Ezra Cleveland Bio
Ezra Cleveland is an American professional football guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and listed at 312 pounds, Cleveland plays the offensive line at left guard after originally entering the league as a second-round draft pick in 2020. He is recognized for his steady development from a rookie starter in Minnesota to a core piece of the Jacksonville offensive front.
Born and raised in Washington State, Cleveland built his game in the Pacific Northwest before taking his talents to Boise State University, where he became one of the most decorated linemen in the Broncos’ recent history. His combination of size, athleticism, and technique has allowed him to start 85 of the 93 games he has played through the early portion of his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Ezra Cleveland was born on May 8, 1998, in Spanaway, Washington. He was born three weeks ahead of schedule at 11 pounds, a fact that foreshadowed the imposing physical frame he would later develop as an NFL offensive lineman. Spanaway, a community located near Tacoma, served as the backdrop for Cleveland’s childhood and early athletic development.
Cleveland attended Bethel High School in Spanaway, where he emerged as a promising young football player. His performance at Bethel drew attention from college programs and helped him secure a path to the FBS level. The foundation he built in high school, combined with his natural size and movement skills, set the stage for his eventual commitment to Boise State University.
Path to American Football
Coming out of Bethel High School, Cleveland chose to continue his football career at Boise State, a program known for producing quality offensive linemen. He joined the Broncos in 2016 and, after redshirting his first season on campus, quickly worked his way up the depth chart. By his second year, he had earned a starting role and would never relinquish it, ultimately starting 40 games during his college career.
Across his four seasons at Boise State, Cleveland established himself as one of the top interior linemen in the Mountain West Conference. He earned First-team All-Mountain West honors in both 2018 and 2019, capping his junior year with one of the most consistent stretches of play in the conference. Following the 2019 season, Cleveland declared for the 2020 NFL Draft, confident that his combination of size, experience, and production would translate to the professional level.
Ezra Cleveland Career
Early Career (2020)
The Minnesota Vikings selected Ezra Cleveland in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, taking him with the 58th overall pick. Cleveland entered a crowded offensive line room, but his physical tools and polished footwork quickly earned him a role in the rotation. He began his rookie campaign as a backup before being elevated into the starting lineup at right guard.
Cleveland was named the starting right guard in Week 6 of his rookie year, a midseason promotion that reflected the coaching staff’s trust in his readiness. He went on to start nine games as a rookie, providing the Vikings with stability on the interior while showing the kind of development curve teams look for from second-round selections.
Minnesota Vikings Breakthrough (2021–2023)
In 2021, Cleveland shifted to left guard and immediately entrenched himself as a full-time starter. He started every game that season and followed it up by starting every game again in 2022, demonstrating the durability and consistency expected of an NFL offensive lineman. Across those two seasons, Cleveland became a reliable presence on a Vikings offensive line that leaned heavily on its young left-side talent.
The 2023 season began with Cleveland returning as the starting left guard, and he started each of the first six games for Minnesota. His performance during that stretch kept him on the radar of teams looking to upgrade their offensive front, and on October 31, 2023, the Vikings traded Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick. The trade marked the end of his Minnesota tenure and the start of a new chapter in his professional career.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2023–Present)
Following the trade to Jacksonville, Cleveland slotted in as the Jaguars’ starting left guard and helped stabilize the interior of an offensive line charged with protecting quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He finished out the 2023 season in Jacksonville and continued to build chemistry with his new teammates, coaches, and scheme. His addition gave the Jaguars a young, durable starter to build around.
On March 8, 2024, Cleveland signed a three-year contract extension with the Jaguars, a deal that runs through the 2027 season and signaled the organization’s long-term commitment to him as a foundational piece of the offensive line. As he continues his Jacksonville tenure, Cleveland remains one of the team’s most experienced and dependable blockers, contributing to a run game and pass protection unit tasked with supporting one of the league’s young franchise quarterbacks.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cleveland brings a rare blend of size and mobility to the guard position, allowing him to handle power defenders in the run game while staying agile enough to mirror edge rushers in pass protection. His extensive starting experience at Boise State, where he logged 40 collegiate starts, helped him transition smoothly to the speed of NFL play. Cleveland’s preparation and consistency have made him a coach-friendly piece on the interior offensive line.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Cleveland’s career are his two First-team All-Mountain West selections in 2018 and 2019, his second-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, and his October 2023 trade to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The signing of his three-year extension in March 2024 underscored his standing as a core contributor for years to come.
Ezra Cleveland Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, Cleveland’s contributions are measured less in individual statistics and more in durability, starts, and team success. Through the early portion of his NFL career, he has appeared in 93 games and made 85 starts, a workload that reflects his consistency and the trust placed in him by two different franchises.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his professional accolades, Cleveland earned back-to-back First-team All-Mountain West honors during his final two seasons at Boise State, finishing his college career with 40 starts. Those conference honors served as his primary individual recognition and helped pave the way for his second-round selection by Minnesota in 2020.
Ezra Cleveland Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Ezra Cleveland’s parents and immediate family members are limited. What is documented is his upbringing in Spanaway, Washington, where he attended Bethel High School and first developed the work habits that would carry him to a professional football career.
Personal Life
Cleveland was born three weeks ahead of schedule at 11 pounds, a striking early detail about his size that has been widely cited in coverage of his background. He maintains an active presence on social media under the handle @ezra508 on X. Beyond those references, Cleveland keeps his personal life largely private.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 NFL season, Cleveland is firmly established as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ starting left guard and a central figure on an offensive line tasked with protecting Trevor Lawrence and opening lanes for the team’s run game. With his three-year extension signed in March 2024 running through 2027, the 2025 campaign represents the second year of that long-term commitment.
Cleveland’s durability and track record of starting every game when healthy position him as a stabilizing force up front for the Jaguars. His combination of size, mobility, and technique allows Jacksonville’s offense to deploy a balanced scheme that emphasizes both the pass and the run. As he continues to build continuity with his teammates and coaching staff, Cleveland’s role remains vital to the Jaguars’ hopes of competing in a competitive AFC South.
Looking ahead through the rest of 2025 and beyond, Cleveland’s primary focus will be on staying healthy, maintaining his high standard of play, and helping the Jaguars return to postseason contention. His status as a long-term building block on the offensive line gives Jacksonville a reliable foundation to grow around as the team continues to develop its young core.
