.
It’s also worth examining the mental side of this change for Bigsby. For a young player in his third NFL season, a trade can either derail development or rejuvenate it. By joining a championship-caliber team like Philadelphia, Bigsby has a golden opportunity to restart his trajectory. The Eagles are known for their veteran leadership, elite culture, and strong coaching infrastructure. Being around players like Barkley, Jalen Hurts, and Jason Kelce—even if only for a season—can offer Bigsby the kind of mentorship and daily professional example that might elevate his consistency and focus. The Eagles’ offensive coordinator has already stated that they view Bigsby as someone who can contribute immediately and potentially play a bigger role later in the year if needed. That kind of organizational confidence goes a long way for a young player who may have felt like a forgotten piece in Jacksonville.
From a scheme standpoint, Bigsby enters an offense that loves to run the ball and uses its backs in creative ways. Whether it’s outside zone, read-option, or screen plays out of the backfield, the Eagles will find ways to leverage Bigsby’s talents. He won’t be expected to carry the load, but he doesn’t need to. He just needs to be dependable, hit the holes when they’re there, secure the football, and capitalize on his touches. If he can do that, this trade may be looked at in a few months as one of the season’s underrated steals. Conversely, for the Jaguars, this is a move about timing. It’s not that they didn’t believe in Bigsby—it’s that they believed in Etienne more, and they wanted to cash in on a player while he still had perceived value. With a loaded 2026 draft class expected and extra picks now in their arsenal, Jacksonville can address depth in multiple areas or even move up in future drafts to grab impact players. The picks they received for Bigsby won’t turn heads right away, but down the road, they could end up being critical building blocks in the next phase of their roster development.
This deal is also a reflection of the way modern NFL front offices are operating. Gone are the days when teams hesitated to move recent draft picks or stick with players purely out of sunk-cost fallacy. In this league, if a player isn’t producing or doesn’t quite fit the scheme, GMs are quicker than ever to pull the plug and seek value elsewhere. And for contending teams, the inverse is also true—take your shots, acquire depth, and build redundancy in case injuries hit. This trade between Jacksonville and Philadelphia is emblematic of both trends. One team is acknowledging it’s time to look ahead, while the other is positioning itself to win now and avoid vulnerability in a key area.
While it may not be the blockbuster deal of the year, this move is the kind that often flies under the radar but proves critical in December and January. When the Eagles are in a dogfight late in the season or need a drive-saving kick return or a few tough yards on third and short, Bigsby could be the guy delivering. And if he does, no one will care about the draft picks involved. Conversely, if the Jaguars nail those 2026 selections or use the additional capital to trade up for a future star, this trade may be viewed in hindsight as a classic win-win. For now, though, all eyes are on Philadelphia, where Bigsby will suit up in midnight green and look to write the next chapter of his NFL journey. Whether he becomes a reliable rotational piece or something more, he arrives with opportunity in hand and a second chance to make good on the promise that made him a top-100 draft pick just two years ago.
