Black and Teal
FanSided

3 crucial reasons why the Jaguars must keep Walker Little and Cam Robinson in 2024

• While the Jaguars could trade either Walker Little or Cam Robinson, here's why it makes sense to keep both in 2024.

By Carlos Sanchez

Jacksonville Jaguars guard Ezra Cleveland (76) with offensive tackle Cam Robinson (74) and offensive tackle Walker Little (72) during a break between drills during the second day of an NFL football training camp practice session Thursday, July 25, 2024 at EverBank StadiumÕs Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.
Jacksonville Jaguars guard Ezra Cleveland (76) with offensive tackle Cam Robinson (74) and offensive tackle Walker Little (72) during a break between drills during the second day of an NFL football training camp practice session Thursday, July 25, 2024 at EverBank StadiumÕs Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. / Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
facebooktwitterreddit

With Cam Robinson tentatively returning in 2024, the Jacksonville Jaguars have somewhat of a good problem at left tackle. While Robinson is a capable starter, throughout his career, backup Walker Little has also fared well during his absence.

On top of that, the Jags used a fourth-round pick in this year's draft on Javon Foster, giving them three legitimate options to protect Trevor Lawrence's blindside. Not surprisingly, the surplus at the position has led to chatter about the team potentially trading one of them.

Robinson is the most likely candidate because he's entering a contract year and Jacksonville would free up $17 million in cap space if they release him or trade him. Little is also slated to be a free agent in 2025 but given that he's set to have a base salary of $1.5 million, there could be a bigger demand for his services if placed on the trade block.

From a cap financial point, it would make more sense to trade Robinson. Conversely, if the team's brass doesn't think Little is part of the team's long-term plan, they might as well trade him now and get something in return rather than letting him walk next year and get nothing.

Currently, Little and Robinson are entangled in a battle for the starting job, and whoever loses could be shipped out of town. That said, there are a handful of reasons, including the next three, why the Jaguars are better off keeping both next season.

3. The Jaguars aren't in need of extra picks for the 2025 NFL Draft

Trading Walker Little or Cam Robinson wouldn't make much sense if the main goal is to stockpile draft picks. Already, they acquired two extra for 2025, one in the third round and another in the fourth round, when they traded down six spots in the first round of this year's player selection meeting. If they eventually feel like they need more, general manager Trent Baalke could engineer a trade.

It's also worth noting that the Jaguars don't have many notable players scheduled to hit the open market in 2025. They locked up cornerback Tyson Campbell, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, and Trevor Lawrence in the offseason. Safety Andre Cisco is the only one still waiting for an extension but it could come soon. On the off chance Jacksonville lets him leave next year, they could use their first or second-round pick to find his potential replacement.

This is to say that ideally, the Jaguars won't have many holes to fill, so looking for extra picks with the draft at this stage of the process seems unnecessary. That said, trading either Robinson or Little would become feasible if they were to acquire a pass rusher to bolster their rotation or a player of similar value. Perhaps someone like Matt Judon should be considered.

The Jaguars are in good cap shape ahead of 2025

For all his flaws, general manager Trent Baalke does know how to manage the cap. During his two-year stint in Jacksonville, he's never had to cut a player because the team was in the red. As of this writing, the Jags are slated to have $20 million in space next year, and that amount could increase after the move on from a few players and restructure a few contracts.

It's also important to point out that whatever space the Jags don't use in 2024, they can roll it over into next year. Right now, they have around $26 million, so they would have a total of $46 million next year. If they released or traded Robinson, they would have an extra $17 million but that's the thing, they aren't in dire need of space.

Besides Cisco, the Jags' other prominent player set to become a free agent in 2025 is right guard Brandon Scherff. Tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Christian Kirk will be up for new contracts the year after, but that's a bridge the team will cross at due time. For the time being, they can take on Robinson's cap hit without having to worry about the future.

The Jaguars will want to be protected in case the injury bug strikes

Last year, injuries exposed the team's dearth of depth at several position groups, including the offensive trenches. At one point, they bumped Walker Little because they didn't have someone to line up at left guard. Once they traded for Ezra Cleveland at the deadline, he had to play a few snaps on the edge because Jacksonville ran out of healthy offensive tackles. They'll surely want to avoid a similar situation in 2025.

By keeping Robinson and Little, the Jags ensure they can withstand injuries. If that's the route they choose, Javon Foster would only take the field if both of them were out. By not being pressed into action, he will get a chance to develop until he's ready, which could be until 2025.

Sure, Jacksonville would have to take on Robinson's $17.5 million cap hit, but if that means keeping Trevor Lawrence, the $275 million quarterback, upright, they could see it as a necessary investment. After all, their season went through the drain once the former Clemson Tiger got hurt, and the top brass probably won't want a repeat of 2023.

More Jaguars analysis here:

feed