Yesterday, 08:07 PM
(Yesterday, 04:24 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: You have also a good ideas and projections but why would you want to bring back Trent Brown? And why would you want him over Ford?
Ford has been reliable and did an admirable job filling in at LT and taking over the starting RG job.
T Brown has been the offenses version of Sheldon Rankins…cashing checks but MIA on game day.
It is not either/or with Ford and T. Brown for me, it is both. But I do like Brown better.
When he is healthy, Trent Brown is a plus starter caliber player. When healthy, Cody Ford is a serviceable reserve and a poor starter. Ford has done a decent enough job this year. And has decent versatility since he can play OT/G.
Now, Brown's injury history has been terrible lately. But I would hope that very fact would drive his price down. And his durability issues don't worry me as much as a reserve. He has experience playing both sides. Further, he is a better run blocker than Ford. So if we are talking about a 6th OL for run plays, I much prefer him to Ford as OT3/OL6 for that reason.
PFF last 5 years: 2024 back:
T. Brown: 65.2; 80.2; 67.4; 79.3; 68.9
Ford: 52.5, 53.9, 41.2, 46.7, 53.8
With Ford's better years at OT and worst at G.
We paid Brown $4.3 mil this year. If his price goes down under $3 mil (or likely lower), I like that value, a lot.
Given our needs elsewhere, both in FA and the draft, I think it is extremely unlikely we spend much on a FA tackle to replace OBJ, or spend a high draft pick (or any pick) at OT.
But if I can spend $3-$4.5 mil and lock up 2 backup OTs who can play either side, and Ford some emergency guard, I do that ($2.5 for Brown and $1.5-$2 for Ford). Devin Cochran can be PS.
We usually carry 10 OL. We went with 9 this year to start. In my dreams:
LT: O. Brown Jr.
LG: FA LG/Day 2/3 pick (Jackson, Fairchild, etc)
C: Karras (C/G)
RG: Cut Cappa: big time OG in FA
RT: Mims
--------------
OT3: T. Brown
OG3: Volson
C2/G4: Lee
OT4/OG5: Ford
If we like another late draft pick, Kirkland, Steuber, or Cochran a ton in camp, we can carry 10. But I am pretty good with that top 9. Though OBJ/Karras upgrades should start to be considered. But that can be after this offseason.
I'd really love to take OT off the board completely this off-season ASAP. And I think with just a smidge of spending we can do that. Just a touch above min salary.
After locking up Chase/Tee, the IOL upgrades are my biggest priority. I want the O good enough to win shootouts, not lose them. Be able to run the ball in short yardage.
