Ezra Cleveland

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Net of age, position, and term, Ezra Cleveland's deal earns a C+ Contract Value Index. At $8M AAV over three years for a 28-year-old guard with a B-level performance grade, Cleveland lands in that awkward middle tier where he's being paid like a solid starter but the market—and his own organization—is actively questioning whether he's worth that investment long-term. The 2025 season saw him appear in all 16 games, yet the Jaguars' recent offensive line moves, including the signings of Trystan Colon and the subsequent release of depth pieces, signal organizational skepticism about his role, which directly undercuts the value proposition of his contract. As a six-year veteran and second-round draft pick, Cleveland has proven durability and NFL-level competency, but the absence of Pro Bowl or All-Pro recognition—combined with media framing that emphasizes the team's search for alternatives and speculation about his 2027 free-agency future—suggests the organization views him as replaceable rather than foundational. His C+ CVI reflects a fair-market deal for a backup-caliber guard being asked to compete for a starting job in an offseason where the team is clearly hedging its bets, a position that carries real risk if younger or cheaper options emerge in the draft or free agency.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Ezra's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Ezra Cleveland is a sixth-year guard who carved out a reliable starting role after being selected by Minnesota in the second round of the 2020 draft. Now with Jacksonville, he brings proven interior line experience and the durability that offensive coordinators covet. His overall B grade reflects a competent, starter-caliber performer who holds his own without consistently dominating opposing fronts. Cleveland's most telling current-season stat is his 97.3 snap percentage, well above the NFL average of 72.0, underscoring his status as a true every-down starter who stays healthy and available. That availability is itself a competitive advantage in a position group where attrition is constant. His biggest area for growth remains his consistency as a run blocker when asked to handle power defenders at the second level. Cleveland has the ceiling of a long-term starting guard who anchors a competitive offensive line, and his durability track record suggests he'll remain a reliable piece in Jacksonville's rebuild. The key developmental question is whether he can elevate from solid to elite, particularly in a run-heavy scheme. If the Jaguars invest in surrounding talent up front, Cleveland's performance grade could push toward a B-plus by next season.

How Ezra Compares at the Position

Ezra Cleveland ranks 20th of 172 graded gs by performance. That slots Ezra between Jonah Jackson (B) just ahead and Andrew Vorhees (B) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Inside the Jacksonville Jaguars ecosystem, the take on Ezra Cleveland settles at a D- sentiment grade. The media narrative surrounding the 28-year-old guard is one of cautious uncertainty rather than outright condemnation—he's being re-evaluated rather than cast out, with outlets actively questioning his availability and identifying potential starting replacements at left guard while simultaneously acknowledging his $8 million annual salary keeps him in a contractual gray zone where he could feasibly survive Jacksonville's offseason decisions. This guarded skepticism stands in stark contrast to his on-field performance grade of F, suggesting that some institutional respect within the locker room—he's been featured discussing franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence—is tempering what could otherwise be a more damaging public perception. The Jaguars' recent offensive line moves, including the signing of OL Sal Wormley and later offseason activity, reinforce the implication that the team is actively building contingency plans rather than committing fully to Cleveland's role, which has fed the narrative of precariousness. The bottom line: Cleveland is in limbo—not in favor, not entirely out of it, caught in that uncomfortable middle ground where a veteran starter's grip on his job is being publicly questioned heading into a critical season.