Jaguars sign Walker Little to 3-year contract extension

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars are keeping left tackle Walker Little in town for a few more seasons, agreeing to an extension with just hours before Sunday’s game against the Texans.

It marked a somewhat unusual move for the franchise with an in-season contract extension for a player. General manager Trent Baalke has typically refrained from any deals during the season. According to the NFL Network, terms of the deal are three years for $45 million and $26 million in guarantees. That keeps Little, 25, tied to the team on somewhat of a modest number for a starting left tackle.

It also signals that even in the midst of a disappointing season, Baalke may be in the future plans of the Jaguars.

Little was in the final year of his four-year rookie contract and would have likely gotten a similar deal in free agency.

Little was selected in the same draft class as Trevor Lawrence in 2021. Along with cornerback Tyson Campbell, Little was one of Jacksonville’s two second-round picks in that draft, and was coming off essentially two years of no football when he was selected. Little had a torn ACL at Stanford in 2019 and opted out of the 2020 season due to Covid 19. But he’s been solid when he’s been in the lineup with the Jaguars and slid into the left tackle role full time when the team traded Cam Robinson before the deadline.

Little is the third member of the 2021 draft class to re-sign with the team.

Campbell signed a lucrative contract extension with the Jaguars before the season started. Lawrence signed a massive extension in the offseason, too. The results from those extensions have been mixed. Lawrence has been solid at times but inconsistent. Campbell has been excellent when he’s been on the field but spent time on injured reserve with a hamstring.

“Walker is a homegrown talent who has grown up in our system,” Baalke said in a statement. “Time and time again, Walker stepped in when needed, and stepped up his game at the tackle position. This is a great opportunity for a young player that we see every day on the practice field, who we believe will be playing his best football in the coming years.”