Doug Pederson: Jawaan Taylor’s Departure Is ‘A Great Opportunity' for Walker Little
For the first time since the 2018 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars are set to enter a season without Jawaan Taylor as their starting right tackle.
Taylor was the epitome of durability for the Jaguars, starting all 68 games since the Jaguars drafted him in the second-round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Now, though, Taylor will bring his iron man consistency to Kansas City after signing a four-year, $80 million contract with $60 million guaranteed, effectively leaving a void at right tackle in Jacksonville.
The player the Jaguars will look to in hopes of filling that void while competing for an AFC South title in 2023? Walker Little.
"You hated to see him go, but I get it, that's part of our business, right. And that's what's gonna happen. Listen, I wish him all the best and success in Kansas City. And you know, but now for us, it's about moving forward," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said at this year's annual Owners Meetings.
"You know, Walker Little, it's a great opportunity for him, you know, to step up."
Little took Taylor down to the wire in a battle in training camp for the right tackle spot last year. While Little played just 20 of his 235 regular-season snaps at right tackle last year, Little has at least shown the Jaguars enough to give them confidence in his ability to replace Taylor.
Little has played sparingly in two seasons since the Jaguars took him with the No. 45 overall pick in 2021. He has started eight games, all at left tackle, with five coming down the stretch last year. It was during this stretch run that Little proved himself to the Jaguars, stepping in following Cam Robinson's injury and showing little to no dropoff.
“Tons of confidence with Walker [LT Walker Little]. He stepped in, did a good job, he’s got plenty of experience from last year even to draw on. There was a legitimate battle through the offseason and training camp at the tackle position, and that’s because Walker put himself in that position to make that a real competition," Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said about Little during the season.
Little won't be the Jaguars' only option, though. Pederson raved about Little's versatility during this year's NFL Scouting Combine, noting he thinks he could play either tackle spot and potentially even inside at guard. Thanks to this versatility, the Jaguars could look to this year's draft to find a future replacement for Taylor.
"I do believe there are some good offensive linemen in this draft that, you know, if the right guy is there, obviously, you know, we'll see," Pederson said this week.
"You know, we'll see how it all plays out.
