Remaining Free Agency LT Options ... we still need to draft a guy

[Ring 6]

not a big fan of Cam Rob but maybe his price comes down to a one year deal at a more reasonable price and plays contract year with Doug Marrone a coach he possibly likes

I don’t care about the contract. He can be traded, we have cap room to burn.
Often we assume players and coaches having connection is a positive but Robinson may have not liked playing for Marone and Marone may feel Robinson has issues and isn’t the right guy.

The best we can rely on is that we have a really strong evaluation on him, so we are acting from a point of strength.

 

[EMpats]

Culture is very important but judging a kid on how he’d fit in culture wise kind of reeks of over correction from last seasons debacle.

I mean, I get what you’re saying but we’ve heard over and over that culture is VERY important to vrabel. Also, judging draft prospects character and fit is a standard part of the process for every team. How important is football and winning to him vs collecting a paycheck? How do they respond to hard coaching?

 

[Ring 6]

As consideration for all those expecting a big FA vet to come in at LT... They might think Lowe and/or Wallace are decent options at LT while they prepare a rookie 1st rounder. Just saying.
Why pay premium $$ on a 30+ year old, when you're plan is to start a more talented rookie?
If the rookie needs more time, then you have 2 guys that have started at LT, and could be better with another TC, better coaching and scheming by JMD.
Also, don't forget about Caleb Jones - what a beast, if he puts the work in to improve technique.

Well first we are sitting in a pile of cap space. We won’t have a better football team because of unspent cap space.
If they looked at film of Lowe and Wallace and think LT is fine, then we need to change our expectations because we are being run by people who can’t evaluate football. Of course we have evidence they don’t think that because if they thought Lowe could play he would have a contract.

A 1st round LT plays day 1.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

I guess just hope that one of the big 3 appear at the pick and if not, then I have to say. TRADE down. That extra #2 will feel great at the end of the day.

Might be very hard to find a partner for that trade (depending of course on how teams feel about the second QB). Picks 4 through say 12 are pretty flat by all accounts.

 

[Rob0729]

not a big fan of Cam Rob but maybe his price comes down to a one year deal at a more reasonable price and plays contract year with Doug Marrone a coach he possibly likes

If the 2023 Cam Robinson was a free agent, he might have been the #1 tackle on the market. Probably bigger than Stanley because Stanley has issues staying healthy. He was a solid tackle who was well about average in pass blocking. This past year, his reputation took a hit especially late in the season.

I don't think he is a long term answer, but see him as possibly being something like Trent Brown the first Trent Brown stint with the Pats. Maybe not as good, but a solid one or two year solution.

 

[raduray]

with Vrabel in Cleveland last year, and Doug Marrone literally drafting Cam Robinson, makes you wonder why no news has been forthcoming about these two guys

No news is news in itself.

 

[Ring 6]

Culture is very important but judging a kid on how he’d fit in culture wise kind of reeks of over correction from last seasons debacle.

This culture thing is so overblown.
The HC sets the culture with priorities, focus, messaging and discipline.
Culture isn’t determined by how players want to act, it’s determined by the reaction to when they act contrary to the mission.
Mayos way was to be the nice guy, to try to understand the man and how he thinks and treat everyone as individuals with different attitudes.
That creates a culture that isn’t a team.

When you build a proper culture played are absorbed into the culture, they are not determining the culture.

Culture isn’t about feelings, it’s about getting everyone on the same page to prioritize a common goal.

The only players who can’t fit in that are selfish players who hurt your chances to win by doing what’s best for them instead of what’s best for the team.

Vrabel establishes the culture. 99.9% of players adopt it.

 

[raduray]

I don't actually disagree with your take because in theory you are correct... However, I would like to draft Josh Simmons... I do feel he has the higher upside... and with him you do have to cover your base because of his injury... You can sign Robinson to a multi year deal and just eat the contract at the back end if you have to... Hardly ideal, but the situation is kinda forcing your hand here, if you want to make a move to shore up the tackle spots in free agency... just look at the Morgan Moses deal... 3 year deal... we will be eating some of that money at some point...

Simmons is a RT. We need a LT.
EDIT: Oops! He played LT last two years at Ohio State. .

 

[EMpats]

Simmons is a RT. We need a LT.

He started 19 games at left tackle for Ohio state in 2023-2024. Hasn’t played right tackle since 2022.

 

[Joey007]

Unless they get a haul for #4, LT is the pick. Arm length is overblown according to Scar.

No absolutes: A lesson on o-line arm length with Dante Scarnecchia

Are Will Campbell's undersized arms a red flag? Phil Perry turned to coaching legend Dante Scarnecchia for an in-depth breakdown of arm length and its imapct.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

Do you think so even if Hunter/Carter are there? The big brains over at Pats Reddit insist there’s no way you can pass on Carter.

 

[raduray]

He started 19 games at left tackle for Ohio state in 2023-2024. Hasn’t played right tackle since 2022.

I stand corrected.

 

[Give Kraft A Hand]

I mean, I get what you’re saying but we’ve heard over and over that culture is VERY important to vrabel. Also, judging draft prospects character and fit is a standard part of the process for every team. How important is football and winning to him vs collecting a paycheck? How do they respond to hard coaching?

He’s also 22 years old. He might not be the guy here and I’m sure Vrabel used his connections to OSU to do some homework, but people can mature.

 

[Real fan 02]

The Pats should be drafting a Left Tackle in the first round of the draft this year... There is a lot of push back about using the fourth spot in the draft on a LT... the two best candidates are Will Campbell and Josh Simmons... We've all see the combine measurables for Campbell and his arm length has given a lot of people pause... 32 5/8 arms... the best guy in the draft at LT, Josh Simmons, unfortunately, is rehabbing a patellar tendon injury after having surgery last season...

The ideal scenario would be to trade back, amass extra picks/future picks for the 4... The best value in that scenario will happen if one of the two QBs (Ward/Sanders) is still available at 4... the 4 position gives teams looking for a signal caller the opportunity to jump in front of the Braiders & Jete... Or the best best case scenario, the Braiders move up from 6 to prevent getting jumped by the jete... well the what ifs can go on for days, so enough of that...

If that the case, and we are able to move back, does taking Will Campbell become more palatable? I'm sure it does... and if you are really willing to gamble, wait to 38? and take Simmons if(?) hes still available... I question the 38th selection because its possible that we garner an additional late round first in the trade back... using a pick like that on Simmons is a no brainer to me...

So If its Simmons or Campbell. do we need a vet to start the season at LT? If so the best two candidates are:

Cam Robinson, Minnesota...6'6", 335, 29 years old, will be 30 in October... 10 year vet who has played a full season twice in his NFL career... Greg Bedard theorizes he has not been signed because he is asking too much... Has played for the Jaguars and the Vikings... in 2024 he was traded from the Jags to the Vikings... Thats got to be a low point for him, considering just two years prior he was franchise tagged by the Jags... Doug Marrone, our new OL coach knows this guy, and it gives me pause that considering that relationship, we have not brought him in... nflpenalties.com says he committed 9 penalties last year in 10 games in Minnesota, and 13 total ... The 9 in Minny - 2 holding, 5 false starts, 2 Illegal formation ... so, the majority of the false start penalties came in Minnesota, so it looks like he had a bit of trouble adjusting to the change... not much of a fan, but PFF grades him out as 56/141 at the tackle position... is a better pass blocker than run blocker per them...

Jedrick Wills, Cleveland... 6'4", 307, 25 years old, will be 26 in May... 5 year veteran, has played one full season in his career... has played for the Browns, so Vrabel should at least have a passing familiarity with him... has not played a ton of games recently due to injury concerns... has had issues with the Browns management, leading him the make "a business decision" regarding his return to action last year... not sure if that is contract related or not... but it does give me pause... is this dude a malcontent? He played 5 games in 2024... had 5 penalties per nflpenalties.com, with three false starts accepted... pff grades him out 109/141 and like robinson, is better at pass pro vs run blocking per them... Here's the thing about Wills - he has experience at RT as well... If we get a rookie LT who eventually takes over that spot in the year, we might be able to slide him into the RT position moving forward... Moses did sign a three year deal, but at 34 years old, him finishing out that deal is iffy at best... Wills might be a smart play here...

Other Guys to consider, or at least think about/kick the tires on:

Joe Noteboom: former LT of the Rams... replaced by Alaric Jackson... remember that name? ... had been hurt the past few years... knee & ankle injuries... lost his job to an udfa... of the three guys listed here, I would consider this move... send a scout team to run him through his paces...

David Bakhtiari: has been an all pro tackle, but that was a long time ago... Has not played in a few years due to knee surgeries/clean ups... this would be a very high risk signing, and I think we'd see Lowe back in the starting role by week 3 at the very latest... Recommendation? Stay away.

Tyron Smith: add him, and we have the jete's bookends from last year... he is 35 years old, has had better days... Ostensibly he is the most well rounded blocker available in free agency... but, he only played 10 games last year... wound up on the IR with a neck injury... sign him and you are just throwing your money away with a future injury settlement...

Seems like the common denominator is availability with LTs.. I've started to lean more on taking Campbell in the draft. Any way you slice it.. it's a given we need a OT.. verderian lowe Seems to be the winner thus far in this.

 

[Real fan 02]

Like you said, without an OL nothing else works. It's our Achilles heal. Right now defensive coordinators only have to focus on Maye.

As currently constructed.. teams can get to Drake rushing 4!

 

[Headcase]

Im wondering what it would cost to go from 38 to 24? In this scenario we’d really need to ensure connerly or ersery imo

38 and 69 is about 25points in Minn's favor (that 25 points equals a 6th)

 

[Pape]

As currently constructed.. teams can get to Drake rushing 4!

either that or the line is backing us up... 41 penalties by the OLine last year...

 

[Huckleberry1]

Unless they get a haul for #4, LT is the pick. Arm length is overblown according to Scar.

No absolutes: A lesson on o-line arm length with Dante Scarnecchia

Are Will Campbell's undersized arms a red flag? Phil Perry turned to coaching legend Dante Scarnecchia for an in-depth breakdown of arm length and its imapct.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

They won’t get a haul for 4 because there isn’t anyone that teams are desperate to go up and get. More likely is that a team will want a small move up for a targeted player of need, and they will get a 2nd in return. They can make that move, still get their tackle, and then use that extra 2nd to move back into the first for either an OL or a WR.

 

[Pape]

They won’t get a haul for 4 because there isn’t anyone that teams are desperate to go up and get. More likely is that a team will want a small move up for a targeted player of need, and they will get a 2nd in return. They can make that move, still get their tackle, and then use that extra 2nd to move back into the first for either an OL or a WR.

Unless carter or hunter are there... its possible that one or the other might be available if the two qbs go within the first three picks... and less likely, but possible if one of the two qbs, most likely sanders, is there... then you might see a team try to move up... I don't think the jete are going to be doing that... just have a gut feeling they have entered tank mode already and are looking to get a shot at arch manning in next years draft

teams that need QBs include TEN, NYG, CLE, NYJ, LVR, IND, PIT... all it will take is one team willing to jump the line... Sanders is intriguing because it looks like he is being set up for a fall in the draft... If Papa Deion can help exercise those demons on his pro-day, we might be sitting in a pretty sweet spot... but i do realize that those are a lot of ifs and maybe's...

 

[bakes781]

I am in Cleveland and have watched Jedrick Wills for 5 years. He is exactly the kind of player than Vrabel will stay far away from.

That's disappointing

 

[mgteich]

He’s not worth signing.

Unless carter or hunter are there... its possible that one or the other might be available if the two qbs go within the first three picks... and less likely, but possible if one of the two qbs, most likely sanders, is there... then you might see a team try to move up... I don't think the jete are going to be doing that... just have a gut feeling they have entered tank mode already and are looking to get a shot at arch manning in next years draft

teams that need QBs include TEN, NYG, CLE, NYJ, LVR, IND, PIT... all it will take is one team willing to jump the line... Sanders is intriguing because it looks like he is being set up for a fall in the draft... If Papa Deion can help exercise those demons on his pro-day, we might be sitting in a pretty sweet spot... but i do realize that those are a lot of ifs and maybe's...

Is your argument that teams won’t give much to trade up for Carter?