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The Jacksonville Jaguars are in the midst of contract extension season.
Tight end Brenton Strange, who has developed into one of Trevor Lawrence's most-trusted targets, was just rewarded with a three-year extension worth up to $48 million.
Most expect wide receiver Parker Washington, after his breakout 2025 season, to be next. Washington, still only 24 years old, could be in line for a deal that nears $20 million/year.
Assuming the Jaguars lock up Washington soon, they will have secured two of their most important offensive weapons long-term. Strange is only one year older than Washington, suggesting that both players have only just begun to reach their primes. Getting deals done with both is a great piece of business by general manager James Gladstone.
But let's not forget another key Jaguar who is also entering the last year of his contract.
That would be Jacksonville's left guard, Ezra Cleveland, who has developed into one of Trevor Lawrence's most dependable protectors. Will the Jaguars attempt to extend the veteran, or are they planning on having one of their recent draft picks take over?
Cleveland, after coming to Jacksonville in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, has quietly brought unheralded stability to the guard position. He doesn't generate much buzz or appear in many headlines, which is a good thing for interior offensive linemen.
The folks over at Big Cat Country detailed just how solid Cleveland has become for the Jags.
Cleveland played 1,057 snaps in 2025, good for 15th among all NFL guards. That durability was coupled with steady play. Out of 81 qualified guards, Cleveland graded 27th overall, 18th in pass blocking, and 37th in run blocking by PFF.
Spectacular? No. Valuable? Absolutely.
The Jaguars know what they have in Cleveland, who is still just 28 years old. He is a solid and dependable piece of the offensive line. The question is: is Jacksonville satisfied with a perfectly capable guard, or would they prefer a younger option, who may have a higher ceiling but hasn't proven anything yet?
Jacksonville has two recent third-round draft picks knocking on the door for a starting job: Wyatt Milum and Emmanuel Pregnon.
Milum was taken in 2025, while Pregnon is a rookie. Both players have the talent and draft status to be starters. Pregnon's selection this year was widely considered to be one of the biggest steals of the entire draft.
Both Pregnon and Wilum were drafted with the intention of becoming the future of the guard position in Jacksonville. However, would a team with expectations as high as the Jaguars really risk trusting Lawrence's protection to players with so little experience?
The Jaguars obviously envision Milum and Pregnon being their future at both guard positions.
Still, Cleveland provides a steadiness to the offensive line that shouldn't be taken for granted. As well as being a starting guard, he can play outside at either tackle spot. Any offensive lineman who can play multiple positions is immensely valuable.
It seems likely that neither Milum nor Pregnon will overtake Cleveland this season, but they should be expected to take over both guard spots in 2027.
If Cleveland has a great season in 2026, it remains possible that Jacksonville could commit to him long-term. If not, this season will likely be his last as a Jaguar.
If either Milum or Pregnon can impress the coaches immediately, and show they can be trusted as a starter, Cleveland could become a valuable trade chip at the deadline if Jacksonville is looking to make a move to upgrade elsewhere.
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Continue reading...
Tight end Brenton Strange, who has developed into one of Trevor Lawrence's most-trusted targets, was just rewarded with a three-year extension worth up to $48 million.
Most expect wide receiver Parker Washington, after his breakout 2025 season, to be next. Washington, still only 24 years old, could be in line for a deal that nears $20 million/year.
Assuming the Jaguars lock up Washington soon, they will have secured two of their most important offensive weapons long-term. Strange is only one year older than Washington, suggesting that both players have only just begun to reach their primes. Getting deals done with both is a great piece of business by general manager James Gladstone.
But let's not forget another key Jaguar who is also entering the last year of his contract.
That would be Jacksonville's left guard, Ezra Cleveland, who has developed into one of Trevor Lawrence's most dependable protectors. Will the Jaguars attempt to extend the veteran, or are they planning on having one of their recent draft picks take over?
Cleveland Brings Unheralded Stability
Cleveland, after coming to Jacksonville in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, has quietly brought unheralded stability to the guard position. He doesn't generate much buzz or appear in many headlines, which is a good thing for interior offensive linemen.
The folks over at Big Cat Country detailed just how solid Cleveland has become for the Jags.
Cleveland played 1,057 snaps in 2025, good for 15th among all NFL guards. That durability was coupled with steady play. Out of 81 qualified guards, Cleveland graded 27th overall, 18th in pass blocking, and 37th in run blocking by PFF.
Spectacular? No. Valuable? Absolutely.
The Jaguars know what they have in Cleveland, who is still just 28 years old. He is a solid and dependable piece of the offensive line. The question is: is Jacksonville satisfied with a perfectly capable guard, or would they prefer a younger option, who may have a higher ceiling but hasn't proven anything yet?
The Competition
Jacksonville has two recent third-round draft picks knocking on the door for a starting job: Wyatt Milum and Emmanuel Pregnon.
Milum was taken in 2025, while Pregnon is a rookie. Both players have the talent and draft status to be starters. Pregnon's selection this year was widely considered to be one of the biggest steals of the entire draft.
Both Pregnon and Wilum were drafted with the intention of becoming the future of the guard position in Jacksonville. However, would a team with expectations as high as the Jaguars really risk trusting Lawrence's protection to players with so little experience?
Final Thoughts
The Jaguars obviously envision Milum and Pregnon being their future at both guard positions.
Still, Cleveland provides a steadiness to the offensive line that shouldn't be taken for granted. As well as being a starting guard, he can play outside at either tackle spot. Any offensive lineman who can play multiple positions is immensely valuable.
It seems likely that neither Milum nor Pregnon will overtake Cleveland this season, but they should be expected to take over both guard spots in 2027.
If Cleveland has a great season in 2026, it remains possible that Jacksonville could commit to him long-term. If not, this season will likely be his last as a Jaguar.
If either Milum or Pregnon can impress the coaches immediately, and show they can be trusted as a starter, Cleveland could become a valuable trade chip at the deadline if Jacksonville is looking to make a move to upgrade elsewhere.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
