How does Walker Little's extension impact the Jaguars' NFL Draft future?

The Jacksonville Jaguars secured a rare season extension with left tackle Walker Little. The move was completed on Sunday before the team’s game against the Houston Texans and was announced a few hours before the game began.

Little will reportedly receive $45 million over three years, with $26 million guaranteed. The extension provides the Jaguars with some clarity as Little was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

EXTENSION:Jacksonville Jaguars and Walker Little agree to a contract extension. View salary details

The Jaguars traded starting left tackle Cam Robinson to the Minnesota Vikings shortly before the trade deadline, making Little the team’s permanent starting tackle. Previously, Little played left guard due to injury or last season as the team experimented with the offensive lineman position.

Since Little was drafted by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, he has started 21 games, including 51. Little filled in for Robinson when the veteran was out due to injury or suspension.

With Little under contract through at least the 2027 season, the Jaguars can move on to other areas of the roster that may need correction. But what does the signing mean for the future of the team?

Does Walker Little’s extension mean anything for Trent Baalke’s future?

The timing of Little’s deal with the Jaguars is a bit of a mystery given the state of the franchise. Jacksonville, at 2-9, was expected to make potential sweeping changes during or immediately after the season. That includes general manager Trent Baalke, who drafted the 25-year-old left tackle.

Baalke’s job security has been in question for weeks. Signing a player for the future could mean that he intends to stay in his role. However, the downside to this is this someone has to do the job the way it is today, and signing Little is something many aspiring general managers would likely consider.

The closer a player gets to free agency, the more expensive he becomes or the more likely he is to hit the open marker. So it makes sense to sign Little now rather than bring him closer to free agency for Baalke or another potential GM.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter added a note in his report on Little’s extension that suggested the move could be a sign of Baalke’s stay after the season.

“An executive from another team said Little’s deal was a sign that Baalke planned to stay with the Jaguars despite all the uncertainty surrounding the team,” Schefter said.

Jaguars are confident in Walker Little moving forward

To state the obvious: Jacksonville is confident that Little will be the team’s starting left guard for the foreseeable future.

Before the extension, Little’s status with the team was uncertain, even after Robinson was released to Minnesota.

Jacksonville has never gone all-in with Little. He lost a training camp battle at right tackle to Jawaan Taylor in 2022 and the team drafted tackle Anton Harrison in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, permanently relegating Little to the swing tackle role.

Little was expected to compete with Robinson during this year’s training camp, but didn’t get many reps with the starting unit as the team appeared to stick with Robinson ahead of the former second-round pick.

Jacksonville’s failure to invest in Little beyond a draft pick was taken as a sign that they may not think highly of him as their left tackle of the future.

The extension will clear up any confusion about Little’s status on the team.

Before the bye week, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Little had “settled in” at the left tackle spot and it was clear the team’s front office felt the same way. Little will protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s blind side.

Travis Hunter to Jacksonville? The Jaguars are unlikely to take a tackle in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft

With Little in tow, the Jaguars will likely go in a different direction in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Before the team’s game against the Texans, Jacksonville held the third overall selection in the upcoming draft. The Las Vegas Raiders (2-10, second overall) and New York Giants (2-10, first overall) were ahead of them, but that order will almost certainly change with five weeks left in the regular season.

However, regardless of their draft positioning, with Little on the roster, Jacksonville will not select a tackle with their first-round pick.

The Jaguars could turn to the defensive side of the ball instead. Colorado cornerback Travis Hunter remains the favorite to be the first defensive player taken in this year’s draft, with no obvious elite edge rusher in this year’s class.

Jacksonville could choose to upgrade that side of the field, particularly their cornerback spot opposite CB Tyson Campbell.

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius.

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How does Walker Little’s extension impact the Jaguars’ NFL Draft future?

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