Jaguars Extend Key Offensive Lineman in 3-Year, $51 Million Deal

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced Saturday they have extended Cole Van Lanen for three years in a deal worth $51 million ($32 million guaranteed).

The 27-year-old has become a regular in Jacksonville's offensive line, starting the last nine games.

Van Lanen is known for his versatility, having started games at four of the five offensive line positions. Recently, he's found a home at left tackle, where he's started the past four games, all Jags wins.

That's part of the reason the Jags have had multiple games this the season with no sacks allowed. Jacksonville has run the ball well, too, with tailback Travis Etienne having eclipsed 1,000 yards.

"Just the things Cole has been able to do this year have been really impressive," quarterback Trevor Lawrence told reporters after the Jaguars' Week 13 win over the Tennessee Titans. "I don't think there's many guys that can do that or have done that, honestly. So, definitely proud of him and just the way he's been playing and as a unit."

With the Jags' deep offensive line, it wasn't easy for Van Lanen to crack the starting lineup.

But in the middle of the season, Coen decided it was time.

"[H]e's played enough really good football for us," Coen said head of the Jags' Week 15 game against the Jets. "We've got a great situation right now where you've got depth at multiple positions, of people that have had to play for us a lot."

Van Lanen has had to work hard throughout his career. In 2021, the Green Bay native went to the hometown Packers in the NFL draft's sixth round out of Wisconsin, a program known for producing smart, beefy offensive linemen. His Packers career amounted to just one game, as Green Bay traded Van Lanen to the Jags in 2022. For his first three seasons in Jacksonville, he played mainly as a reserve, starting in just three of his first 34 appearances.

Now, Van Lanen is a regular, and he'll be in Jacksonville for the foreseeable future.