JACKSONVILLE — The Jaguars acquired second-year quarterback Quinn Ewers from the Miami Dolphins for a 2028 sixth-round pick and overhauled their offensive line as the team prepares for its Week 1 matchup against the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium on September 13.
“I’m just excited to be here and just trying to be a sponge and learn as much as I can in such a short amount of time,” Ewers said after practice at the Miller Electric Center. “Excited for the adventure.”
Head Coach Liam Coen said the trade, completed last Saturday, was designed to “continue to create competition in the room” behind starter Trevor Lawrence. Ewers made the 53-man roster a day later, though his precise role behind Lawrence remains undefined. Nick Mullens, Lawrence’s backup last season, is now on the practice squad.
Ewers, a seventh-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft out of the University of Texas, started three games for Miami last season, completing 55 of 83 passes for 662 yards and three touchdowns. “He has some arm talent,” Coen said. “I thought watching some of the stuff he did last year, when he got some ops to go play, I thought he showed some signs of being able to spread the ball around to different spots on the field. I liked him coming out of Texas. I think Sark does a really good job with quarterbacks and he’s a young player that you can kind of pour into and see what that looks like as we can go.”
Ewers said working with Lawrence and Mullens — both of whom have spent two offseasons in Coen’s system — has accelerated his learning curve. “It definitely helps,” Ewers said. “Those guys have been in this offense for the past two years now. They’ve been through two camps now with this offense, and with their overall knowledge of the game, I can go to them and ask questions. They’ve been great when I’ve done so.”
Of Coen’s coaching style, Ewers added: “You’ve seen some of the stuff that’s gone viral or whatever, but he’s just like that in person. He’s just a super-energetic guy, fun-to-be-around kind of guy, and it has been fun so far. I’m excited.”
The quarterback move coincides with a significant reshuffling of Jacksonville’s offensive line during training camp. Anton Harrison, the team’s starting right tackle from 2022 through 2024, has moved to left tackle. General Manager James Gladstone said the switch is a natural fit. “He is naturally someone who fits the bill for the left tackle spot, and I think he would tell you that as well,” Gladstone said. “It’s where he is most comfortable naturally. I don’t think anybody would say that they’re concerned or have some sense of questioning whether he can perform at a high level there or any different than he did at right tackle.”
Cole Van Lanen, who finished last season starting at left tackle, is expected to start at right tackle once he returns from the Physically Unable to Perform list following offseason knee surgery. Gladstone relayed Van Lanen’s own assessment: “Look, I can do either. Naturally, I feel best suited at right tackle.” Rookie Emmanuel Pregnon is expected to start at left guard, with last year’s left guard Ezra Cleveland shifting to right guard and veteran Robert Hainsey returning at center for a second consecutive season. The revamped lineup will face its first test against Cleveland on September 13.