The Jacksonville Jaguars identified their left tackle of the future during what was a dismal 2024 season, shipping out Cam Robinson via trade and subsequently extending former second-round pick Walker Little with a three-year, $40.5 million extension.
The problem? That was the handy work of Trent Baalke and Jacksonville’s former regime, so Little will be under the microscope in 2025 as he enters his first full season as an NFL starter.
The Jaguars have added little in the way of competition for Little (or right tackle Anton Harrison, for that matter) since the start of the new league year, but that could soon change. Ethan Woodle of NFL Trade Rumors predicts GM James Gladstone could eye a former Alabama Crimson Tide star who the Cleveland Browns made the No. 10 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Woodle’s eyeing Jedrick Willis Jr. as a potential depth piece for Jacksonville come training camp: “Walker Little and Anton Harrison might be a fine starting duo,” he wrote, “but it gets thin quickly behind them.”
The Browns liked Willis’ upside enough to pick up his fifth-year option ahead of the 2023 season, but a Week 9 knee injury ended his campaign early that year, and he was benched and demoted to Cleveland’s swing tackle in favor of Dawand Jones in 2024.
He thus hasn’t developed into the sure-fire, first-round prospect he was coming out of Alabama — but some of that could be on the Browns. Willis played predominantly on the right side under Nick Saban in college, but Cleveland drafted him with an eye on making him their new franchise left tackle.
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To Woodle’s point, Jacksonville’s starting tackles are firmly entrenched for 2025. Harrison, a former first-rounder himself, has shown some promise, but the team will be looking for a Year 3 jump from the Oklahoma star. Little, meanwhile, was a standout in pass protection from Week 10 on last season.
It’s the competition (or lack thereof) behind Little and Harrison that’s a bit concerning. Cole Van Lanen and Fred Johnson are both fringe NFL players who don’t have the chops to push either of the starters for first-team reps. Giving Willis a look on a one-year, prove-it deal could make some sense, especially if he’s switching back to the right side.
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