The Jacksonville Jaguars spared no expense to beef up the offensive line in the offseason. Having said that, they'll also need a handful of returning starters to step up if they want to truly set the tone at the line of scrimmage. One that most definitely needs to turn it up a notch is starting right tackle Anton Harrison.
Head coach Liam Coen met with the local media after Day 3 of mandatory minicamp and said that Harrison certainly has what it takes to succeed but needs to be more consistent moving forward.
"I think the footwork, the athleticism, the ability to pass pro on an edge," Coen told the press corps when asked what he's seen from Harrison. "Just consistently doing it on a day-in, day-out basis. Smart, he understands the why of what we're trying to get accomplished, as much as he can, continued to rise, going into year three as a first-round pick to take a huge step this year and be a lockdown tackle for us."
Aside from Coen's damning remarks, John Shipley of Sports Illustrated reported that Harrison was alternating reps with free-agent acquistion Chuma Odoga at mandatory camp. This might not have happened if he had made a stronger impression.
A first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Harrison got off to a rough start to his rookie season but finished strong. Expected to make strides in Year 2, he instead regressed. He wasn't dreadful, allowing four sacks and 31 total pressures, but the former Oklahoma Sooner certainly left a bit to be desired. He'll need to hit his stride next season if he wants the team to pick up his fifth-year option in 2026.
Anton Harrison has the talent to be an O-Line staple for the Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars could have as many as three new starters in the offensive trenches. Free-agent acquisitions Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari will line up at center and right guard, respectively. Wyatt Milum could step into the other guard spot if incumbent Ezra Cleveland fails to impress. And precisely because of the turnover up front, the team's brass will need bookend offensive tackles Walker Little and Anton Harrison to step up.
So far, Little has fared well, and the chatter that he may need to fend off Fred Johnson to keep his job hasn't carried much weight. On the other hand, Harrison should be feeling pressure based on Liam Coen's comments.
Edoga has been a backup throughout most of his career, and it would reflect poorly on Harrison if he's the better of the two. Couple that with the fact that the regime that brought him in is no longer in place, and the third-year right tackle will need to build consistency if he wants to keep his job.
Working in his favor is that Anton Harrison still has a bit of time to put it all together. Moreover, he's as healthy as he can be, so he'll have a legitimate opportunity to solidify his place as the starter at right tackle. Ultimately, though, he'll need to make the most out of his chances.
Here are other Jaguars stories you may also like: