Report: Jaguars sign key OL to three-year deal

Rapoport adds the pact includes $14.5M in guaranteed money. Cleveland served as a full-time starter for much of his Vikings tenure, which came to an end at the 2023 trade deadline. Jacksonville acquired him as a rental at the cost of a sixth-round pick, and the possibility remained that he would depart in free agency. Instead, the 25-year-old will stay in Duval County on his second NFL contract.

Cleveland played at right guard during his rookie campaign, but since then he has played all but exclusively at the opposite guard spot. That includes nine games in 2023 following the trade, during which he started five contests. Given the nature of this deal, the former second-rounder will be in the team’s plans as a first-teamer for 2024 and beyond.

PFF evaluated Cleveland consistently over the course of his Minnesota tenure. He ranked eighth amongst qualifying guards in 2022, but last season did not produce a similar grade. Cleveland’s overall mark of 59.5 in 2023 was by far the worst of his career, and he placed 38th at the guard spot. Still, the Boise State alum will be counted on as a key member of the Jags’ offensive front moving forward. The unit has each of its starting members under contract for 2024 as a result of this move.

Jacksonville ranked 21st in pass protection and 31st in run blocking, per PFF’s O-line evaluations for 2023. Improvement in both respects will be a goal as the team aims to rebound from the disappointing nature of last season’s performance, which resulted in missing the postseason. The $9.5M AAV of Cleveland’s deal will rank 13th amongst guards and add further to Jaguars’ financial investments up front.

Jacksonville already has right guard Brandon Scherff on a $16.5M-per-year deal, but he is set to carry a cap hit of nearly $24M in 2024. Left tackle Cam Robinson is also due to count just under $22M on the Jags’ cap sheet, although his future with the team appears to be safe. It will be interesting to see if Scherff remains in place without a contract adjustment but for now, he and Cleveland are on track to continue as Jacksonville’s guard tandem.