02-27-2024, 12:34 PM
Alright, let's move on to our 3rd spot where we have a hole in the starting lineup, Offensive Tackle.
3. Offensive Tackle
A. Signed
Player; Cap; Dead Cap; FA Year; PFF L3, 2023 Snaps
1. O. Brown: $16,354,000; $23,325,000; '27; 66.1/75.8/75.4; 1,059 O + 71 ST.
------------Starter Line-----------
2. Carman: $2,370,438; $694,536; '25; 56.6/60.7/56.3, 12 O + 1 ST
3. D. Smith (OT/G): $1,179,136; $124,836; '25; x/48.2/53.0.
----------Reserve Line---------
4. Cochran: $795,000; $0; '25; x/x/x, Zero.
5. Kirkland (OT/G): $795,000; $0; '25; x/x/x, Zero
----------Future's/PS Line--------
B. Unsigned
Player, FA Status, PFF L3, 2023 Snaps
1. J. Williams, UFA, 58.5/61.2/77.5; 1,088 O + 72 ST
------------Starter Line-------
2. Ford (OT/G): UFA, 53.9/41.2/46.7; 79 O + 72 ST
-----------Reserve Line-------
C. Analysis
Brown is set to start at LT and the RT spot is open with Jonah hitting FA. Ford was our primary OT backup and is a FA as well. Carman & Smith under contract. Cochran & Kirkland were both injured early on last year and spent the year on IR. Kirkland signed a Future's contract this year.
I do not think there is any way in the world we pay $10-$15 mil for Jonah, long term. He is decent, and pretty durable, but gets overwhelmed too often vs top level DEs. We are picking high this year due to Burrow's injury, and it is a historically good OT class. I think 8 1st rounders is realistic. Further, 4 of those 8, and 4 of the top 7, are RTs: Fuaga, Latham, Guyton, and Mims.
Further, it is not a stellar year for OTs in FA, and two of the best are 30+ (Smith & Brown). And Onwenu likely expensive. I could see a FA OT sogning as a bridge type (Eluemunor) if it can be done for cheap-ish. Especially if the target at #18 is likely to be raw (Guyton, Mims). And it would allow us possibly go in a different direction at #18 (Bowers, Murphy, Newton, CB). I'd love Smith but he'll never sign here if he isn't the guaranteed starter...and he has not played RT in a long while.
As for the reserves, bringing back Ford for cheap is certainly possible. If we get a bridge RT in FA and draft one, then somone will have to go. I'd prefer to bring back Ford & keep Carman over Smith. The former two have at least played meaningful snaps for us. Though Carman sermingly beeing LT only hurts him as a reserve.
I don't think cap should impact the decision on the reserves. Cutting Carman does not save us much $$, given the nearly $700k in Dead Cap & having to play a replacement. Just take the best guys. Cochran & Kirkland both coming off injury, and the latter may be more of a G. But competing for the #4 OT (or G in Kirkland's case) is likely best case scenario for either.
I think we take a RT at #18. Right now I'd say 50/50 on an Elumunor type bridge, though if it isn't a significant upgrade from Ford, what is the point?
3. Offensive Tackle
A. Signed
Player; Cap; Dead Cap; FA Year; PFF L3, 2023 Snaps
1. O. Brown: $16,354,000; $23,325,000; '27; 66.1/75.8/75.4; 1,059 O + 71 ST.
------------Starter Line-----------
2. Carman: $2,370,438; $694,536; '25; 56.6/60.7/56.3, 12 O + 1 ST
3. D. Smith (OT/G): $1,179,136; $124,836; '25; x/48.2/53.0.
----------Reserve Line---------
4. Cochran: $795,000; $0; '25; x/x/x, Zero.
5. Kirkland (OT/G): $795,000; $0; '25; x/x/x, Zero
----------Future's/PS Line--------
B. Unsigned
Player, FA Status, PFF L3, 2023 Snaps
1. J. Williams, UFA, 58.5/61.2/77.5; 1,088 O + 72 ST
------------Starter Line-------
2. Ford (OT/G): UFA, 53.9/41.2/46.7; 79 O + 72 ST
-----------Reserve Line-------
C. Analysis
Brown is set to start at LT and the RT spot is open with Jonah hitting FA. Ford was our primary OT backup and is a FA as well. Carman & Smith under contract. Cochran & Kirkland were both injured early on last year and spent the year on IR. Kirkland signed a Future's contract this year.
I do not think there is any way in the world we pay $10-$15 mil for Jonah, long term. He is decent, and pretty durable, but gets overwhelmed too often vs top level DEs. We are picking high this year due to Burrow's injury, and it is a historically good OT class. I think 8 1st rounders is realistic. Further, 4 of those 8, and 4 of the top 7, are RTs: Fuaga, Latham, Guyton, and Mims.
Further, it is not a stellar year for OTs in FA, and two of the best are 30+ (Smith & Brown). And Onwenu likely expensive. I could see a FA OT sogning as a bridge type (Eluemunor) if it can be done for cheap-ish. Especially if the target at #18 is likely to be raw (Guyton, Mims). And it would allow us possibly go in a different direction at #18 (Bowers, Murphy, Newton, CB). I'd love Smith but he'll never sign here if he isn't the guaranteed starter...and he has not played RT in a long while.
As for the reserves, bringing back Ford for cheap is certainly possible. If we get a bridge RT in FA and draft one, then somone will have to go. I'd prefer to bring back Ford & keep Carman over Smith. The former two have at least played meaningful snaps for us. Though Carman sermingly beeing LT only hurts him as a reserve.
I don't think cap should impact the decision on the reserves. Cutting Carman does not save us much $$, given the nearly $700k in Dead Cap & having to play a replacement. Just take the best guys. Cochran & Kirkland both coming off injury, and the latter may be more of a G. But competing for the #4 OT (or G in Kirkland's case) is likely best case scenario for either.
I think we take a RT at #18. Right now I'd say 50/50 on an Elumunor type bridge, though if it isn't a significant upgrade from Ford, what is the point?
