Jaguars Waive Ben Bartch After Ezra Cleveland Trade
The Jacksonville Jaguars have waived former fourth-round pick Ben Bartch, opening up a roster spot for new left guard Ezra Cleveland.
Bartch was the Jaguars' pick to be the starting left guard after the 2022 training camp, too, but his season was cut short after five starts due to a season-ending knee injury. Bartch was replaced in the lineup by Shatley for the final 14 games of the season, and the longest-tenured Jaguar is now set to return to the starting lineup to replace Bartch.
Bartch began training camp on the PUP list and returned to action toward the end of training camp, winning the left guard job almost immediately upon his return. Bartch started the first three games of the season before being benched for Tyler Shatley in Week 4 and falling down the depth chart.
A fourth round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Bartch has appeared in 41 games for the Jaguars over the last three seasons, starting 20.
The Jaguars traded a sixth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for Cleveland, dealing a 6th-round selection that they earned for Laviska Shenault.
Cleveland, 25, was a second-round selection out of Boise State in 2020 and has appeared in 54 career games for the Vikings, starting 40. He has started most of his games at left guard, but did spend his rookie season at right guard.
Cleveland has started and appeared in six games this season, all at left guard. His rookie deal is set to expire at the end of the 2023 season. He has a connection with Jaguars offensive line coach Phil Rauscher, too, as Rauscher coached the Vikings offensive line in 2020 and 2021.
