The Jacksonville Jaguars could add some reinforcements on the offensive line. Fortunately, they won't have to look for outside help given that Cam Robinson will be eligible to return from the suspension he's currently serving after Week 4.
Robinson, who signed a three-year deal worth $54 million last year, got slapped with a suspension in the offseason for violations to the NFL performance-enhancing drug policy. During his absence, Walker Little has filled in at left tackle and has done an admirable job, giving up just one total pressure in one game.
But as good as Little's been, the rest of the offensive line hasn't fared as well. The good news is that Robinson will give the Jaguars options when he returns. With that in mind, here are four moves the team's brass can make once Robinson is back in the fold.
The Jaguars can give Cam Robinson his job back, move Walker Little to left guard
Cam Robinson has solely lined up at left tackle in the NFL, so it's hard to envision him playing a different position. It would be easier to move Walker Little around. Last year, he competed with Jawaan Taylor for the right tackle job. While he lost the battle, his experience on that side of the offensive line makes it a possibility.
An alternative would be to move Walker Little to left guard, where he took reps in training camp. Incumbent Ben Bartch missed most of the offseason while he recovered from a knee injury he suffered last year.
Bartch fared well in the opener but struggled in Week 2. There's a reason to believe he'll get better as the season progresses but if he regresses and the Kansas City Chiefs game was a sign of things to come, the Jaguars' brass could insert Little at left guard.
The Jaguars can move Walker Little at right guard, bench rookie Anton Harrison
This would be a short-term solution. So far, rookie Anton Harrison isn't off to a great start to his NFL career. The Oklahoma product has given up three sacks in two games and has struggled in the running game. Once Cam Robinson returns, the Jaguars could move Walker Little to right tackle.
As previously stated, Little has experience lining up at right tackle. He took things to the wire. In the end, Taylor had the edge because he had played the position longer and it's fair to assume Little would've seized the job if he had had more time to prepare.
So let's say the Jaguars move Little to right tackle, they would then have to bench Harrison. This would give the offensive line an immediate boost but might not be the best strategy in the long run. Leaving aside the fact that it could have an effect on Harrison's confidence, the only way he's going to get better is by playing. There's only so much he can get from watching from the sidelines.
The Jaguars could reinsert Harrison back into the lineup next year but that could potentially slow down his development. Keep in mind that the Jaguars invested a first-round pick on him expecting him to be Jawaan Taylor's immediate replacement, so it wouldn't make sense to keep him on the sidelines.
The Jaguars could also trade Cam Robinson before the deadline
When Cam Robinson got suspended, all the guarantees on the contract he signed last year were void. This makes it considerably easier for them to trade him. By moving on from him, they could acquire draft picks and free up cap space.
Given the demand for the position around the league, there could be a robust market for Robinson's services if the Jags were to place him on the trade block. This scenario would be viable if Ben Bartch and Anton Harrison show improvement the next two games.
It's true that the Jaguars need to put their best players on the football field and if Robinson fits the bill, he should then plug him back at left tackle. But if moving Walker Little to either left guard or right tackle will only provide a marginal improvement, they might be better off keeping him at left tackle.
It's also worth noting that Little has fared well enough at left tackle for the Jaguars to at least consider going with him the rest of the way. He's still in his rookie deal and may have a bigger ceiling than Robinson, so why fix what's not broken?
By trading Robinson, the Jaguars would avoid any potential controversy. That said, keeping Robinson around has its merits. This is something the Jaguars' brass has most likely discussed and will keep discussing.
Right now, there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut answer because the Jaguars are probably expecting to see how the offensive line performs in the next two weeks. One thing is certain, it will be interesting to see what the path they'll make.