The Jacksonville Jaguars have traded defensive lineman Maason Smith to the Atlanta Falcons for Ruke Orhorhoro, both former second-round picks from the 2024 NFL Draft.
ESPN was first to report the player-for-player deal.
Orhorhoro was also drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 13 picks ahead of Smith with the 35th overall selection in that year's draft.
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, left and head coach Liam Coen joked when asked how Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli effects their draft picks during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
The Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spoke about Jacksonville native Carson Beck who was quarterback at the Miami Hurricanes last year and at the Georgia Bulldogs before that, during the annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Q&A
What players were involved in the Jaguars and Falcons trade?
The trade involved Maason Smith from the Jaguars and Ruke Orhorhoro from the Falcons.
What round were Maason Smith and Ruke Orhorhoro drafted in?
Both Maason Smith and Ruke Orhorhoro were drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
What was the draft position of Ruke Orhorhoro compared to Maason Smith?
Ruke Orhorhoro was drafted 13 picks ahead of Maason Smith, with Orhorhoro going 35th overall.
Why did the Jaguars trade Maason Smith for Ruke Orhorhoro?
The specific reasons for the trade have not been disclosed, but it involves a swap of defensive linemen to potentially address team needs.
Related Articles
SoccerĀ·Transfer
Carrick: No decision made over Rashford Man Utd return
Carrick says no decision made on Rashford's future at Man Utd.
Sky SportsĀ·Ā·1 min read
Sports
Inside the fallout of the Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel photos
NFL reporter Dianna Russini and coach Mike Vrabel caught in controversial photos.
ESPN NewsĀ·Ā·1 min read
NBAĀ·Feature
Frank: Clippers' goal remains to 'win with Kawhi'
Clippers President Confirms Commitment to Kawhi Leonard's Future
ESPN NewsĀ·Ā·1 min read
Sports
Brazil basketball legend Oscar Schmidt dies at 68
Oscar Schmidt, the legendary Brazilian basketball player, has passed away at 68 after battling a brain tumor.
ESPN NewsĀ·Ā·1 min read
CricketĀ·Feature
IPL 2026: Impact role again on the cards for Virat Kohli?
Virat Kohli shines as an Impact Player in IPL 2026 despite injury!
Yahoo SportsĀ·Ā·1 min read
Sports
How to watch the Georgia Bulldogs Spring Game
Don't miss the Georgia Bulldogs Spring Game on April 18th at 1:00 p.m. EST!
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.
Jacksonville Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone talks about the process of making a list of who they want to draft and how that changes if another team picks their pick during the Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, left listens as head coach Liam Coen talks about the upcoming NFL draft during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli laughs after head coach Liam Coen jokingly said that Boselli wants to drafter like 11 offensive lineman in the upcoming NFL Draft during Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen talked about the upcoming NFL draft during the annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
The Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spoke about year one and year two as the head coach during the annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, left listens as head coach Liam Coen talked about Trevon Walker during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen has a laugh with the media after Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, left and head coach Liam Coen joked when asked how Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli effects their draft picks during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone talked about the upcoming NFL Draft during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone talked about the upcoming NFL Draft during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, left and Jaguars head coach Liam Coen talked about the upcoming NFL Draft with the media during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
1 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, left and head coach Liam Coen joked when asked how Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli effects their draft picks during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
1 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, left and head coach Liam Coen joked when asked how Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli effects their draft picks during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
2 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
The Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spoke about Jacksonville native Carson Beck who was quarterback at the Miami Hurricanes last year and at the Georgia Bulldogs before that, during the annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
3 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jacksonville Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone talks about the process of making a list of who they want to draft and how that changes if another team picks their pick during the Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
4 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, left listens as head coach Liam Coen talks about the upcoming NFL draft during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
5 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jacksonville Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli laughs after head coach Liam Coen jokingly said that Boselli wants to drafter like 11 offensive lineman in the upcoming NFL Draft during Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
6 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen talked about the upcoming NFL draft during the annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
7 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
The Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spoke about year one and year two as the head coach during the annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
8 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, left listens as head coach Liam Coen talked about Trevon Walker during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
9 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen has a laugh with the media after Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
10 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, left and head coach Liam Coen joked when asked how Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli effects their draft picks during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
11 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone talked about the upcoming NFL Draft during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
12 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone talked about the upcoming NFL Draft during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
13 / 13
Jacksonville Jaguars talk about upcoming NFL Draft
Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, left and Jaguars head coach Liam Coen talked about the upcoming NFL Draft with the media during the Jacksonville Jaguarsā annual pre-draft luncheon press conference in the media room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday April 9, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Smith, 6-foot-5, 306 pounds was expected to be one of the team's anchor players on the defensive line, bringing pass rush ability from the interior of the team's defense.
In 2024, Smith started just five games, playing in 11 after a slow start to the season. Smith capitalized on extended playing time as the season came to a close, finishing with three sacks. In 2024, Smith saw the field on 51% of the team's defensive snaps.
In 2025, however, Smith's snap count dropped dramatically to just 36%, playing on 311 of of the team's defensive snaps. Smith played in 13 games, starting two. He totaled 15 tackles (four solos), but was shutout in impacting the quarterback with zero tackles for loss, sacks and quarterback hits.
Orhorhoro, 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, has played in 25 games for the Falcons with eight starts. Last season, Orhorhoro accounted for 25 tackles (12 solos), four tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and 3.5 sacks through 17 games played (eight starts). In his rookie year, Orhorhoro played in just eight games.
The then-rookie sustained a significant ankle injury midway through the year which cost him playing time.
The Jaguars will continue to address the needs on the team throughout the month of April, starting next week with the 2026 NFL Draft.
