Jaguars sign Cole Van Lanen to 3-year contract extension
The Jaguars extended offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen to a 3-year, $51 million contract extension. Van Lanen is guaranteed $32.5 million and could make up to $55.5 million with incentives, according to Adam Schefter.
Similarly to Jakobi Meyers, Van Lanen was set to be a free agent after the season, but general manager James Gladstone got out ahead of any negotiation troubles and signed him in season. Heading into the 2025 season, Van Lanen was a relatively unknown player who was primarily a depth piece used for versatility along the offensive line. Throughout the 2025 season, Van Lanen has been everything the Jaguars could have hoped for and more.
His versatility has been utilized across the offensive line due to several injuries. According to
PFF,
Van Lanen has played 300 snaps at left tackle, 72 snaps at left guard, 46 snaps at right guard, and 133 at right tackle. He is also credited with allowing just 1 sack, 19 pressures, 4 quarterback hits, and committing just 3 penalties.
Since Walker Little suffered a concussion in week 14, Van Lanen has filled in at left tackle and has outperformed Little. Not only has he proven to provide stability at nearly every position across the offensive line, but he has been at his best at the most important position on the line, which is the blindside tackle.
What does this mean for Walker Little?
With Cole Van Lanen seemingly taking Walker Little's spot at left tackle, this begs the question: what do the Jaguars do with Walker Little? In an ideal world, Little would be cut or traded, but his cap situation makes this more difficult.
According to
Over The Cap.com
in 2026, the Jaguars would have to pay $18 million in dead cap if they were to cut Little before June 1st. If they were to cut him post June 1st, his dead cap number drops to $13 million in 2026. If the Jaguars were to trade Little before June 1st, his dead cap number drops to just $7 million, and if they traded him post-June 1st, the Jaguars would have to pay just $2 million in dead cap money in 2026.
Based on these numbers, the obvious choice would be to trade Little post-June 1st, but it may not be that easy. Trading a player with value as low as Little's, along with his contract situation, the Jaguars would likely have to attach a draft pick along with it. James Gladstone is no stranger to sending away picks, as seen by his time with the Rams, but the Jaguars will not be picking until late in the 2nd round in the 2026 draft, and late-round picks could be used to move back up, rather than being attached in a trade to get rid of a player.
With pending free agents in Devin Lloyd, Travis Etienne, and Montaric Brown, among other names, the Jaguars will have some tough decisions to make. With the Jaguars limited cap space, Walker Little's contract will complicate things in the 2026 offseason.