Brady deserves better than what we've given him
I think we have incredible depth and talent on the OL. Last year, they were a bit snakebit with injuries, and people playing out of position, including their practice squad guys. Cannon and Fleming was never the plan. But the duct tape was good enough to make the AFC Championship game, so let's not burn them in effigy.
Carolina didn't do much better against that Denver D, you'll remember. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap.
I hope we start drafting some 1st round o-linemen, they usually turn out okay and usually have a long career.
Like Solder, whose injury started the avalanche of problems for the OL in 2015?
Our "great" offensive line featured Light (2nd), Mankins (32nd overall), Koppen (4th), Andruzzi (Undrafted)/Neal (Undrafted) and Vollmer (2nd). Compare that with our likely starting 2016 OL of Solder (1st), Cooper (1st), Stork (4th), Mason (4th), Vollmer (2nd), and I'm not exactly sure what more we should wish for in terms of talent. The raw talent is better now than it's ever been-- the draft pedigrees are certainly higher anyway.
We have more pure talent on the OL roster right now than I can ever remember having at one time.
Stork and Andrews, alone, is a treasure trove at OC. If your center has the smarts and versatility to play a credible tackle, that's a pretty rare and impressive thing.
At OG, Mason, Cooper, Jackson, Kline and Karras competing for three roster spots... dear god. I'm one that thinks Jackson played quite well for a rookie starter, considering he spent most of his season between a rookie UDFA at OC and a guy forced out of position at OT due to injuries. No wonder the line was shaky, but how can you write off Jackson for being put into that situation. Overall, I think he handled it pretty well. The ceiling on Mason is crazy high, I think everyone agrees, but he needs to learn pass protection. And remember that either Stork or Andrews (blooded and proven, and both on rookie contracts) should be able to move to OG and play a quality game there if we needed them to.
Which is what makes the Karras pick truly dumbfounding. Why even spend the pick? How the hell can he remotely hope to make this roster? I suppose if Karras really shows up in TC, BB could clear space by trading some of his veterans-- send Kline to Detroit or Cleveland for a late round pick, or an UDFA DB that they want to test drive in the kicking game. If that happens, plus, if Cooper completely washes out... then Karras has a bit of sunlight to actually make the roster. But, as OP said, he's got a tough draw.
I truly believe there was a bit of a crisis in the War Room. Once they got into the 200s with bunch of compensatory 6th rounders that they can't offload, and a roster was already full-up. They're looking at a list of players on their board, none of which has any real chance to make the team. What are you going to do?
All you can do it take BPA. Spend it on a player they felt should have gone much earlier, despite the fact that he plays at a position of strength where the team is already deep, stacked and young. In theory, there's a long term cap savings to be found, if they drop or trade Kline, cut Cooper then use Karras as their emergency interior lineman instead. I kinda hope that's how it plays out for the kid.