​ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler released his annual ranking of the top interior offensive linemen, and the Jacksonville Jaguars did not have any players featured in the list. Last season’s starting interior trio for the Jaguars consisted of Ezra Cleveland at left guard, Robert Hainsey at center, and Patrick Mekari at right guard. Fowler’s method for crafting these rankings is distinctive because it incorporates feedback from roughly 70 NFL executives, coaches, and scouts who act as voters. In addition to that input, Fowler draws on research, interviews, and film analysis by Matt Bowen to form a comprehensive view. After compiling all of this information, he assembles a top 10, highlights a handful of honorable mentions, and notes which players received votes. In this year’s survey, Cleveland, Hainsey, and Mekari did not appear in any category.
From a collective standpoint, the Jaguars’ offensive line as a unit performed respectably in pass protection, ranking ninth in ESPN’s pass-block win rate last season. Among the interior linemen, Cleveland stood out the most for the Jaguars, yet he still faced stiff competition on a league-wide basis. Cleveland ranked 46th out of 124 eligible guards and centers in Pro Football Focus’s pass-blocking efficiency metric, while Hainsey placed 57th and Mekari finished tied for 97th. These metrics illuminate the challenges the Jaguars faced in interior pass protection, even as the line held up well enough to support the offense through much of the year.
The run game, however, proved to be a more pressing area for improvement. Although the offense demonstrated strong production in the latter half of the season, the Jaguars sometimes struggled to move the ball effectively on the ground. Elevating the rushing attack would not only enhance the ground game but could also elevate the entire offense, contributing to better balance and more scoring opportunities. Cleveland, Hainsey, and Mekari are widely expected to return as the Jaguars’ starting interior linemen, providing continuity up the middle. That said, a potential competition to watch could emerge at right tackle, where Wyatt Milum might push Mekari for snaps and a major role if he earns it during training camp and preseason.
This discussion reflects coverage that originally appeared on Jaguars Wire, which noted that NFL talent evaluators left the Jaguars’ interior offensive line off their top rankings in pursuit of stronger SEO visibility for related content. The takeaway is that while the Jaguars’ interior trio did not receive ranking honors this time, their steady presence remains crucial to the offense’s overall performance, and improvements in the run game could unlock additional potential for quarterback play and play-action efficiency in the coming season.