The Jacksonville Jaguars have undergone several changes in the offseason. The new regime has wasted no time moving on from veterans who weren't part of the team's long-term vision. Similarly, it's also brought in lots of competition to raise the roster floor. This has raised questions about Walker Little's future and whether he'll start at left tackle next season.
Jonathon Macri of Pro Football Focus, however, believes that Little is not nearly as bad as some analysts portray him to be. In fact, he believes he's the most underrated player on the Jags' roster right now.
Macri put together a list of one underrated player for each NFL team, and picked Walker Little for the Jaguars, pointing out that he's not getting much love despite the fact that he's coming off a career year.
"Little delivered a career year in 2024, emerging as a steady presence on Jacksonville’s offensive line, and the team rewarded him with a contract extension this past year.
Little was not just Jacksonville’s best offensive linemen this past season, but has also done a solid job for his career, allowing just a 1.5% knockdown (sacks plus quarterback hits) rate, which ranks tied for 29th with 2021 draft peer Rashawn Slater among 115 qualifying offensive tackles since 2021."
A second-round pick in 2021 got minimal playing time his first two seasons but generally fared well when thrust into action. He started the first six games of the 2023 campaign due to the suspension Cam Robinson got for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. He delivered but returned to the bench once Robinson was cleared.
It wasn't until Robinson was traded before the 2024 deadline that the Texas native had a clear path to the starting lineup. And not long after he got promoted, he got a three-year extension worth $45 million. But despite getting a new deal, there have been questions about Little's viability at left tackle.
A few analysts have suggested that Little needs to compete for his job and may even be on shaky ground after the arrival of Chuma Edoga and Fred Johnson in free agency.
While it's true that the fifth-year tackle may need to fend off Edoga and Johnson, both of them have been reserves throughout their career. On top of that, the Jags didn't make further additions to the edges of the trenches, so you could make the case that he and bookend offensive tackle Anton Harrison are safe at least in 2025.
Why the Jaguars could be counting on Walker Little to make an impact in 2025
Walker Little has appeared in 55 games with 25 starts and allowed eight sacks in his career. Last season, he posted a Pro Football Focus grade of 73.5. Those aren't bad numbers. In fact, the former Stanford Cardinal could be even better in 2025.
Former Jaguars head coach hired Phil Rauscher as the offensive line coach after a successful stint with the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to get the most out of his unit, which is why the new regime didn't retain him. To replace him, Jacksonville hired Shaun Sharrett.
It wouldn't be surprising if Little and the rest of the offensive line improve under Sharrett. This will also be the first time he enters the offseason as the incumbent at left tackle, so that could help him build continuity, something he hasn't enjoyed in previous years.
The bottom line is that Walker Little may not be on shaky grounds, as it's been suggested, and could instead turn out to be a bargain at left tackle next season.
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