Cole Van Lanen

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Jaguars committed significant resources to an unproven commodity, handing Cole Van Lanen a three-year, $51M deal that feels like a substantial gamble on potential rather than proven production. At $17M AAV, Jacksonville is paying Van Lanen like a solid starter despite his limited NFL resume, creating immediate pressure for him to justify this investment along their offensive line. The $25M in guaranteed money provides Van Lanen with meaningful security but also locks the Jaguars into a contract that could become problematic if he doesn't develop into the caliber of player this salary suggests. This C CVI reflects the disconnect between compensation and current value — while Van Lanen may possess the physical tools to grow into this deal, paying starter money for developmental talent rarely works out favorably for franchises. The Jaguars are essentially betting that Van Lanen's upside can bridge the gap between his current impact and this significant financial commitment, making this deal a classic case of paying for projection rather than production.

Performance Analysis

Cole Van Lanen sits firmly in replacement-level territory among NFL offensive tackles, and the performance grade reflects a player who has yet to establish himself as a reliable starter at the position despite five seasons in the league. The lone concrete production marker available — 16 games played — at least confirms he was on the field for a full season, which matters for an interior lineman whose value is tied directly to availability. The glaring weakness here is the absence of any distinguishing on-field production that would justify elevated expectations; a sixth-round pick out of the 2021 draft, Van Lanen has never forced the conversation about his ceiling the way a franchise-caliber lineman eventually does. What makes this situation genuinely complicated is the contract attached to it — a three-year, $51M extension that represents a significant financial commitment for a player operating at this performance tier, and the injury concerns surfacing alongside the extension news only deepen the skepticism. The media framing has been appropriately mixed: coverage acknowledges this as a depth move that quietly escalated into a major cap decision, and Jacksonville fans have every reason to be uneasy given that the extension and injury reports arrived in tandem. At 28, Van Lanen is entering the back half of his athletic prime with the pressure of a substantial contract and health questions hovering over his outlook — if he stays healthy and improves, the Jaguars have solidified their offensive line depth, but the risk calculus here is tilted toward concern rather than confidence.

Fan Sentiment

A reasonable depth move that quietly became a significant commitment with a $51M extension attached. Multiple headlines covered both the extension and injury concerns, signaling mixed media reception. The three-year, $51M deal is a notable financial commitment for a player without All-Pro recognition. Jaguars fans are understandably worried given injury reports emerging alongside the extension news. If Van Lanen stays healthy, this solidifies Jacksonville's offensive line depth, but the injury risk looms large.