National Football League

Caldwell: Jaguars not trading MJD, Posluszny

Published Oct. 3, 2013 8:03 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Jacksonville Jaguars are not going to trade running back Maurice Jones-Drew or linebacker Paul Posluszny.

General manager Dave Caldwell made it clear Thursday that there is no firesale taking place in Jacksonville, which is 0-4 for the third time in franchise history and has scored a league-low 31 points.

Caldwell's comments came two days after he traded starting left tackle Eugene Monroe to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two third-day draft picks in 2014.

There had been reports that trading Monroe might be the first step in a series of moves, and Jones-Drew and Posluszny were widely regarded as guys who could be next because they have value. Jones-Drew has rushed for 7,406 yards and 64 touchdowns in eight seasons. Posluszny ranks second in the NFL in tackles with 40.

''They're not going anywhere,'' Caldwell said. ''We feel good about those guys being here, nor do they want to go anywhere. They're part of this team and we're excited about having them a part of this team.''

The Jaguars got a fourth- and a fifth-round pick in return for Monroe, the eighth overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft. Jacksonville now has 10 picks in 2014.

''You'd like to have as many as you can get to build because you can trade for future picks,'' Caldwell said. ''Sometimes you can take a 4 and turn it into a future 3 and take a future 3 and turn it into a future 2 and eventually you end up with two 1s at some point. It gives you a lot of flexibility. They always say cash is king, and in the NFL, draft picks are kind of your cash.''

Caldwell said in-season trades are difficult to orchestrate, which makes any more unlikely.

''There's a lot of speculation about trades and what teams should do and shouldn't do,'' he said. ''It's hard to make a trade in season. Things really have to align the right way. You have to have a buyer. You have to have a seller. The team has to have salary-cap space. The team has to be willing to part with their player, and it's not like it's easy to fill in.''

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org