Tag: Cole Van Lanen

Former Wisconsin OL named ProFootballFocus’ ‘Offensive Player of Preseason Week 2’

Former Wisconsin offensive lineman named ProFootballFocus’ ‘Offensive Player of the Week’

Former Wisconsin offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen earned ProFootballFocus ‘Offensive Player of the Week’ honors for NFL Preseason Week 2 on Monday.

The nod arrived following Van Lanen’s stellar NFL preseason output against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 17. In two preseason contests as the Jacksonville Jaguars starting right tackle, the former Big Ten standout has yet to allow a single pressure in 112 offensive snaps. That also includes zero pressures on 63 pass-block snaps, per Jaguars analyst Daniel Griffis.

Van Lanen was also the highest-graded Jaguar following the team’s 20-17 victory over the Buccaneers. His 91.0 overall grade bested linebacker Tanner Muse (90.3), cornerback Tre Flowers (86.6), wide receiver Parker Washington (85.7) and left tackle Walker Little (83.2), per PFF.

Following his multi-year career in Madison with the Badgers, the Green Bay Packers selected Van Lanen in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Green Bay shipped him to Jacksonville ahead of the 2022 slate. Through two seasons with the Jaguars, the Wisconsin native logged just 71 offensive snaps.

He is currently listed at No. 3 on his platoon’s left tackle depth chart, but his preseason performances suggest otherwise. If provided the opportunity, Van Lanen is a serviceable replacement at tackle.

Wisconsin football ranks second in most players at significant NFL position group

Wisconsin football ranks second in most players at significant NFL position group

Wisconsin football is second among NCAA Division I college football programs with the most active offensive lineman in the NFL.

With 11 active linemen in the pros, the Badgers are tied for second in the nation with Oklahoma, LSU and Notre Dame. Only Michigan produced more active athletes with 14.

Following the Indianapolis Colts’ decision to draft former Badger Tanor Bortolini with the No. 117 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, Wisconsin further solidified itself as one of the nation’s best in molding collegiate offensive linemen into future professionals.

In addition to Bortolini, Buffalo Bills’ offensive guard David Edwards, Jacksonville Jaguars’ tackle Cole Van Lanen, New York Jets’ center Joe Tippman and Pittsburgh Steelers’ lineman Tyler Beach represent the Badgers in the NFL’s AFC. 

Detroit Lions offensive guard Kevin Zeitler and New Orleans’ Saints tackle Ryan Ramczyk are representatives for the NFC. The Los Angeles Rams’ duo of Rob Havenstein and Logan Bruss, alongside Washington Commanders’ center Tyler Biadasz and guard Michael Deiter, are UW’s final four OL alumni in the NFC. 

2023 Hall of Fame inductee Joe Thomas, former Dallas Cowboy Travis Frederick and Super Bowl champion Mark Tauscher are some of the most famous offensive lineman to play at UW.

Updated list of Jaguars set to become 2024 free agents

The Jaguars have re-signed a handful of their impending free agents, but there are still several players set to hit the open market.

In addition to the six new Jacksonville Jaguars set to be added to the roster, the team has been working to bring back a few of their own free agents.

Ezra Cleveland, Jeremiah Ledbetter, and Daniel Thomas all signed new contracts with the Jaguars and both Blake Hance and D’Ernest Johnson will reportedly soon follow. Jacksonville also used the franchise tag to keep Josh Allen from hitting the market.

While the Jaguars hope they can add Calvin Ridley to that list, for now he and several of his 2023 teammates are set to hit the market when free agency officially begins Wednesday. Here’s every Jaguars player with an expiring contract who is still set to become a free agent:

With the Ravens’ Devin Duvernay set to join the Jaguars’ roster, Agnew’s time with the franchise is clearly over. He even said his goodbyes on social media Tuesday. In three seasons with the team, he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl, scored two return touchdowns, caught five touchdown passes, and recorded a rushing touchdown.

It was a quick hi and bye for Barkley, who signed with the Jaguars a day after Christmas in 2023 amid a string of injuries for Trevor Lawrence. He was active for Jacksonville’s Week 17 game against the Carolina Panthers and took six snaps in garbage time.

Blackson signed with the Jaguars just before the start of the 2023 season and had a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Despite being on the field for just 30 percent of the Jaguars’ defensive snaps, he managed to fall on three fumbles.

The Jaguars seemed to remain optimistic about the 2020 first-round pick all the way to the bitter end. But after four seasons, Chaisson has just five career sacks.

Claybrooks missed the entire 2023 season due to a domestic battery court case that’s still ongoing. While there was some confusion about whether his contract would toll over due to the lost year, Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union reports that Claybrooks will be an unrestricted free agent as of Wednesday.

After signing a three-year contract with the Jaguars as an undrafted rookie in 2018, Herndon re-signed with the team on one-year deals in 2021, 2022, and 2023. For the fourth straight offseason, he entered this March as an impending free agent. In six seasons with Jacksonville, Herndon has appeared in 83 career games and has three interceptions, nine tackles for loss, and 32 passes defended.

The Jaguars reportedly decided not to tender Johnson, who was set to be a restricted free agent this offseason. That’ll allow the special teams ace to hit the market after spending two seasons in Jacksonville.

McManus spent one season with the Jaguars and is reportedly headed elsewhere. The veteran kicker agreed to a one-year deal with the Commanders on Monday night.

Moore joined the Jaguars in 2022 and spent the entire year on the practice squad, then he spent all of 2023 on the team’s injured reserve. As an exclusive rights free agent, it’d cost next to nothing for Jacksonville to keep him, but there’s been no indication yet that they’ve extended a qualifying offer.

Quarterman, a fourth-round pick in 2020, played out the final year of his rookie contract in 2023. In four seasons with the Jaguars, he 54 career tackles, one tackle for loss, and one very consequential forced fumble.

Ridley is easily the biggest name on this list and the top receiver on the free agent market. In his first season with the Jaguars following a 2022 trade from the Falcons, Ridley recorded 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. Jacksonville is reportedly working to bring back the receiver and he “currently prefers to return” to the Jaguars, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

No player in Jaguars history has played more consecutive games with the team than Shatley. After signing with the team as a free agent in 2014, he signed new contracts with the Jaguars in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Shatley started six games for the Jaguars in 2023.

The Jaguars picked up Van Lanen in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2022, but he’s appeared in just 71 snaps over two years with the team. As a restricted free agent, the Jaguars could tender the lineman, but there hasn’t been an indication that they’ve decided to do so.

Two former Badgers make PFF’s 2023 NFL All-Preseason Team

An honor for two former Badgers:

The NFL preseason schedule concluded this weekend, leading into the final stretch of the offseason until games start September 7. The two-week period until Lions vs Chiefs open the season is one full of roster cuts and final moves before each team advances with a 53-man group.

Numerous Wisconsin Badgers are firmly on NFL rosters entering the season. But many remain on the roster bubble. If those don’t make the 53-player cut, a practice squad is the next hope to stick around during the season.

Related: Predicting every Big Ten team’s 2023 wins and losses, final record and the conference champ

Two former Badgers, both unestablished in the NFL up to this point, have made headlines all preseason as two players to drastically improve their stock entering the year. Those players are Steelers OLB Nick Herbig and Jaguars OT Cole Van Lanen.

ProFootballFocus put together an All-Preseason team and included both Herbig and Van Lanen in the group:

Herbig registered four sacks and six quarterback pressures in 44 pass-rushing snaps according to the service. Meanwhile, Van Lanen has been one of PFF’s top-graded OTs during the entire period.

Herbig is a lock to make the Steelers’ roster after his play after they selected him in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Van Lanen figured to be a bubble player, though his play in the preseason may have locked up his roster spot.

Wisconsin offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen putting together impressive preseason

A former Badger OL is making a name for himself in preseason

A number of Wisconsin Badgers have been performing well on the NFL preseason stage including offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen.

The Green Bay native started his NFL career in 2021 with the Packers, and has since been with the Jacksonville Jaguars since 2022.

The 2021 draft prospect was a sixth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers. According to Pro Football Focus, Van Lanen has been one of the best offensive lineman throughout NFL preseason.

Van Lanen has impressed through a pair of games. Through two games, the former Bagder has an overall PFF grade of 89.6 (elite). Only one offensive tackle currently ranks above him in PFF’s grades through this stage of the preseason:

Jaguars 2023 roster review: OL Cole Van Lanen

Cole Van Lanen only played 18 offensive snaps in his first year with the Jaguars after getting acquired in a trade.

The brunt of the offseason is in the books and training camp is coming soon. Join us in the NFL’s dead zone with a player-by-player review of the Jaguars roster ahead of the 2023 season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars addressed their offensive line depth near the end of preseason last year by snagging Cole Van Lanen in a trade with the Green Bay Packers. The versatile lineman didn’t see much time in his first season with the Jaguars, though.

Van Lanen, 25, played in 16 games but played just 18 offensive snaps and 63 snaps on special teams.

Entering his third NFL season, the former sixth-round pick has competition for a roster spot after the Jaguars added a few players up front like Cooper Hodges, Chandler Brewer, and Samuel Jackson.

Contract (2023): $940,000 base salary, $940,000 cap hit.

Acquired: Jaguars acquired Van Lanen in a trade with the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 24, 2022.

PFF grades:

  • 40.1 (2022)
  • 60.0 (2021 – GB)

Quote: “It definitely was a transition, was very unexpected. But I was very excited for the opportunity. I’m really happy with Jacksonville, it’s been really fun. I’m really happy with the opportunity I have right now and I’m taking that and running with it.” – Van Lanen on trade

Calvin Ridley (No. 0) Travis Etienne Jr. (No. 1) Rayshawn Jenkins (No. 2) C.J. Beathard (No. 3) Tank Bigsby (No. 4) Andre Cisco (No. 5)
Chris Claybrooks (No. 6) Zay Jones (No. 7) Logan Cooke (No. 9) Parker Washington (No. 11) James McCourt (No. 12) Christian Kirk (No. 13)
Kendric Pryor (No. 14) Tim Jones (No. 15) Trevor Lawrence (No. 16) Evan Engram (No. 17) Nathan Rourke (No. 18) Sammis Reyes (No. 19)
Daniel Thomas (No. 20) Latavious Brini (No. 21) JaMycal Hasty (No. 22) Foyesade Oluokun (No. 23) Snoop Conner (No. 24) D’Ernest Johnson (No. 25)
Antonio Johnson (No. 26) Divaad Wilson (No. 27) Tevaughn Campbell (No. 29) Montaric Brown (No. 30) Darious Williams (No. 31) Tyson Campbell (No. 32)
Devin Lloyd (No. 33) Gregory Junior (No. 34) Ayo Oyelola (No. 35) Christian Braswell (No. 36) Tre Herndon (No. 37) Qadree Ollison (No. 38)
Jamal Agnew (No. 39) Erick Hallett (No. 40) Josh Allen (No. 41) Andrew Wingard (No. 42) Kaleb Hayes (No. 43) Derek Parish (No. 43)
Travon Walker (No. 44) K’Lavon Chaisson (No. 45) Ross Matiscik (No. 46) De’Shaan Dixon (No. 47) Chad Muma (No. 48) Shaquille Quarterman (No. 50)
Ventrell Miller (No. 51) DaVon Hamilton (No. 52) Willie Taylor III (No. 53) DJ Coleman (No. 54) Dequan Jackson (No. 55) Yasir Abdullah (No. 56)
Caleb Johnson (No. 57) Raymond Vohasek (No. 59) Darryl Williams (No. 60) Samuel Jackson (No. 62) Coy Cronk (No. 64) Chandler Brewer (No. 67)
Brandon Scherff (No. 68) Tyler Shatley (No. 69) Cole Van Lanen (No. 70) Walker Little (No. 72) Blake Hance (No. 73) Cam Robinson (No. 74)
Cooper Hodges (No. 75) Anton Harrison (No. 76) Josh Wells (No. 77) Ben Bartch (No. 78) Luke Fortner (No. 79) Kevin Austin Jr. (No. 80)
Seth Williams (No. 81) Elijah Cooks (No. 84) Brenton Strange (No. 85) Gerrit Prince (No. 86) Jaray Jenkins (No. 87) Oliver Martin (No. 88)
Luke Farrell (No. 89) Henry Mondeaux (No. 90) Dawuane Smoot (No. 91) Jordan Smith (No. 92) Tyler Lacy (No. 93) Folorunso Fatukasi (No. 94)
Roy Robertson-Harris (No. 95) Adam Gotsis (No. 96) Michael Dogbe (No. 98) Jeremiah Ledbetter (No. 99) Brandon McManus Jacob Harris
Josh Pederson

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Jaguars bring back 4 exclusive-rights free agents

The Jaguars’ decision to bring back four exclusive-rights free agents, including Riley Patterson, was made official Wednesday.

With the start of the new league year, the NFL released a list of restricted and exclusive-rights free agents who didn’t receive a qualifying offer from their team and, thus, became unrestricted free agents at 4 p.m. ET.

The only Jacksonville Jaguars player on the list was cornerback Tevaughn Campbell, who quickly reached a one-year deal with the Jaguars anyway.

That means that the Jaguars’ four exclusive-rights free agents — kicker Riley Patterson, wide receiver Tim Jones, and offensive linemen Cole Van Lanen and Blake Hance — were all tendered by the team and are set to return in 2023.

Jaguars Wire previously reported the team’s unsurprising decision to bring back Patterson, but the additional returns of Jones, Van Lance, and Hance aren’t particularly shocking either. It only costs Jacksonville a minimum-wage offer to bring back each player.

Patterson played the most significant role of the four, recording the third most points in a single season in franchise history, including a couple clutch kicks as time expired.

Jones contributed on offense and special teams, but recorded just three receptions on the year for 30 yards. Van Lanen took 18 offensive snaps and 63 on special teams. Hance was on the field for 27 offensive snaps and 44 special teams snaps.

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Jaguars rule out OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, activate 2 from practice squad

The Jaguars made a few roster moves a day before a Week 4 game against the Eagles.

The Jacksonville Jaguars downgraded both outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson and offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen to out, and activated two players from the practice squad to fill their spots Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Former Chiefs offensive lineman Darryl Williams (not to be confused with former Panthers and Bills lineman Daryl Williams) and former Packers linebacker Ty Summers are now on the active roster and will travel with the team to Philadelphia.

Chaisson, a 2020 first-round pick, has seen his snaps on the Jaguars defense vanish almost entirely since the addition of No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker. Last week, he saw the field for just four defensive snaps and 12 on special teams. After not appearing on the injury report at all Wednesday and Thursday, Chaisson was added Friday with an ankle injury.

In 34 games with the Jaguars, Chaisson has two sacks.

Van Lanen, 24, was acquired in an August trade with the Packers and has appeared on eight special teams snaps and one offensive snap so far with the Jaguars.

Darryl Williams hasn’t played in a regular season NFL game and Summers predominantly contributed on special teams during three seasons in Green Bay, although he did make one start at linebacker in 2020.

Packers trade former Wisconsin Badgers OL Cole Van Lanen

The Packers traded a former Badgers OT on Tuesday:

According to a report from ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the Green Bay Packers traded former Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a seventh-round draft pick on Tuesday.

The Packers selected Van Lanen with the 214th selection in the sixth round of the draft in 2021; however, opportunities to play were limited due to the impressive depth Green Bay has at the position.

Van Lanen, a Wisconsin native, spent most of his rookie season on Green Bay’s practice squad but did appear in one game, logging one snap.

Through two preseason games, he’s played 71 total snaps, 65 of which came at left guard, and six came at right tackle, and he hasn’t allowed a single pressure.

Due to his versatility, Van Lanen should have a solid chance at making the Jaguars’ 53-man roster.

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Packers to get seventh-round pick from Jaguars in exchange for Cole Van Lanen

The trade involving the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars will net Matt LaFleur’s team an extra late-round pick.

The trade involving the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars will net Matt LaFleur’s team an extra late-round pick.

According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, who originally reported the trade, the Packers are getting a seventh-round pick from the Jaguars in exchange for second-year offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen.

The trade has no conditions attached, so the pick will be Green Bay’s. And although not specifically stated, the pick is presumably in the 2023 draft.

Van Lanen was a sixth-round pick in the 2021 draft. He played in one game as a rookie but otherwise spent the entire season on the practice squad.

The Wisconsin native played well over two preseason games in 2022 and has been cross-trained at guard and tackle.

How the Packers reduced the roster from 85 players to 80

The deal looks like a win-win.

The Packers, clearly happy with the team’s depth along the offensive line, found a suitor for Van Lanen and got draft pick compensation back without having to release him and get nothing. Van Lanen, who was unlikely to make the team, now has a legitimate chance to make the 53-man roster and contribute in Jacksonville.

No team likes to trade away recent draft picks, and every team is looking for offensive linemen who can play, but the Packers have developed enough depth up front, especially if David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins return early in the 2022 season. Yosh Nijman and rookie Zach Tom can play tackle on both sides of the line, Royce Newman can play guard and tackle, Jake Hanson looks like the Lucas Patrick replacement on the interior, third-round pick Sean Rhyan is developing at guard and undrafted rookie Caleb Jones has surprised at left tackle.

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