The Jacksonville Jaguars made a move to bolster their offensive line, acquiring Ezra Cleveland from the Minnesota Vikings just a couple hours before the NFL’s 4 p.m. trade deadline Tuesday.
According to Josina Anderson of FOX Sports, the Jaguars will send a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft to the Vikings in exchange for Cleveland.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson was live on ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show when the deal was reported.
BREAKING NEWS: The Vikings are trading Ezra Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars
You just got a new guard Coach 👏 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/AHIRjahP6M
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 31, 2023
“We’ve already got a good offensive line and Ezra can come in and give us really good depth,” Pederson said on the show. “It’s just a matter of getting him caught up. Getting him in the room with a really good offensive line. Guys like Brandon Scherff, he’s the leader in there, and Luke Fortner. Cam Robinson, Walker Little, these guys are just busting their tail every week.
“So getting a guy like Ezra, his caliber, we’ve got a starting type guard. It really solidifies our offensive line and makes us better.”
The Vikings drafted Cleveland in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft and he’s spent his entire career at guard with the team. After beginning on the right side, he’s spent time at left guard as of late and started the first six games of the 2023 season on the left side.
Ezra Cleveland this season:
248 pass blocking snaps
10 pressures allowed
1 sack allowedHis 73.8 PFF grade ranks 8th/84 eligible guards 📈 pic.twitter.com/mWlxqz78k1
— PFF JAX Jaguars (@PFF_Jaguars) October 31, 2023
So why send Cleveland away for cheap?
According to Minnesota sports reporter Darren Wolfson, Cleveland has viewed himself as an offensive tackle and is itching to market himself as one in free agency. With his contract expiring in the offseason, the Vikings saw Cleveland as a player who wouldn’t be with the team in 2024 and beyond.
It could also mean the Jaguars are only getting a short-term rental. However, it also means Jacksonville would be the team getting a compensatory pick in 2025 if Cleveland leaves and there’s a strong free agency market for his services.
While the Jaguars’ offensive line has underwhelmed for much of the 2023 season, it’s unclear if Cleveland will be an immediate starter in Jacksonville. The team moved Walker Little to left guard after Cam Robinson returned from suspension and got good play from Little before a knee injury sidelined the lineman.
The likely answer is that Cleveland will take over guard duties sooner rather than later, though.
