With about 90 minutes left before the trade deadline, the Jaguars made a deal with the Vikings. It was not, however, the Viking that many Jaguars fans were hoping for. Rather than acquiring Danielle Hunter, the league’s sack leader and a player rumored to Jacksonville in the offseason, the Jaguars will acquire G Ezra Cleveland. Cleveland likely became available after missing two games due to a foot injury. In his absence, the Viking offensive line was about the same without him. Cleveland was added as a depth piece for an upcoming playoff run for the Jaguars.
Both sides will probably see this trade as a win. The Vikings were going to have to decide whether or not to pay Cleveland at the end of the year since the former sixth-round pick was playing the final year of his rookie deal. After seeing how the line performed without him, the team was ready to move on. The Jaguars, on the other hand, saw an opportunity to pick up a former starter for next to nothing. Cleveland may not be with the team long-term. He is probably not better than the top three guards on the Jaguars roster right now. But, in the NFL, injuries happen often, and it is always good to build depth on the offensive line.
Jaguars Acquire Former Sixth-Round Pick Ezra Cleveland for a 2024 Sixth-Round Pick
The Good
- The Jaguars got much-needed depth on their offensive line. So far this year, LT Cam Robinson was suspended for four games, RG Brandon Scherff has been hurt, RG Walker Little has not played the last couple of games due to injury, and LG Ben Bartch was benched for being ineffective. Only C Tyler Fourtner, G Tyler Shatley, and rookie RG Anton Harrison have been available for every game.
- The team only needed to give up a sixth-round pick for a perennial starter on the interior offensive line.
- Jacksonville’s offensive line coach, Phil Rauscher, served as the O-line coach for the Vikings in Cleveland’s first two seasons there. He has a comfort level with Cleveland and Cleveland will be familiar with the Jaguars’ blocking schemes as well.
The Bad
- Cleveland, at least thus far in his career, has not recorded a sack or come off the edge to pressure an opposing quarterback. Basically, the Jaguars needed help on the edge, and they got help on the O-line instead. With Walker Little coming back, Scherff playing, Tyler Shatley as a backup, and even Ben Bartch available, the Jaguars have interior offensive linemen. With Travon Walker lining up on the edge, they do not have two good pass rushers.
- Cleveland seems to be a one-year rental. He will ask for a new contract in the offseason, and will probably get an offer from another team that is more than the Jaguars will be willing to pay. The bottom line is that the team traded a sixth-round pick for nine regular season games and hopefully three playoff games.
- Just to reiterate, the Jaguars did acquire a Viking and his name is not Danielle Hunter. The team still needs help getting to the quarterback if they are planning on making it deep in the playoffs.
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