10 realistic free agents the Jacksonville Jaguars can sign (and afford) in 2024

4. Dalton Risner, left guard

One of the biggest mistakes the Jacksonville Jaguars made last year was not addressing the left guard spot because they thought incumbent Ben Bartch was going to make a full recovery from the dislocated knee he sustained in 2022. While Bartch made it in time for the opener, he wasn't at full strength, and he was benched after three games. The coaching staff replaced him with Tyler Shatley but he wasn't much better and was also sent back to the sidelines after one contest.

Without many options in place, the Jags decided to bump offensive tackle Walker Little inside. The former second-round pick struggled at first but eventually got a hold of the position. Realizing that they were running out of healthy linemen, the front office picked up the phone and acquired Ezra Cleveland from the Minnesota Vikings at the deadline. At the time of the trade, Cleveland was dealing with a foot sprain, so he wasn't able to contribute right off the bat.

The Jaguars couldn't fully assess Cleveland because he dealt with injuries last year but he was a dependable player for the Vikes. He's slated to hit the open market, and the team's brass should consider giving him a full year to demonstrate he can be the long-term answer at left guard. But if they let him walk, they should then go after Dalton Risner.

Heck, the former Kansas State Wildcat remained unsigned for most of the offseason and the Jags refused to sign him despite the fact that he would've brought stability at left guard. Funny enough, Risner made Cleveland expendable in Minnesota, and he could once again replace him in Jacksonville.

While Risner is far from a Pro Bowler, he's been a solid player throughout his career, playing 77 games with 73 starts over the last five years. In Minnesota, he gave up 30 total pressures but no sacks. The truth is that run blocking isn't his forte but he excels in pass protection, an area where the Jaguars could use some help. At $8 million per year, Risner would offer a solid alternative to Ezra Cleveland.