The Jacksonville Jaguars spared no expense to beef up the offensive line in the offseason, signing several free agents and picking a pair of hog mollies in the NFL Draft. There's no doubt that the unit is in much better shape than it was at the end of 2024, but not all the additions the Jags made will pan out. In fact, you could make the case that one of the players they brought in may not even play a down for them next season.
The front office signed Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari in free agency to start at center and right guard, respectively. Both of them should have featured roles for the next two years. Jacksonville also inked Chuma Edoga and Fred Johnson to bolster the depth in the trenches. The two give the team much-needed depth, but they'll need to earn a roster spot.
Whereas Johnson could battle Walker Little for the starting job at left tackle, Edoga will have to compete with Wyatt Milum, Ezra Cleveland, and Cooper Hodges.
Cleveland is the incumbent at left guard, but nobody would bat an eye if Milum siezes the starting job. Whoever loses will probably be the primary backup at guard. That would be Edoga as the odd man out unless he outplays both. Based on his track record, it won't be a walk in the park.
Why Chuma Edoga may not be on the Jaguars roster come Week 1
Chuma Edoga spent the last two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys after playing for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. A third-round pick by the New York Jets in 2019, he's appeared in 48 games with 23 starts throughout his career. And while the former USC Trojan has been a dependable backup, he's struggled when he's gotten extended playing time.
Last season, Edoga played 226 snaps and gave up a respectable two sacks and seven total pressures. Maybe that's why the Jags felt compelled to sign him. However, his Pro Football Focus overall grade of 52.2 was the second-lowest of his career. Sure, PFF is far from the only metric to assess a player's performance, but it does show that the veteran offensive lineman wasn't nearly as good as his traditional stats would suggest.
This begs the question: Will Edoga be on the roster come Week 1? Maybe, but it's not a given. The Jaguars will carry nine or 10 offensive linemen in 2025, and Edoga could be the victim of the numbers game. Patrick Mekari, Robert Hainsay, Walker Little, Anton Harrison, and Ezra Cleveland are locks to make the team. Then, there's Luke Fortner, Wyatt Milum, Fred Johnson, Jonah Monheim, and Cooper Hodges.
Of the bunch, either Fortner or Hodges may be the most vulnerable, but so Edoga would have to outplay them to ensure he suits up for the Jaguars in 2025.
Looking back, the Jaguars signed Edoga because they wanted to increase the roster floor. If he doesn't ultimately make the cut, it will be because the depth and talent up front have improved considerably.