Despite the Jacksonville Jaguars sending a sixth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for left guard Ezra Cleveland, an in-house option is the team's starting guard moving forward: Walker Little.
"Walker Little is the left guard. I want to be as clear as I can, Walker is the left guard and that’s been communicated to everybody," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday. "Cam [Robinson] is the left tackle. That’s our plan and that has never changed.”
The announcement is good news for Little, who at first seemed to be on the outside looking in when it came to the Jaguars' re-worked offensive line. Little spent the first four games of the season at left tackle but has made the transition to left guard in 2023.
Little has spent just one of his 34 career starts at guard: Week 5 vs. the Buffalo Bills, a game Little exited after just 11 snaps due to a knee injury.
Little missed the next two weeks before being activated in Week 8 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, though he suited up as a backup.
“Walker has earned that spot. His ability to move inside, his versatility that way has been a plus for him and a plus for our offensive line," Pederson said.
"The time that he and Cam [Robinson] were together, that short time they were in together during that Buffalo game, they played well together. This was our plan all along when Cam came back, so getting these guys working together this week will be good and he’s earned that spot. He’s earned that right to start in that position. He’s done a good job there.”
Cleveland, 25, was a second-round selection out of Boise State in 2020 and has appeared in 54 career games for the Vikings, starting 40. He has started most of his games at left guard, but did spend his rookie season at right guard.
Cleveland has started and appeared in six games this season, all at left guard. His rookie deal is set to expire at the end of the 2023 season. He has a connection with Jaguars offensive line coach Phil Rauscher, too, as Rauscher coached the Vikings offensive line in 2020 and 2021.
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