Thread: What free agent OL are there this year?

Its obvious that we need to upgrade our OG, and C. The problem i have is Mcd drafting them. He has shown he will reach and grab a guy in the 2nd or trade back into the 2nd for a guy that would be there 2-3 rounds later.

We know he thinks OL is a major area of need. I dont want to see him blow a good pick on someone who could have been nabbed later. So what FA OL are available this year that we might be able to pick up instead of draft.

Jahri Evans, I'd love him here. Would bolster our running attack. Started every game for the Saints the past four years. Still young and awesome.

Logan Mankins is another. Pats boy.

Originally Posted by Requiem

Jahri Evans, I'd love him here. Would bolster our running attack. Started every game for the Saints the past four years. Still young and awesome.

Logan Mankins is another. Pats boy.

those are the only 2 i would want sadly jahari evans is highly revered in league circles and many feel he is gonna get a payday from the saints.....

I'd like to see Logan Mankins. I liked him since his rookie year and could be had for less money than Jahri Evans. Plus, Mankins has played for McDaniels and would know how to play in his system.

Here's the list: (I left off Mankins and Evans which were already mentioned)

http://www.footballsfuture.com/2010/fa/ol.html

Marcus McNeill, San Diego Chargers (26)
McNeill isn’t playing at an elite level this year, but is still an above average left tackle. He’s one of the “bigger” names at the left tackle position thanks to his spectacular and deservedly-hyped rookie season. McNeill has also been undercompensated the last few years playing on his rookie contract as a 2nd round pick, which may incline him to ask for more money than he “deserves.” Any of the Chargers could feasibly be had this offseason and McNeill is no different, but with some of the offensive line woes of the Chargers, McNeill may be one of their top priorities. His long-term neck and back problems could be in the back of the team’s mind as well.

Willie Colon, Pittsburgh Steelers (27)
After catching a lot of heat after last season’s wildly inconsistent performance, Willie Colon has done a fine job at right tackle for the Steelers. He’s done a nice job keeping Roethlisberger clean and turned in one of the better seasons for a right tackle in pass protections this year. Though Colon hasn’t been able to blow people off the snap in run-blocking, he’s done an average job for a line that has done a nice job allowing Mendenhall to become a good, young runner.

Jared Gaither, Baltimore Ravens (24) – Restricted FA
After being taken off the field on a stretcher in New England, Gaither luckily suffered no season or career threatening injury. His return to the field has helped the Ravens a little, but never really regained his level of play prior to the hit. The offensive line, Gaither included, has been one of many reasons for the team’s downhill turn. Still, with him on one side and impressive rookie Michael Oher on the other, the Ravens have found their bookend tackles. Even if the team and Gaither can’t settle on a long-term deal this offseason, they still have the ability to put a tender on him. At the very least, it would force teams to give up serious compensation for his services. Gaither’s length and athleticism are the ideal mold of a modern day left tackle.

Donald Penn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27)
Penn is one of the more underrated left tackles in football today and will be one of many talented offensive linemen set to become unrestricted free agents this year. While Penn hasn’t had his best season this year, he has proven in the pass to be one of truly balanced left tackles. Penn has done a nice job in the past of keeping the blindside clean of pressure and the Buccaneers have done a nice job this year running over left tackle. The Buccaneers should try to re-sign him quickly because a young left tackle on the market may see some high-end coin.

Jermon Bushrod, New Orleans Saints (26) – Restricted FA
The Saints called upon Jermon Bushrod to play left tackle the entire year after placing Jammal Brown to the IR due to a hip injury and a sports hernia. Bushrod has done a commendable job replacing the All-Pro Brown, who has a voidable contract at the end of this season. If Brown decides to become a free agent, the Saints would have an interesting choice. Brown will be coming off an injury and will ask for significant money, but has played at a Pro Bowl level whereas Bushrod is the younger, cheaper option with upside. Both of these players are talented enough and good enough to play left tackle on many teams.

Daryn Colledge, Green Bay Packers (28)
Colledge is no longer viewed as the solution at left tackle in Green Bay. Mid-round TJ Lang has taken over the back-up position there. That alone is enough to make his value take a significant plunge. Colledge was even “put on notice” and warned about his subpar level of play, but has since picked it up a notch, as has the entire O-Line. His value outside of Green Bay may not be as high as it is within the organization because of a poor performance in the team’s biggest stage to date – Monday Night in Minnesota. Still, he’s an average starting offensive guard and a good pass protector in the interior. Colledge’s value will most likely be highest to the Packers because he’s a great fit for what they do and they know his true value.

Kevin Mawae, Tennessee Titans (39)
Mawae has started all six games for the Titans this year, but with his contract expiring, the line may turn to Leroy Harris who will have been groomed for 3 years, sparingly seeing the field. If Mawae is up for another season, he could land on a number of teams, or just re-sign in Tennessee. He still has a little gas left in the tank and it the Titans pass on him, several teams will be lining up for him and accept the leadership he brings to the team.

Chad Clifton, Green Bay Packers (34)
Clifton has suffered an ankle injury earlier this season forcing the Packers to retreat to other options at left tackle. After returning healthy to his position, Clifton and the entire offensive line has picked up their play and protected Rodgers at a more respectable level. Still, it’s quite clear that this year’s Clifton isn’t the model pass protector he’s been in the past. Clifton has lost a step and is now more susceptible to speed players and double moves. If Clifton isn’t offered another contract in Green Bay, where he’s played his entire career, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the franchise’s great blind side protector call it quits.

i'd kinda hate to see us spend any money there, other than possibly to add some depth at tackle. . . but when you have a very high quality pair of starting OTs, it really doesn't make sense to spend free agent dollars on the interior OL, other than maybe a scenario where you have a 40-year-old stud QB and you want to add pieces for a now or never super bowl push. . . interior OL is one of the easier and cheaper positions to fill through the draft. . .

if we spend any money on the line, it should go towards locking chris kuper up long term. . .

i'd love to see us draft mike iupati or kris o'dowd, but there are some other options who should be available later on who should still be able to come in and upgrade our talent there. . . and we still need to see what we have with seth olsen-- he should at least compete for the second starting spot at OG. . .

I just wonder what the deal with Seth Olsen is... we drafted him with a fair mid-round pick and he made the team. I'd like to see what becomes of him.

Here's an interesting tidbit though on OGs (2004-2008)

There were 25 OGs to receive an all-pro vote
* 14 of those 25 were drafted in Round 1 or 2 (10 at pick 34 or higher)
* 4 of the 25 were undrafted

There were 10 OGs to receive double digit votes between (2004-2008)
* 7 of the 10 were picked in round 1 or 2
* 1 was picked in round 3
* 2 went undrafted
* The median draft position of these 10 players was Pick 33

FOR CENTERS

There 9 Cs to receive 5 or more all-pro votes (only 1 all-pro for C so cut, the cut-off from 10 to 5 votes and there is a natural drop off at that number)
* 1 of 9 was drafted in round 1 and only 2 before pick 64.
* 2 of 9 went undrafted
* 5 of 9 went at pick 164 or later
* The median draft position for these all-pro centers was pick 164

Very interesting discrepancy there... in case you care

TOP 5 OGs

Steve Hutchinson (145 All-Pro Votes - pick 17)
Alan Faneca (102 All-Pro Votes - pick 26)
Brian Waters (43 All-Pro Votes - UDFA)
Will Shields (40 All-Pro Votes - pick 74)
Chris Snee (37 All-Pro Votes - pick 34)

TOP 5 OCs

Jeff Saturday (89 All-Pro Votes - UDFA)
Kevin Mawae (43 All-Pro Votes - Pick 36)
Olin Kreutz (33 All-Pro Votes - Pick 64)
Jeff Hartings (23 All-Pro Votes - Pick 23)
Shaun O'Hara (20 All-Pro Votes - UDFA)

i suppose we should add him to the list....

The rams cut- Incognito


even though he is out of his mind.

Originally Posted by underrated29

i suppose we should add him to the list....

The rams cut- Incognito


even though he is out of his mind.

he was claimed by buffalo, and that dude isnt even close to the type of player MCD would bring in...he leads the league in personal fouls....

As long as we bring in someone at C & LG that is equally adept at run and pass blocking, weighs more than 315 lbs, is under 30 years old, and is mean as hell, I'm down!!!!

Originally Posted by dogfish

i'd kinda hate to see us spend any money there, other than possibly to add some depth at tackle. . . but when you have a very high quality pair of starting OTs, it really doesn't make sense to spend free agent dollars on the interior OL, other than maybe a scenario where you have a 40-year-old stud QB and you want to add pieces for a now or never super bowl push. . . interior OL is one of the easier and cheaper positions to fill through the draft. . .

if we spend any money on the line, it should go towards locking chris kuper up long term. . .

i'd love to see us draft mike iupati or kris o'dowd, but there are some other options who should be available later on who should still be able to come in and upgrade our talent there. . . and we still need to see what we have with seth olsen-- he should at least compete for the second starting spot at OG. . .

see i would agree with this, and like this....But Jmfmd scares me when drafting. Now we have only had 1 so it might not be his MO. But i am really worried we will pass on talent or really reach for a C earlier than we should. That scares me much.

If we somehow knew he wouldnt, then i would not mind an early pick on C and then later try to find a G in 5,6,7.