Falcons, Jaguars swap defensive tackles in trade for backups

The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to trade defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for defensive tackle Maason Smith, a league source confirmed Friday to The Athletic. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report the deal.It’s an exchange of 2024 second-round picks who each had flashes of success for their original teams. Orhorhoro played sparingly as a rookie but then emerged last season to start eight games and have 3.5 sacks, while Smith started five games in 2024 and three last season and has three career sacks. Orhorhoro (6-4, 294 pounds) was the No. 35 pick out of Clemson two years ago. Smith (6-5, 306 pounds) was the No. 48 pick.Smith was considered a high-upside prospect coming out of LSU. He “is a traits-based prospect with his size, movement skills and pop at contact, but his inexperience is evident on tape with his inconsistent technique, block recognition and rush plan,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote in his evaluation of Smith.