Why Doug Pederson Believes Ezra Cleveland Can Be a Long-Term Answer For Jaguars OL

Why Doug Pederson Believes Ezra Cleveland Can Be a Long-Term Answer For Jaguars OL

When the Jacksonville Jaguars traded a sixth-round pick for Minnesota Vikings left guard Ezra Cleveland, the natural assumption was that he would slide right into the Jaguars’ hole at left guard.

Instead, it looks as if the Jaguars will roll with 2021 second-rounder Walker Little at left guard, leaving Cleveland to the bench.

Based on head coach Doug Pederson’s comments on Monday, it sure seems like that answer might extend into 2024.

“I think you have to look at that. I think you have to look at long-term as well,” Pederson said Monday when asked if Cleveland could factor into the Jaguars’ long-term plans.

“The age of our offensive linemen, Brandon Scherff, as great as he’s been playing, he’s not getting any younger. Tyler Shatley isn’t getting any younger. You’ve got to have guys that are very capable that are going to be on your roster. You definitely have to look at long-term I think in situations like this.”

Cleveland is in a contract year and set to hit free-agency in 2024. If the Jaguars opt to keep him in Jacksonville, though, there could be a path to him taking a starting guard spot next season depending on what the Jaguars do with Brandon Scherff’s contract.

According to Spotrac, the Jaguars can release Scherff next year with a post-June 1st designation and save $16.5 million in cap space. They would ake on over $14 million in dead money over 2024 and 2025, but it would give them more breathing room to potentially retain Josh Allen and Calvin Ridley and begin contract talks with Trevor Lawrence, Tyson Campbell, Andre Cisco, and others.

“Definitely the player himself, Ezra himself knows he’s in a basically a contract-year as well, so he’s willing to come to Jacksonville and be a backup for now understanding that there are no guarantees in this business,” Pederson said. “But I do think it definitely could turn into a long-term situation for him where he could definitely compete and be in a position to help us move forward.”

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.

“Ezra we knew was a good player and started the first six games for Minnesota this year and then he had a setback with an injury. It kept him out of the last couple of games in Minnesota, but anytime that you can add depth and add value, you can add talent like Ezra to the offensive line or really any position, it’s something that Trent [Baalke] and I and the guys looked at hard,” Pederson said.

“Definitely a lot of different scenarios out there, you look at pass rushers, maybe even defensive backs, you look at O-linemen and Ezra is somebody that can come in and really provide the necessary backup guard. He’s very capable, smart, talented left guard. He played some right guard his rookie year and has been primarily left guard since. It’s just a good value for us and really solidifies an offensive line that is already pretty good.”