Jaguars bolster offensive line with veteran guard

The Jacksonville Jaguars acquired guard Daniel Faalele from the New York Giants on Wednesday, responding to a rash of injuries along their offensive line. The Jaguars gave up a sixth-round draft pick in 2027, according to a person with knowledge of the trade who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The agreement was first reported by Newsday. ESPN's Jordan Raanan also confirmed the trade for a sixth-round pick, while other reports described the compensation as an undisclosed late-round or Day 3 selection. The deal is pending a physical, according to ESPN.

Jaguars coach Liam Coen confirmed the acquisition of Faalele, a 6-foot-8, 380-pound lineman, following a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers.

"Just continuing to bring depth and guys that have played meaningful reps in this league," Coen said. "That's something that you can't have enough of. We came into camp with 16 (offensive linemen) and got down to about nine the other day."

"When you have some of those things occur, you want to continue to find guys that have done it, guys that have played in this league at a high level," he added. "He's got some big size, and I'm looking forward to getting to know him. But the experience is really what matters."

Injuries spur Jacksonville's need

Jacksonville entered the move short-handed on the offensive line. Right guard Patrick Mekari recently underwent back surgery to alleviate a lingering issue and could start the season on short-term injured reserve, according to multiple reports. Starting right tackle Cole Van Lanen (knee) has missed all of training camp while on the physically unable to perform list. Backups Chuma Edoga, Walker Little and rookie Emmanuel Pregnon also have missed time recently in camp, although Pregnon has since returned to practice.

The Jaguars listed Mekari as their starting right guard on their first unofficial depth chart for 2026. UPI reported, citing a source who spoke to NFL Network, that the Jaguars have not said whether Mekari will be placed on injured reserve, a designation that could trigger an automatic four-game absence.

UPI also detailed the team's other projected starters: Ezra Cleveland at left guard, Anton Harrison and Walker Little at tackles, and Robert Hainsey at center, with Emmanuel Pregnon, Wyatt Milum and Jerome Carvin among the backup guards.

Faalele's path from Baltimore to New York to Jacksonville

Faalele, 26, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens after being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He started all 17 games for now-Giants coach John Harbaugh with the Ravens in each of the past two seasons and played in 71 NFL games, all with Baltimore, since debuting in 2022. He was one of several players who followed Harbaugh to New York.

Faalele signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Giants in April, with $687,000 guaranteed, according to The Athletic's Dan Duggan, as reported by The News International. He made his Giants debut at left guard during Saturday's preseason defeat to the Minnesota Vikings, appearing in 13 offensive snaps and two special teams snaps. It proved to be his only appearance for New York.

Faalele had been taking second-team snaps at Giants training camp but lost his best chance at a starting role when the team selected Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick in the 2026 draft and planned to make him a guard. Mauigoa started at right guard in his preseason debut, while Jon Runyan is expected to remain at left guard, according to The News International.

Essentially Sports offered a more critical assessment of Faalele's brief tenure with the Giants, noting that he struggled in pass protection during the preseason opener, posting a 0.0 pass-blocking grade per Pro Football Focus and a 40.2 overall score in 13 snaps. The outlet noted that Faalele had played right guard for two seasons in Baltimore before the Giants moved him to left guard, a position he had not played in a regular-season game since 2022. It also reported that Faalele allowed 30 pressures last year and 62 pressures since becoming a starter in 2024.

UPI provided a more favorable statistical picture, reporting that Pro Football Focus listed Faalele as the No. 29 guard among those who were in for at least 80% of maximum snaps at the position in 2025, and No. 31 among qualifying guards in 2024.

Roster implications for both teams

For the Giants, the trade creates $187,000 in dead salary-cap space while freeing roughly $500,000 and opening a 53-man roster spot, according to Livemint. That extra room could help the team keep veteran options such as former first-round pick Evan Neal or Josh Ezeudu. With Faalele out, veteran Aaron Stinnie is expected to solidify his spot on the Giants' roster, per Essentially Sports. Livemint noted the trade mirrors a similar August 2024 transaction when the Giants sent defensive tackle Jordan Phillips to the Dallas Cowboys in a pick swap.

For the Jaguars, the addition gives them an experienced interior lineman who could play when they face the Carolina Panthers in Friday's preseason game, as reported by The News International. The Jaguars host the Panthers at 7:30 p.m. EDT Friday in Jacksonville, followed by a preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 28 and a regular-season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 13, per UPI.