PUEBLO, Colo. – We may be just three weeks into the 2024 edition of the PBR Camping World Team Series, but teams are already itching to improve as this weekend’s PBR Teams: Maverick Days quickly approaches.

And so we have the 5-on-5 series’ first trade of the summer, with the Nashville Stampede acquiring Cody Jesus while the Texas Rattlers welcomed Mason Taylor.

Knowing the Stampede just dropped a pair of contests last weekend in Sunrise, Florida, courtesy of a combined 1-for-10 showing en route to falling to 3-4 on the season means they need some more firepower in their lineup.

Watching the Rattlers suffer the same 0-2 fate at PBR Teams: Freedom Days means they were obviously game to shake some things up, as well.

Even if it means dealing their first-round talent acquired back in 2022 (as Jesus was originally selected by the Carolina Cowboys, but eventually sent to the Rattlers in a draft day deal).

The weirdest part of this swap?

The two cowboys were involved in the first big blockbuster trade of the PBR Teams landscape some three seasons ago, as Carolina sent Jesus, Joao Ricardo Vieira and the No. 30 overall selection to the Rattlers in exchange for Daylon Swearingen, Taylor and the No. 26 overall selection.

Thankfully for the Rattlers, they were able to cash in at least one championship while Jesus was around, as the team continues to serve as the league’s defending 2023 PBR Teams Champions.

And while the Stampede won their 2022 honors during the inaugural season while Taylor was still riding with the Cowboys, they’ll gladly accept an all-star-caliber (when healthy) competitor in Jesus, who also comes decorated with championship pedigree.

An annual Top 20 threat on the Unleash The Beast, he turned in a career-best No. 8 finish just a month before the 2022 PBR Teams Draft, when his stock was at an all-time high.

While he very much delivered for the Rattlers in year one, ending the season 12-for-29 overall, the Rattlers weren’t able to get the job done, eventually seeing their trade partners in the Stampede win it all. Reloaded and ready to capitalize when Texas returned for year two, the team indeed went on to earn its trophy-raising honors.

But Jesus, just 5-for-10 on the season as he continued to battle various injuries, wasn’t too vital to that year two squad. During the regular season, at least ...

Delivering an epic 88.75-pointer during the team’s Championship Game win over the Austin Gamblers, however, will always be remembered in Rattlers history.

He wasn’t available for the majority of the season, thus unable to contribute much.

But in a game which was won by just one ride score, 355.25-265.26, you bet your ass Lambert was glad he was rocking with the Rattlers.

Exiting the 2024 premier series campaign ranked No. 19 overall as he, again, battled injuries throughout the year, he hasn’t been able to shake the bug off quite yet.

Just 0-for-1 during his lone 2024 PBR Teams opportunity, Jesus had the opportunity to complete a perfect game for his squad in Duluth, Georgia, but was unable to get the job done, as the Rattlers instead settled for a 4-for-5 victory.

Lambert insists his guys need to be ready to ride with either hand, in or out of it.

But with the defending Champs off to an odd 2-5 start, it was time to shake things up in sending the lefty Jesus to acquire the right-handed talents of Mason Taylor.

Taylor, who started his 2024 campaign in a sweet spot courtesy of his 2-for-3 showing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, boosted his stock a few bumps after looking like the real deal for Nashville.

Getting on the board in two of the Stampede’s three wins, he single-handedly secured Nashville’s first victory of the season during the league’s opening weekend via an 84.25-point dance with Norse God.

Chipping in to the team’s second win of 2024 courtesy of an 85.75-point go aboard Great Balls of Fire, he seemed to be fitting in just fine, while contributing a bit more than Jesus.

But as the season continued, Taylor’s hot start cooled down, now just 3-for-7 as he packs his bags and joins up with Texas.

Prior to the swap, he was one of three Stampede riders with three qualified rides to their name this season. Now a part of the Rattlers contingent, he represents the fourth member of the Rattlers who has recorded a trio of conversions, joining Marcelo Procopio Pereira (4-for-6), Brady Fielder (3-for-7) and Joao Ricardo Vieira (3-for-6).

Originally riding with the Carolina Cowboys during the league’s inaugural season, he, like Jesus, had some year one success, as he managed a quality 14-for-33 effort, regularly pitching in for Jerome Davis and company.

Finding himself with the Stampede when year two rolled around, he was a mere 0-for-5 with Nashville last season, with a late-July hip surgery serving as his most recent cause for pause.

Earning five Top 11 efforts during the 2024 UTB season, he enjoyed some stints of success but wasn’t able to get anything rolling consistently, eventually resulting in a No. 35 finish as he couldn’t exit the Ride for Redemption stage in failing to punch his ticket to AT&T Stadium.

Initially selected No. 14 overall by the Rattlers (later traded to Carolina), he’ll prepare to shift gears and join forces with his productive trio of teammates, alongside the likes of Daniel Keeping, Shane Scott, Brady Oleson, Jesse Petri and company as Texas looks to run it back.

Meanwhile, for Jesus, new teammates in Kaiden Loud, Alan de Souza, Silvano Alves, Andrei Scoparo and company as the teams prepare for the fourth showdown of the 2024 slate!

Nashville will go head-to-head with Oklahoma Wildcatters before challenging the Rattlers in Week 4, while Texas will face the Gamblers before seeing the Stampede on Saturday.

All of this weekend’s action will air on Merit Street and the Merit+ App, so be sure to tune in and stay locked to PBR.com and @PBR social media channels as the first-ever PBR Teams: Maverick Days invades Barclays Center Aug. 9-10!

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media