Extension season is formally underway in Jacksonville. With the Jaguars locking up tight finish Brenton Unusual on a three-year contract extension this week, the highlight has naturally shifted to the opposite gamers on the roster heading into contract years. And whereas large receiver Parker Washington figures to be the identify most regularly talked about in these conversations, there may be one other participant quietly making one of many strongest circumstances for a brand new deal on this complete roster, one who performs a place that not often will get the eye it deserves: Ezra Cleveland.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 07: Ezra Cleveland #76 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is launched previous to a sport towards the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photograph by Megan Briggs/Getty Pictures) Getty Pictures
Jacksonville acquired the left guard from the Minnesota Vikings through the 2023 season, sending a sixth-round choose again to Minnesota in alternate. The early returns have been difficult, as accidents restricted Cleveland by way of his first half-season in a Jaguars uniform, and questions adopted him into 2024. However over the previous two seasons, Cleveland has finished one thing quietly helpful in an period the place offensive line stability is more and more onerous to seek out: he has been precisely who Jacksonville wanted him to be, making his 2024 three-year, $28.5 million contract extension seem to be a cut price in 2025. His $8 million per yr common wage is twenty eighth of all guards and 10 spots behind 2025 free agent guard Patrick Mekari who’s common is $12.5M per yr.
Amongst all 81 certified guards, Professional Soccer Focus ranked 2025 Ezra Cleveland:
twenty seventh total with a grade of 68.518th in move blocking at 71.4, and37th in run blocking at 64.6.
He logged 1,057 snaps on the season, the fifteenth most amongst left and proper guards mixed, whereas committing simply three penalties all yr. On 650 move rush snaps, the twelfth highest complete at his place, Cleveland surrendered simply 24 pressures, leading to a strain fee of three.69 p.c. For a participant at a place that not often earns headlines, these are the numbers of somebody who has quietly been among the many extra dependable guards within the convention.
Cleveland additionally brings with him the good thing about having the flexibility to additionally carry out as an emergency swing sort out after taking part in admirably in his first profession begin at left sort out towards Myles Garrett in 2023, when filling in for an injured Walker Little.
The Competitors Knocking on the Door
The Jaguars chosen Wyatt Milum within the third spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft and adopted that funding up by taking Emmanuel Pregnon within the third spherical of 2026.
Each picks sign organizational perception in the way forward for the inside offensive line, and each create a cloud of uncertainty over Cleveland’s long-term place in Jacksonville. Whether or not intentional or not, the message the draft capital sends is tough to disregard: the Jaguars are constructing towards one thing on the guard place, and Cleveland would be the bridge reasonably than the vacation spot.
That could be unfair. In truth, by the numbers, it may very well be flat out mistaken. Cleveland has carried out in addition to, and in some areas higher than, what most groups obtain from the guard place. His competitors for a roster spot arrives within the type of two rookies whose readiness for a beginning function on the NFL stage stays an open query. Guard will not be a place the place younger gamers usually stroll in and instantly carry out at a excessive stage, and the price of getting it mistaken on the inside offensive line has a means of rippling by way of a whole offense.
Brenton Unusual simply acquired paid. Parker Washington is broadly assumed to be subsequent. And someplace in that dialog, the inside offensive line, particularly the left guard who has quietly been one in all Jacksonville’s most constant offensive performers over the previous two seasons, will not be receiving almost sufficient consideration.
The argument for extending Cleveland is simple. He has been sturdy, constant, and penalized at one of many decrease charges at his place. He protects the blindside, has carried out within the operating sport, and has offered consistency and stability to offer Jacksonville’s quarterback confidence. And in contrast to Washington, whose upside is actual, however whose function within the offense nonetheless carries query marks, Cleveland’s worth is understood, confirmed, and instantly out there.
The argument towards an early extension is equally trustworthy. Guard has traditionally not been handled as a premium place in NFL contract discussions. Milum and Pregnon symbolize real mid-round funding on the spot, and carrying Cleveland’s extension alongside that draft capital asks the entrance workplace to guess on a participant they might already be planning to exchange.
Parker Washington’s extension dialog and Ezra Cleveland’s are usually not the identical dialogue, however they might be occurring on the identical time, with the identical restricted assets, and for a entrance workplace that can’t prioritize all the pieces directly. Which participant Jacksonville strikes on first will say one thing significant about how this group views its offensive identification heading into 2026 and past.
Extending Washington first suggests the Jaguars are constructing across the passing sport and trusting the younger inside line to develop into the roles forward. Extending Cleveland first indicators that this entrance workplace values the muse of the run sport and inside safety above the upside of a receiver nonetheless proving his ceiling. Neither reply is mistaken. However one in all them may very well be extra telling than it’d initially seem.
The Hidden Worth in Inaction
Moreover, the opportunity of not extending both participant till after the 2026 season can be a doable consequence. Nonetheless, the chance of dropping both participant to free company subsequently will increase. However, if the 2025 low season taught us something, dropping excessive worth gamers at less-premium positions may very well be the plan for this regime that keys on compensatory picks. Permit the contract to run out, permit the participant to show their prime of the market value in 2026, and acquire a day two or three choose in 2028. That course of produced Devin Lloyd and Travis Etienne taking part in on opposing sidelines this preseason.
So, assuming basic supervisor James Gladstone wraps up at the very least yet one more extension previous to week 1, which participant is up subsequent in Jacksonville? Parker Washington? Ezra Cleveland? A shock possibility in Antonio Johnson or Ventrell Miller? Tell us your ideas within the feedback!
