The Jaguars had a very surprising year 1 with new head coach Liam Coen and the turnaround that the team saw under the first-year head coach ranked among the greatest in league history. Now that Coen heads into year 2 with star QB Trevor Lawrence, the two will be expected to contend for a Super Bowl. Outside of the presence of just those two and the remainder of the coaching staff, the personnel that the Jaguars have will also loom large in 2026. Here I will go into analyzing the offensive line of the Jaguars heading into the 2026 season.
Set to start at left tackle on the Jaguars’ offensive line is Cole Van Lanen who is a strong option for the team at the position. Van Lanen struggled in his first three seasons where he hardly saw the field and 2024 was his essential rookie campaign. In his essential rookie season, Van Lanen struggled grading below average across the board, but he made strides towards establishing himself as a strong starter during the 2025 season. During the 2025 season, Van Lanen graded above average in terms of pass protection, run blocking, and as an overall player according to Pro Football Focus. Van Lanen was just slightly above average in terms of pass protection, but well above average in terms of run blocking, and Pro Football Focus graded him as well above average as an overall player as well. Van Lanen is good to very good as of now and perhaps he could take the leap into the great territory starting next season.
Former 2nd rounder Ezra Cleveland is set to start at left guard for the team and is a strong player as well. Cleveland has graded in the above average to well above average range in terms of an overall offense grade among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus in every season he has played thus far in the NFL.
2021 3rd round pick Robert Hainsey is set to start at center for the team but might be better suited in a reserve role. Hainsey in three seasons where he has logged extended snaps has graded in the below average range twice, including in 2025. However, in the remaining season he graded well above average and looked elite in very limited snaps in another season as well. Hainsey given his inconsistencies, but still high ceiling is likely better in a reserve role but could prove to be a strong starter if he is on his A game.
Set to start at right guard is Patrick Mekari who is also likely better suited in a reserve role given his inconsistencies but still high ceiling. Mekari in seven seasons has graded above average four times but has now graded below average for two straight seasons. Mekari has alternated between playing all positions on the offensive line throughout his career but has not graded in the above average range playing on the interior of the offensive front for several years now. Mekari given his inconsistencies and subpar play for two seasons in a row now is likely better suited as a backup in today’s NFL.
2023 1st rounder Anton Harrison is set to start at right tackle but has underwhelmed thus far in the NFL. Harrison graded below average in each of his first two seasons in the NFL although improving and grading above average in year 3. However, Harrison did not grade well above average or elite in year 3 and still struggled as a run blocker in year 3 as well while consistently grading below average on a perennial basis in terms of run blocking in every season he has played. However, Harrison has been very good in pass protection thus far in his career grading above average in terms of pass blocking efficiency in every season he has played including grading in the elite range in that department as a rookie. Harrison was drafted in the 1st round and has shown some promise but has underwhelmed in totality, perhaps heading into year 2 with Liam Coen he can come into his own and live up to his high draft billing.
From a depth standpoint on the offensive line the Jaguars have some notable names as well that could transition to a starting role and/or provide the team with some strong depth. 2021 2nd round pick tackle Walker Little has mostly underwhelmed in his career thus far but was still taken very highly for a reason while showing a lot of promise at times in the NFL. 2025 3rd round guard Wyatt Milum played at an elite level in very limited rookie snaps and is in line to build off of it going forward. The Jaguars also drafted guard Emmanuel Pregnon in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Overall, the Jaguars have a very questionable offensive line that is an average unit at best and in all likelihood is a below average unit as of now. A breakdown of the Jaguars’ offensive line can be found below. They do not have an elite starter as of now and they have multiple players who might be better suited as backups, but who are currently in line to start.
2026 Jaguars Starting Offensive Line
LT – Cole Van Lanen – B to B+
LG – Ezra Cleveland – B to B+
C – Robert Hainsey – C+ to B-
RG – Patrick Mekari – C+ to B-
RT – Anton Harrison – C+ to B-
Notable 2026 Jaguars Reserve Offensive Lineman
T – Walker Little – C+ to B-, former 2nd rounder, mostly underwhelmed but still has shown lots of promise
G – Emmanuel Pregnon – 2026 3rd rounder
G – Wyatt Milum – A to A- in very limited rookie snaps, 2025 3rd rounder
