The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't had many reasons for celebration this season, but they're surely pleased with the way Walker Little has played since they traded Cam Robinson to the Minnesota Vikings. Moreover, the Jags should be thrilled that they managed to strike an extension that ensures the fourth-year left tackle won't go anywhere anytime soon.
Doug Pederson was asked about Little's performance since stepping into a starting role earlier this season. He says that the left tackle has met expectations and then some.
"I think each week he continues to improve and show you know, how capable he is of handling, you know, that starting role and a player that we knew could do that, you know?" Pederson told the local media ahead of the Week 16 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. "But yeah, his improvement, the physicality in the run game, obviously, in pass protection, he does a nice job. So I would say that he's right where he needs to be and continues to improve."
Pederson goes on to credit Little's improvement on not having to wonder where he'll line up heading into a game.
"I think so. He has the confidence that he's going to be the guy, and we have the confidence that he's the guy, and day in, day out, he gets those practice reps, and he doesn't have to worry about, am I going to play left tackle this week, or right tackle, or guard, or whatever it might be, and that that has a lot, has a lot to do with it now," Pederson responded when asked if focusing on playing one position has helped Little hit his stride.
A second-round pick in the 2021 draft, Little stepped in at left tackle in Week 7 when Robinson suffered a concussion. He's come through ever since, giving up just 11 pressures and no sacks on 293 pass-blocking snaps. He's been equally adept as a run blocker, posting a respectable Pro Football Focus grade of 71.2 in that area.
The Jaguars got it right when they gave Walker Little an extension
What makes his success even more impressive is that Little may not have gotten a job if Robinson hadn't gotten hurt. But once he took over, trading him to the Vikings was a no-brainer for the Jaguars' brass. Even more surprising was that the team's brass chose to give the former Stanford Cardinal an extension. Unfortunately, the news took a backseat because just hours later, Trevor Lawrence suffered a concussion from a vicious hit Azeez Al-Shair laid on him.
So far, Walker Little has repaid the trust the Jacksonville Jaguars put on him. While they'll need to address plenty of needs next year, left tackle won't be one of them. Moreover, they rewarded the Texas native but were able to save money along the way.
Little's contract is worth $45 million with a $26 million guaranteed. His annual average of $15 million ranks outside the top 20 among offensive tackles in the league. It's fair to say that the Jags are getting plenty of bang for the buck. On the other hand, he isn't getting peanuts either, so it's fair to say that getting a deal done is a win-win for him and the team.
Even though Little always had the talent, he had to wait for his chance. Just one year ago, his future with the team looked murky. However, his patience and perseverance paid off, as he'll now be Trevor Lawrence's blindside protector for years to come.