Ezra Cleveland Reaches Three-Year Deal With Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms with guard Ezra Cleveland on a three-year, $28.5 million deal with $14.5 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 25-year-old was traded from the Minnesota Vikings to Jacksonville in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He played in nine games (five starts) at left guard for the Jaguars in 2023. Protecting franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence is a key priority for the organization this offseason, so they worked to make sure Cleveland did not reach the open market.
The Minnesota Vikings are trading offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a late-round pick, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. Cleveland was a second-round selection by the Vikings in the 2020 NFL draft and played in 47 contests for the organization. The 25-year-old will now get a fresh start and will add depth to the Jaguars' unit in charge of protecting quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Vikings just dealt a late-round pick to acquire quarterback Joshua Dobbs, and they now recoup a pick in this deal.
Vikings Strengthen Offensive Line With Ezra Cleveland
The Minnesota Vikings bolstered their offensive line with the No. 58 pick in the 2020 draft when they selected Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland. Cleveland had an excellent showing at the NFL Combine in February and is extremely athletic, although he is regarded as a developmental tackle. Scouting reports indicate that he will need to add strength to compete in the NFL, so he might not be ready to play right away. The addition of Cleveland takes the potential Trent Williams trade that the Vikings had been discussing with Washington off the table.
