Broncos in the NFL: Former Boise State lineman lands new deal, 2 players hit open market

Former Boise State offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland has a new deal that will keep him in Jacksonville for the next few years.

Cleveland, who started 40 games at left tackle for Boise State from 2017 to 2019, signed a three-year contract extension worth $24 million with the Jaguars on Friday.

The Vikings traded Cleveland to the Jaguars last season, and the 6-foot-6, 311-pound native of Spanaway, Washington, started six games for Jacksonville: five at left guard and one at left tackle. Minnesota picked him in the second round of the 2020 draft.

Cleveland, 25, started 49 games in a little more than three seasons with the Vikings. He was a three-time All-Mountain West during his Boise State career, making the first-team cut in 2018 and 2019.

Boise State coach had Koetter in mind as offensive coordinator candidate from beginning

Mattison on the market

Another former Boise State player has parted ways with the Vikings, who released running back Alexander Mattison on Monday.

Mattison signed a two-year, $7 million contract extension to replace Dalvin Cook as the Vikings’ featured back last season. He finished the season with a career-high 700 rushing yards in 13 starts but was held without a rushing touchdown, and he also had some problems with fumbling and dropped passes. He did have three touchdown catches.

The third-round pick in the 2019 draft appeared in 75 games in five seasons with the Vikings, racking up 2,370 rushing yards and 17 total touchdowns (11 rushing, 6 receiving). He posted a career-high five rushing touchdowns in 2022.

Mattison, 25, carried the ball 581 times for 2,829 yards and 33 touchdowns in three seasons at Boise State (2016-18). His 1,415 yards and 17 touchdowns both rank No. 7 in single-season history at Boise State.

Leno is available, too

The Washington Commanders released former Boise State left tackle Charles Leno Jr. on March 1. He started 47 games for the Commanders the past three seasons. He started 13 games last season before ending the year on injured reserve.

Leno, 32, was picked by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2014 draft and started 94 games in seven seasons in Chicago. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2019.

The 6-3, 302-pound native of San Leandro, California, started 39 consecutive games at tackle for Boise State from 2009 to 2013, with his final 26 starts coming at left tackle.

Former coaches join Seahawks

A pair of former assistant coaches at Boise State joined the Seattle Seahawks staff last month.

Former Broncos center and offensive line coach Scott Huff will coach the Seahawks offensive line under new head coach Mike Macdonald, who was hired in January after longtime coach Pete Carroll stepped aside.

Huff started 40 games at center for Boise State from 1999 to 2002. He coached the Broncos’ offensive line from 2006 to 2016 before following former Boise State coach Chris Petersen to the University of Washington. Huff’s unit gave up just 11 sacks while helping pave the way for an appearance in the national championship game last season, and the Huskies’ offensive line earned the Joe Moore Award, recognizing it as the best group in the nation.

Huff originally agreed to follow former Washington coach Kalen DeBeor to Alabama, but he changed course last month, opting to follow former Huskies offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to Seattle.

The Seahawks also hired former Boise State offensive coordinator Zak Hill as a quality control coach on Feb. 22. He ran Boise State’s offense from 2017 to 2019 before spending two seasons as Arizona State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Hill, 44, helped former Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien earn Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2018. His 3,705 passing yards that year still rank No. 4 in single-season history.

Hill spent the past two seasons as a high school coach in the Phoenix area. Last season, he led Saguaro High to the 6A state championship in Arizona.