Jaguars State of the Roster: Offensive Tackle

What is the outlook of the Jaguars' offensive tackle room before free agency?

In a matter of days, the 2024 league year will begin for the NFL. 4 p.m. ET on March 13 marks the official start of the free agency window, which means it’s time to check in on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster.

Today features a look at the offensive tackles.

Under Contract

Cam Robinson

Age: 28.

Experience: 7 seasons/84 appearances/84 starts.

2023 Production: 9 starts.

Unfortunately, the following statement is a back-handed compliment: Cam Robinson is the best offensive lineman on the Jaguars roster.

It was a low bar during the 2023 season, but it’s still the truth. Robinson even missed the beginning of the season due to suspension and a few other games with injury, and it was still apparent that he was the best tackle when available.

Going into 2024, Robinson probably isn’t worth his $21.1 million cap hit. Jacksonville could release him and save ~$16 million in cap space for this year, and GM Trent Baalke said there are “discussions to be had” when it comes to Robinson’s future. But the Jaguars need more stability on the line, not less.

It could go either way, but Robinson is more likely to stay in Jax than depart.

Walker Little

Age: 25

Experience: 3 seasons/40 appearances/17 starts

2023 Production: 14 appearances, 11 starts

Like Robinson, Little is also entering the final year of his current deal. Little is close to finishing his rookie deal and will be due $1.7 million in salary this year.

Little has yet to reach the potential scouts saw in college before his injury. While the Jaguars looked shrewd for taking him in the second round after his knee injury in 2019 and following opt-out season in 2020, 2024 is really the make-or-break year on the investment.

If Jacksonville is optimistic about Little being the full-time guy, that could be a deciding factor for Robinson’s future. After all, Little did make 11 starts in 2023. But based on what Little has accomplished so far, it’s hard to feel safe by putting QB Trevor Lawrence’s health in Little’s hands.

Conversely, there’s no real incentive to release Little. His cheap salary means there is little benefit to a release, although the Jaguars could “cash out” on Little with a trade.

Anton Harrison

Age: 22

Experience: 1 seasons/17 appearances/17 starts

2023 Production: 17 appearances, 17 starts

Pro Football Focus gave Anton Harrison an overall grade of 53 for his 2023 season, but most Jaguars fans probably would say he deserved a bit better. Harrison had a tall order as a rookie and, most of the time, he wasn’t any more of a liability than the rest of the offensive line.

Honestly, there’s not much to say about Harrison. He is locked in for at least three years due to his rookie deal, and there’s no reason to think Jacksonville is going to bail on him. Harrison will get another season to develop (at least) before the Jaguars get concerned.

Cooper Hodges

Age: 23

Experience: 1 season, 0 appearances

2023 Production: 0 appearances

There’s a few players that are hard to properly list as an outright guard or tackle, but we’ll count Hodges as a tackle since that’s where he played in college. After being selected in the seventh round in last year’s draft, Hodges is entering his second season in Jacksonville.

He’ll be hoping to hit the field in 2024 after not playing a single snap due to a knee injury in 2023. The Baker County alum will face an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster, though, and that challenge will hinge on what kind of draft and free agency talent Jacksonville adds to the offensive line this offseason.

Free Agents

Blake Hance

Age: 28

Experience: 5 seasons/50 appearances/9 starts

2023 Production: 17 appearances, 1 start

All things considered, the Jaguars bringing in Blake Hance in 2022 and 2023 has been a successful move. He’s far from a world beater, but the Jaguars needed someone to step in and Hance has made 26 appearances in that span.

After playing on a $940,000 salary in 2023, it may seem sensible to bring back Hance. But the Jaguars need to improve the OL as a whole, and that means trying to find talents in the draft. Hance has not found a new team yet, but expect Jacksonville to draft multiple tackles in order to try to find their next depth options.

Cole Van Lanen

Age: 26

Experience: 3 seasons/26 appearances/0 starts

2023 Production: 9 appearances

Van Lanen only played 53 offensive snaps in 2023, primarily thanks to Anton Harrison being a healthy, consistent performer. The Jaguars obviously prefer that, but it means there isn’t much to look at for the for the former Wisconsin Badger.

Van Lanen will be testing free agency for the first time in his career in 2024. After being drafted by the Green Bay Packers and then traded to the Jaguars in 2022, this is his first NFL offseason without an active contract.