Three easy predictions for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 1 game on Sept. 13:
It will be warm (duh). The Cleveland Browns will be their opponent (duh). And Anton Harrisonwill start at left tackle (wait, really?).
Yes, really.
The Jaguars haven’t made a verbal public declaration that Harrison will move from right tackle to protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s blind side, and they may not next week when they are required to put out an unofficial depth chart ahead of the preseason lid-lifter against the New Orleans Saints.
The Jaguars have showed their intention over the last four training camp practices by stationing Harrison at left tackle. These are valuable practice days that, yes, allow for some lineup experimentation, but not for excessive fooling
around.
Practice No. 3 (July 31): Harrison at left tackle.
Practice No. 4 (Aug. 2): Repeat.
Practice No. 5 (Aug. 3): Ditto.
Practice No. 6 (Aug. 4): Same.
Harrison appeared to get nicked up early in the sixth practice and hobbled around for the rest of the workout. But he was dominant in the fifth practice, perhaps confirming to the Jaguars’ brass this was the right call.
Coach Liam Coen not only swung the door open to Harrison playing left tackle after the fifth practice, he tore the door off the hinges.
“If that ends up sticking, hopefully that’s a good thing for us,” Coen said.
It could be a great thing, which is why it is the right thing to do.
Cole Van Lanen, when cleared to practice (right knee), will be better at right tackle and Walker Little could prove to be an effective swing back-up tackle.
Why Harrison at LT makes sense
This isn’t a snap decision by the Jaguars.
You don’t make this kind of call in the 17 hours between the end of practice on July 30 and the start of practice on July 31, when Harrison shifted from right tackle to left tackle.
No, the educated guess is this is a year in the making. It was talked about last August, getting Harrison some work at left tackle. It might have been discussed throughout the 2025 regular season. And it was definitely discussed throughout the offseason, even though Harrison stayed at right tackle during the workouts that were open to the media.
Questions needed to be asked. Is Harrison capable? Does Van Lanen fit at right tackle. How much time do they need to feel comfortable and confident for Week 1?
The big question, though, is: Does it make sense? Yes … big time.
Harrison is the Jaguars’ best offensive tackle. Period. Last year, I booked him for only 3 1/ 2 sacks and 17 total “disruptions” (combine sacks, knockdowns and pressures). Little had 39 “disruptions” playing left tackle and later right guard and Van Lanen 14 1/2.
You play your best tackle at left tackle. Period.
Harrison is durable, having missed only three games in three years and played 96%, 97% and 96% of the offensive snaps.
Harrison isn’t penalty-prone — 15 in 48 regular-season games.
And Harrison is young — only 24. If this goes well, the Jaguars could be set for the next 10 years at left tackle.
Huge opportunity for Harrison
What an opportunity for Harrison, whose fifth-year (2027) contract option was picked up by the Jaguars in March, guaranteeing his $19.07 million salary. Agents generally use that figure as a starting point for a player’s second contract.
But if Harrison plays well at left tackle this year, his agent’s starting number will start with a “2” and not a “1.”
According to the industry website Over The Cap, 12 left tackles have contracts averaging at least $22 million, including six of at least $25 million. Compare that to right tackle — seven at least $22 million, including three at least $25 million.
Play well this year and the Jaguars would undoubtedly extend him since left tackles are about 100 times easier to draft-and-develop than find on the trade/free agency markets.
If Van Lanen slots in at right tackle, his $17 million average salary would be 10th at that position. Betting big on a player who hasn’t started much? For sure, but so is just about every contract of that kind.
Moving Harrison to left tackle isn’t without risk, of course. He will have to switch his footwork and kick-out technique. He will face better pass rushers every week. And he will face more external and internal pressure to play well. Although he played left tackle at Oklahoma (23 starts), he had found a right tackle comfort zone for the Jaguars.
That last item is why the Jaguars making this move — minus an official announcement — early in training camp is especially smart. All of this practice time, including the upcoming joint practices, will get Harrison ready for Cleveland.
Here’s your chance, Anton. Seize it.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night"), Thursdays (1:15 on "XL Primetime") and Fridays (4-6 p.m. on "The Lead").
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Why moving Anton Harrison to left tackle is smart move for Jaguars
