The Jacksonville Jaguars have won three games in a row, and one unsung player has played a massive role during their hot streak: Cole Van Lanen. With injuries plaguing the offensive line in recent weeks, the fourth-year hog molly has been a Swiss Army Knife of sorts for the Jags.
In the 25-3 win over the Tennessee Titans, Van Lanen filled in for Patrick Mekari at right guard. However, he had to switch sides when left tackle Walker Little left the game with a concussion.
And throughout the whole ordeal, Van Lanen came through.
Cole Van Lanen has become a key cog on the Jaguars O-Line
Cole Van Lanen began the season as the swing tackle, but injuries in the trenches have forced him to play different positions. Against the Titans, he played 28 snaps at right guard and later logged 35 when he replaced Walker Little. And if that wasn't enough, the former Wisconsin Badger has also lined up at tight end in Jumbo packages. For his performance against the Titans, he got a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 79.9, his highest this season.
In Week 12, Van Lanen started at right tackle and also filled in for left guard Ezra Cleveland in Week 11. He's already played a career-high 311 offensive snaps with five games to spare. It's fair to say that his stock continues to soar in a contract year, and with each performance, it's making it harder to re-sign him in 2026.
A sixth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2021. Van Lanen spent his rookie campaign in the practice squad and was traded to the Jags the following year. Although he mostly played left tackle in college, he switched to guard with the Packers.
However, Van Lanen eventually moved back to offensive tackle, and this season in particular, his versatility to line up inside or on the edge has been on full display.
Liam Coen is impressed with Cole Van Lanen's performance across the O-Line
Following the win over the Titans, Liam Coen spoke to reporters. He said that he's been impressed with Cole Van Lanen's versatility, noting that he's done a great job of filling in whatever assignment the team gives him.
"No, I have not," Coen responded when asked if he's seen an O-lineman as versatile as Van Lanen (5:33 mark). "When we got here as a staff, everybody spoke about Cole van Lanen, everybody spoke about him as a pro, as his ability to be able to do this and to have the mindset, but also the preparation. I mean, guys, that is not easy to go and do for anybody. And he goes and does it at arguably one of the hardest positions to play in the National Football League, which is offensive line."
Coen continued, "The calls, the chemistry, the continuity, or you got to block. You're preparing in your mind to go block, you know, [Jeffery] Simmons right at inside, but then you got to go outside and go block [Arden] Key and no, I mean, it's just, it's not easy to do. I've got a lot of respect for Cole van Lanen."
As Liam Coen, bigs as versatile as Cole Van Lanen are hard to find, so perhaps the Jaguars will need to consider forking out more cash than they might like to keep him around next year. It would be money well spent.