Insider reveals why Jaguars OT Walker Little will be a popular trade target

The Jacksonville Jaguars are off to a rough start to the 2024 NFL season, and if they struggle to steer the ship in the right direction, they might decide to be sellers ahead of the trade deadline. One of their players who will garner interest is Walker Little. Insider Jeremy Fowler recently explained why teams will probably give the Jags a call about the fourth-year offensive tackle.

Fowler shared the buzz he's hearing ahead of Week 5 and says that Jacksonville could receive calls about some of their players if they aren't able to turn things around. One who could be on demand is Little, and the reasoning is that teams are always in need of dependable offensive tackles.

"The Jaguars have three starting-caliber offensive tackles, with Walker Little as the odd man out. Teams always need offensive line help and will make calls accordingly."

So why would the Jags trade Little? For starters, Cam Robinson is currently ahead of him on the depth chart. While the former Alabama product didn't fare well in the first three games of the season, he came through against the Houston Texans, giving up no sacks or pressures.

Simply put, it's hard to see Little supplanting Robinson at this point. Add the presence of rookie offensive tackle Javon Foster, and the Jaguars could listen to trade offers for Little.

The Texas native has appeared in 44 games with 17 starts since Jacksonville drafted him in 2021. He's generally fared well in relief of Robinson but hasn't been able to seize a featured role. He has a base salary of $1.59 million and is set to become a free agent next year. If the team's brass doesn't think Little is part of their long-term plans, they decide that trading him now and acquiring extra assets is better than letting him walk and get nothing.

Why could the Jaguars ask in exchange for Walker Little?

When you take Walker Little's health, contract, and talent into account, it's easy to understand why Jeremy Folwer thinks teams may show interest in the offensive tackle. The Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders could be a couple of suitors worth monitoring. This begs the question, what kind of compensation could the Jacksonville Jaguars get in return for the former Stanford Cardinal?

The demand for good offensive tackles in the NFL outweighs the demand and Little is at worst a serviceable one. The fact that he can also line up on the right side could increase his value. On the other hand, it's unlikely that the Jags will get premium compensation for him.

Perhaps a fourth or fifth-round conditional pick could get a deal done. Having said that, it's not a given that Jacksonville will be willing to part ways with Little. It's rare for teams to have a starting caliber backup. It's possible that they value the depth he provides more than whatever selections they could get if they trade him.

This becomes especially important when you take into account that Cam Robinson has only played a full season once in his career, and Little has filled in for him each of the past three years. It's not unrealistic to think that the Jags will need him again.

In the end, the Jacksonville Jaguars must weigh the pros and cons of potentially parting ways with Walker Little. Based on general manager Trent Baalke's track record of trading players, nobody will bat an eye if they ultimately make a deal ahead of the deadline.

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