Tackle need in the offseason

[MichaelWeston]

As far as I can tell ignoring the guys that may return in free agency I see our needs as: 2^nd WR, LT, C, RG, RT, K, LDT, RDE, SLB, MLB, S, CB, CB, Backup QB, RB Depth. These are at all kinds of different levels. Some can be filled in house, some will be filled with re-signed free agents, some will have to come from the draft or free agency.

 

·        Andrew Whitworth (UFA) 6-7 330, 35. 164 career starts.

o       Whitworth is solid still at 35. This team probably goes nowhere without a strong left tackle because of how poorly Dalton has been historically when he has faced pressure. He is a must re-sign.

·        Cedric Ogbuehi 6-5 310, 24. 12 career starts

o       Ced was very poor in his second year with the Bengals. He was especially bad at RT and was quoted as saying he is not a RT. Whit will hopefully play LT next year and with Ogbuehi backing him up and then Ced will be heading into his year 4 year in 2018. I don’t see a way that we pick up his 5^th year option. He is not an option at RT. PFF says that he was “at fault for nine sacks and 40 total QB pressures in 11 games.”

·        Eric Winston 6-7 310, 33 125 career starts

o       Winston started 2 games last year for the Bengals and has been an ok backup for the team.

·        Jake Fisher 6-6 305, 23. 4 career starts

o       Fisher started at RT for 3 games this year. Was better than Ogbuehi but not good enough to say the spot is solidified

·        Andre Smith 6-4 325, 29. 77 career starts

o       We love getting back our ex free agents. While Andre didn’t fare well last year it wouldn’t be out of the question to see him back in stripes. A triceps injury led him to start just 4 games for the Vikings.

·        Sebastian Vollmer 6-8 320 32. 80 career starts

o       Vollmer probably won’t be back in NE after a shoulder injury put him out for the year and they signed his replacement long term

·        Byron Bell 6-5 340, 27 72 career starts

o       Bell injured his ankle, was out all of last year and was replaced by rookie Jack Conklin. Likely to be available

·        Menelik Watson 6-5 315, 28 17 career starts

o       Former second rounder regained a starting position at RT by the end of the year.

·        Gosder Cherilus 6-7 316, 32 116 career starts

o       Relegated to a backup role last year with 3 starts. Likely to be available.

·        Jordan Mills 6-5 316, 26 50 career starts

o       Started 16 games at RT for the Bills last year a position they will look to upgrade

·        Marshall Newhouse 6-4 328, 28 56 career starts

o       Newhouse started 5 games for us in 2014 and was not impressive. Since he has started 20 games for the Giants

·        Ben Ijilana 6-4 322, 27 13 career starts

o       Started at both RT(6) and LT (7) for the Jets this year

Projection: Whitworth is a must re-sign. The offense doesn’t go without him. Franchise him if you have to (I don’t really think we have to.) When I started this I assumed I would conclude that we should draft a tackle early and re-sign Winston.  I still think that is a smart option given Whit’s age and the unknowns in Ced and Fisher. However, after seeing the group that is available in Free Agency I think there is another option that might be better. Sign one of a handful of guys, Vollmer, Bell, Watson, Smith or Cherilus and pencil them in at starting RT and/or let them compete with Fisher for the position. That gives us more stability at tackle if Fisher can’t make it. A tackle grouping of Whit, Ogbuehi, Fisher and FA (Vollmer-Bell-Smith-Watson and Cherilus. The position isn’t solved but it’s more stable with a vet, even an injured or aged one. I think that one of them will be available for an affordable deal. I’d probably prefer Vollmer or Bell.

[redwood]

I feel good about fisher's future. Ced O? He may be better at G. Whitworth is a LEADER but age ALWAYS catches up, so, not a long term.  I'd think we look for VALUE, but not another high pick rookie.  I do like Ohio St c/G Elflein. but not as a top 10 pick.  We have to sweat keeping Zeitler.

[MichaelWeston]

I think there are really 3 options. 

1. Sign a free agent cheap: This one allows the 2 guys we have to still potentially develop but doesn't solidify anything because of the questions that surround every player, basically what makes them available. 

2. Draft a Tackle early: This one helps solidify the position for year, presumably but ignores the 2 guys we have on the roster already and forces us to not draft at another position. 

3. Draft a Tackle mid rounds: This one solidifies nothing but gives us a potential player at the spot. 

[fredtoast]

I think we may go back to the '09 model of "quantity over quality".

 

We sign 3 undrafted free agent OTs and start 8 O-linemen with 1 QB, 1 RB, and 1 WR.