Jaguars player primed for 'breakout' year could steal teammate's job
On Monday of the opening week of Jacksonville Jaguars OTAs, offensive coordinator Press Taylor talked about the importance of taking this time to allow offensive linemen to play at different spots and "cross-train" them. It's a big year for the Jaguars offensive line as they'll start the season with two different offensive tackles from the […]
On Monday of the opening week of Jacksonville Jaguars OTAs, offensive coordinator Press Taylor talked about the importance of taking this time to allow offensive linemen to play at different spots and "cross-train" them.
It's a big year for the Jaguars offensive line as they'll start the season with two different offensive tackles from the ones they played last year. Jawaan Taylor is gone and Cam Robinson is set to start the season away from the team with a suspension after violating the league's PED policy.
Obviously, the team's first-round pick focused on addressing this issue. In Anton Harrison, the Jaguars hoped to have found their right tackle of the future. But another player that's even more intriguing than the rookie has to be Walker Little, who was recently named a top breakout candidate by NFL.com's analyst Bucky Brooks.
The former scout listed Little, the Jaguars' former second-round pick, as part of his "All-Breakout Team" in which he predicted this year's biggest breakout players. Below is what he wrote about him:
The third-year pro figures to be one of the most important pieces of the Jaguars' offensive puzzle this season. Little is expected to fill in for Cam Robinson during the left tackle's forthcoming suspension, but he could also kick inside to left guard or play right tackle as part of a five-man front that is expected to keep franchise face Trevor Lawrence clean in the pocket. With Doug Pederson counting on the versatile blocker to fill a key position on the front line, the football world could soon come to appreciate Walker's talents as a polished technician at the point of attack.
– Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
Little, who played surprisingly well at the end of last season, has done enough for us to be intrigued about his future even beyond Robinson's suspension. He's proven to be one of the best Jaguars' linemen and if he reinforces that sentiment in the offseason, one has to wonder what the team has in store for him once Robinson comes back.
It's not an easy decision considering the team has to prepare him to start the year as the starting tackle. But they also must make a conscious decision regarding Little's spot on the lineup when Robinson returns. Will he take over the left guard to provide an upgrade, as Brooks suggests? Or switch to tight tackle and leave Harrison's future up in the air?
Bottom line, he likely belongs in the starting lineup as he's likely one of the best five linemen on the roster. But there's another possibility worth taking into account.
Considering Little competed for the right tackle role last year and arguably played better than Robinson at left tackle late in the season, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him simply not hand the left tackle job back. With a full offseason to get ready to play on the left side (his most comfortable position, too), we could see the best version of Little yet.
And that could lead to Robinson's short-term suspension turning into a ticket to ride the bench. It's up to Little right now.
