The Jacksonville Jaguars could lose both of their coordinators in this hiring cycle. But at the same time, they're wasting no time adding reinforcements to the coaching staff. Not long after the loss to the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs, the Jags hired Matthieu Arauju to replace Ron Milus as the defensive backs coach. On top of that, he'll be the pass game coordinator.
On offense, head coach Liam Coen brought in long-time collaborator Brian Picucci to serve as the run game coordinator. Last year, Jacksonville wanted to interview him for their opening at offensive line coach. However, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers blocked the request at the time.
Coen was able to get his guy one year later, and several players should benefit from his arrival. On the other hand, one veteran shouldn't feel good about his odds of sticking around in 2026.
The hiring of Brian Picucci doesn't bode well for Jaguars OT Walker Little
Although Brian Picucci will oversee the running game, he'll surely give input to offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett. The Jaguars weren't necessarily bad up front, but they weren't great either. Heck, you could even make the case that it's precisely the reason Jacksonville brought Picucci to begin with.
Youngsters such as Jonah Monheim and Wyatt Milum will benefit from his presence, but veterans such as Walker Little could see themselves affected.
Last season, Little began the season as the starter at left tackle but was benched in favor of Cole Van Lanen. He was pressed into action when Patrick Mekari missed time at right guard, but once again, he struggled.
Similarly, Little started in relief of Van Lanen in the loss to the Bills and left a bit to be desired. The former Stanford Cardinal finished the year with a team-worst nine sacks and 50 total pressures.
After signing a three-year deal worth $51 million towards the end of 2026, Van Lanen should be the favorite to protect Trevor Lawrence's blind side. Little's future in Jacksonville, on the other hand, appears to be murky.
Why the Jaguars may move on from Walker Little in 2026
You could argue that Walker Little could also improve under Brian Picucci. However, he's slated to have a cap hit, unlike sophomores Waytt Milum and Johah Monheim. Couple that with the fact that the demand for left tackles in the NFL outweighs the supply, and the veteran offensive lineman could find themselves on the trading block.
Trading Little would leave $7.2 million in dead money, but it would also free up $7.3 in space. That would be a reasonable course of action when you take into account that Jacksonville is currently $21 million over the cap. Aside from getting relief, the front office could get a draft pick (probably a third or a fourth) that it could use to address other needs.
Of course, keeping Walker Little around shouldn't be ruled out just yet. That said, he might be better off getting a fresh start somewhere else after the Jaguars hired Brian Picucci.