Jaguars urged to go after Rams O-Line standout if they don't re-sign Walker Little

The Jacksonville Jaguars traded left tackle Cam Robinson to the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the November 5 deadline and are giving Walker Little a chance to show he can be Trevor Lawrence's blindside protector in the long term. But if he fails his tryout, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report might have come up with an interesting alternative alternative in free agency.

Ballentine drew up a list of needs for every AFC team ahead of Week 11 and suggests the Jags go after Alaric Jackson, pointing out that he's become a dependable left tackle for the Los Angeles Rams after going undrafted in 2021.

"The Jaguars have tipped their hand that some changes are coming on the offensive line. It's rare that a team actually trades away a competent starting offensive tackle, but the Jaguars were willing to send Cam Robinson to the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the trade deadline.

That opens the possibility that the Jaguars will actively pursue the best offensive linemen on the market. The tackle market will mostly be made up of aging veterans looking for a job at the end of their prime. Alaric Jackson could be one of the exceptions. The 26-year-old has proven himself going from an undrafted free agent to a legitimate starting left tackle in a few seasons."

Jackson barely played as a rookie but worked his way into the starting lineup as a sophomore and hasn't looked back. Since 2022, he's given up just a measly seven sacks. Granted, he allowed a concerning 41 total pressures last year but it appears to be an outlier rather than the norm.

This season, the former Iowa Hawkeye has surrendered three sacks and 12 pressures in seven games. He's set to become a free agent in 2025 and if the Rams don't lock him up, he'll be a hot commodity in the open market. This begs the question, should the Jaguars make a run for him if they don't bring back Little?

Alaric Jackson would be an intriging fallback if the Jaguars cannot re-sign Walker Little

With Cam Robinson out of the picture, Walker Little will have a chance to prove he's the long-term answer at left tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars. So far, he's off to a good start, giving up just six total pressures and one sack the past four games. If the former Stanford Cardinal keeps making a strong impression, he'll be in a position to demand top-market compensation. That could spell trouble for the Jags.

As of this writing, the Jags are 2-8, and general manager Trent Baalke has played a role in their subpar record. For that reason, it's hard to tell if he'll be calling the shots next season. But regardless of who's in charge of the team's front office, Jacksonville may find itself in a bidding war for Little if he keeps playing at a high level.

Think about it, if Little shows out, why should he settle for whatever amount the Jaguars offer? He may want to see what's out there, right? If that's the case — and if the team's brass doesn't apply the franchise tag on him — the Texas native will become a free agent, and teams could line up for his services.

If that's the case, the Jaguars could lose Little and may need to turn to Jackson. All things considered, it would be a solid course of action. After all, the Ontario, Canada native has been dependable for the Los Angeles Rams. That said, he plays a premium position and could be in demand if he hits the open market.

And that's the thing. If either Little or Jackson are cost-prohibitive, the Jags might be better off turning to the draft to find a left tackle, and using whatever cap space they have to address other needs. Currently, they're on pace to earn a top-5 pick in 2025, and they could use it to find someone who can provide long-term stability at left tackle.

Ideally, re-signing Walker Little should be one of the clubs' top priorities, but if he goes somewhere else, Alaric Jackson would be a pretty good alternative.

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