The Jacksonville Jaguars have spared no expenses to bolster the offensive line the past two years, and it's easy to see why. The Jags have a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, and they want to ensure he gets the best possible protection. However, they haven't gotten enough bang for their buck.
As a whole, the offensive line has struggled in both pass protection and run blocking this season. Except for a few games, Lawrence has found himself having to get rid of the ball faster than he would like. Similarly, their inability to open lanes in the running game has forced Travis Etienne to create yards on his own. Not everything is doom and gloom up front though.
Anton Harrison, the 27th overall pick in this year's draft, has had a relatively smooth transition to right tackle. After lining up mostly at left tackle in college, Harrison switched sides in Jacksonville. While he's had a few rough games, he's progressively gotten better. Walker Little, for his part, has fared well at left tackle when healthy.
Little, a second-round pick in 2021, did a good job of replacing Cam Robinson while he served a suspension early in the season. Although injuries have hindered his performance in recent weeks, Little deserves consideration to keep the job long-term. Having said that, the Jaguars will need better production from their offensive line next season, and they can make these four moves to achieve the goal.
4. Bring competition for center Luke Fortner
Luke Fortner was a Week 1 starter as a rookie last season and ended up giving just one sack in all 17 games. Moreover, he was the lone Jaguars player who appeared on all 100 percent of the offensive snaps. But that's where the positives end. The former Kentucky Wildcat has struggled against the run throughout his career and is arguably the weakest link in the trenches right now.
While it's too early to give up on Fortner, a third-round pick in the 2022 draft, he could benefit from having to compete for his job. The team's brass could use a mid-round pick to draft someone who'll challenge Fortner. An alternative is to go after Aaron Brewer, or any of the other centers slated to hit the open market, including Andre James or Aaron Brewer.
The downside of going after James and Brewer is that they're both expected to command a big salary next year. If the Jaguars went after either one, they would bring them to start, not to compete with Fortner. Given that the front office must address other positions up front, they're better off going after a bargain free agent or drafting a center in Rounds 3 or 4.
3. Give Ezra Cleveland a one-year deal
One of the team's biggest offseason blunders was not addressing the left guard position. They expected Ben Bartch to come back from a knee injury he suffered last year. Bartch spent the offseason recovering and returned in time for the opener. Unfortunately, he struggled and was eventually benched in favor of veteran Tyler Shatley.
While Shatley is a dependable backup who can play all three positions inside, he's not a long-term starter. Still, the Jags went with him because they had no better options. Once Cam Robinson returned from a suspension to start the season, Little was moved to left guard. When Little got hurt, Shatley returned to the lineup.
In an effort to provide stability at the position, Jacksonville traded for Ezra Cleveland at the deadline. Cleveland was dealing with a foot sprain at the time of the trade. Once he healed and got acclimated, he was plugged in at left guard. He's been limited by injuries this season —both in Jacksonville and Minnesota — but he's proven to be a reliable player when healthy.
All things considered, Cleveland hasn't had enough time to hit his stride, so the Jaguars should consider bringing him back on a one-year deal. He could benefit from spending a full offseason season with the Jaguars, with a chance to raise his stock while top brass would check off a box on their to-do list.
2. Keep Walker Little at LT, move on from Cam Robinson
The Jaguars haven't been able to find a long-term spot for Walker Little since drafting him 45th overall in 2021. Late in his rookie season, he showed flashes. However, the front office gave Cam Robinson a three-year deal worth $54 million in 2022 and moved Little to the right side to compete with Jawaan Taylor for the starting job.
Little is a natural fit for right tackle but still took things to the wire. He ultimately lost the battle and became the swing tackle last year. With Robinson serving a suspension to start the 2023 season, Little was given a chance to line up at left tackle. During the four games he replaced Robinson, he gave up just five total pressures and one sack on 205 pass-blocking snaps.
Robinson definitely brought swagger when he came back from the suspension but he's set to make $21.6 million next year. With Little in the fold, they can afford to release him, which could create $17.7 million in cap space with $3.8 million in dead money.
It's also worth noting that Little will be eligible for a new contract in 2024, so Jacksonville could use some of the savings they'd get from releasing Robinson to give him an extension.
1. The Jaguars must part ways with Brandon Scherff
The Jaguars didn't mind paying a premium for Brandon Scherff last year because they knew his presence would bolster the offensive trenches. Scherff, a first-round pick by the Washington Commanders in 2015, had been selected to the Pro Bowl five times and earned a First-Team All-Pro designation. Even though he had last started a full season in 2016 and missed 24 games from 2017-2021, the upside seemed to outweigh the risk.
While Scherff managed to appear in all 17 games last year, he didn't play at the level he was accustomed to in Washington. Granted, he dealt with an abdomen injury for most of the year but that doesn't explain why he hasn't been able to reach his Pro Bowl form in 2023. Make no mistake, he's improved but nowhere near the level he had early in past years.
Scherff hasn't been outright dreadful but his performance doesn't match his salary. He's scheduled to make $23.9 million next year, but releasing him would create a tad over $9 million with $14.8 million in dead money. The Jaguars could move on from Scherff and sign a younger, cheaper guard to replace him in free agency.
Right guard Kevin Dotson, who's thrived after being traded to the Los Angeles Rams, would be an excellent addition to the offensive trenches but he's expected to have a robust market for his services. Robert Hunt may be a bit cheaper but Jacksonville would most likely have to fork out lots of cash to secure him. A young, more affordable option would be Jon Runyan, who's low-key been solid for the Green Bay Packers and will probably be available next offseason.
Either way, parting ways with Brandon Scherff and bringing in a younger but equally productive player to line up at right guard may be the best course of action in 2024.