Jacksonville Jaguars get it right by trading for Ezra Cleveland: 3 observations

The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for a Minnesota Vikings player at the deadline but it wasn't defensive end Danielle Hunter. Instead, they acquired left guard Ezra Cleveland in exchange for a sixth-round selection in 2024. Although the move isn't particularly flashy, it gives the Jags' interior line a significant boost.

Cleveland, a second-round pick in 2020, has appeared in 53 games with 49 starts. Jaguars offensive line coach Phil Rauscher was his position coach his first two seasons, so he should be able to get acclimated to his new team quickly.

Throughout the year, Ben Bartch, Tyler Shatley, and Walker Little made starts at left guard. Cleveland should put a stop to the revolving door at the position. Although he's been dealing with a foot sprain, he should recover in time for the Jaguars' bout against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10.

All things considered, acquiring Cleveland was a low-key move that should give the Jags stability at left guard for the remainder of the season barring injuries. With that in mind, here are three observations regarding the trade.

No. 3 The Jacksonville Jaguars got a bargain when they traded for Ezra Cleveland

If Ezra Cleveland is healthy, he will be an immediate upgrade at left guard. He's surrendered just 10 total pressures and one sack on 248 pass-blocking snaps. His Pro Football Focus overall grade ranks eighth among qualifying guards. While Tyler Shatley is a serviceable player and provides invaluable depth at all three positions on the interior offensive line, he's better suited for a backup role.

Moreover, all it took the Jags to acquire Cleveland was a sixth-round pick. That's a pretty good deal. This is especially true when you take into account that until recently, he had made 49 consecutive starts.

Cleveland is set to hit the open market next year, so he could turn out to be a one-year rental. On the other hand, he could make a strong impression and earn a contract extension. Either way, the Jaguars will have options at the position.

2. Ben Bartch wasn't part of the Jacksonville Jaguars long-term plan

It's not hyperbole to say that the Jags' 2020 draft is among the worst they had the past 10 years and that's saying something. After this season, defensive end DaVon Hamilton could be the only remaining player from that class. But for a moment, as brief as it was, it seemed like Ben Bartch could've signed a second contract in Jacksonville.

Injuries pressed Bartch into action as a rookie. He then took over at right guard in 2021 when A.J. Cann went down in Week 4. Although he had a rough stretch, Bartch consistently got better. He was the Jags starting left guard in the 2022 opener but suffered a knee injury in Week 5 that cut his season short.

Bartch spent the offseason recovering and returned in time for the opener. However, he struggled and was replaced in favor of Tyler Shatley in Week 4. Maybe he wasn't 100 percent or perhaps he was rusty after being away from the field for several months. Regardless of the season, Bartch only played four offensive snaps and was mostly relegated to special teams since being benched.

It was telling that the coaching staff went with Blake Hance when right guard Brandon Scherff got hurt in Week 5 despite the fact that Bartch had experience lining up on the right side. Not surprisingly, Jacksonville released Batch to make room for Cleveland.

But even if Bartch had returned to shape, he was in a contract year. There are other players who were ahead of him on the Jaguars' priority list, so there's a chance he would've walked in free agency.

1. There could be a logjam at left tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars

Cam Robinson serving a four-game suspension for violations to the league's performance-enhancing drug policy to start the season, so the Jags plugged in Walker Little at left tackle. Although Little did a commendable job, Robinson got his job back once he returned. Still, the coaching staff wanted to keep the former in the lineup, so they moved him to left guard in Week 5. Unfortunately, he suffered an MCL in his lone start and has missed the last three games.

Little returned to practice after Week 7 and he'll have enough time to heal while Jacksonville enjoys their BYE. If he doesn't have any setbacks, he could suit up when the Jags welcome the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10. The issue is that Cam Robinson seems to be entrenched on the edge and Ezra Cleveland might start at left guard, so Little would then be the swing tackle. Rookie Anton Harrison has also made progress on the right side, so it's also hard to see the coaching staff benching him in favor of Little.

While it's great to have depth at offensive tackle, it doesn't make sense to keep Little on the sidelines. He fared well when he lined up during his four-game stint at left tackle. He also thrived last year when he replaced Robinson after suffering a meniscus injury. Even when the former Stanford Cardinal competed with Jawaan Taylor for the right tackle job, he took things to the wire.

Cam Robinson's suspension wiped out the guarantees in the three-year contract worth $54 million in 2022. Moving on from him next offseason could free up around $17.5 million in cap space, so the Jags could feel tempted to release him (or trade him) and insert Walker Little at left tackle. But in the meantime? What will Jacksonville do? They didn't just wake up and feel like trading for Ezra Cleveland. They surely have a plan in place and it will be interesting to see how things unfold in the upcoming weeks.

Here are other recent Jaguars stories you may also enjoy: