I think the depth expectations for OL seem unrealistic.

[Joey007]

It seems like OL depth has forever been a topic people want to scrutinize down to the bone regardless of the season.

This is the first time in quite a few years where the starting 5 feels clear. This is a really good thing. But the hand wringing now has shifted towards why the depth isn’t 3 deep on the interior/exterior.

We right now on the interior have one clear capable starter that can come off the bench in Van Roten. After that, it may depend on the health of Ben Brown and what version of him that we get.

At tackle, IF Marcus Bryant is healthy, I like what I’ve seen enough from him to be fine enough in a spot start situation. Plus Lomu is there, I don’t feel great about him playing now but he may prove to be more capable as the season goes along.

So that’s 2-4 depth options that feel like that can feasibly work. Would I like to have Philly’s line and have even more? Absolutely. But the reality is this is about as good of a depth situation as you’ll have compared to most situations in the league.

Most teams don’t have much starting caliber talent past their starting 5 right now. Many don’t even have a good starting 5. Go look at the Chargers and Commanders right now.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I have no idea how this is even a topic among media and posters when the starting 5 are mediocre at best.

 

[Joey007]

I have no idea how this is even a topic among media and posters when the starting 5 are mediocre at best.

Problem is we don’t have enough data on Campbell/Wilson to be conclusive. Need to see how Campbell looks healthy this year at LT and need to see how Wilson really looks at center. Obviously Campbell not getting better is the main concern.

I have no issue with saying the other 3 starters are quality when healthy.

 

[Clonamery]

It seems like OL depth has forever been a topic people want to scrutinize down to the bone regardless of the season.

This is the first time in quite a few years where the starting 5 feels clear. This is a really good thing. But the hand wringing now has shifted towards why the depth isn’t 3 deep on the interior/exterior.

We right now on the interior have one clear capable starter that can come off the bench in Van Roten. After that, it may depend on the health of Ben Brown and what version of him that we get.

At tackle, IF Marcus Bryant is healthy, I like what I’ve seen enough from him to be fine enough in a spot start situation. Plus Lomu is there, I don’t feel great about him playing now but he may prove to be more capable as the season goes along.

So that’s 2-4 depth options that feel like that can feasibly work. Would I like to have Philly’s line and have even more? Absolutely. But the reality is this is about as good of a depth situation as you’ll have compared to most situations in the league.

Most teams don’t have much starting caliber talent past their starting 5 right now. Many don’t even have a good starting 5. Go look at the Chargers and Commanders right now.

Bucs, Cowboys and Eagles among NFL's top offensive lines: A tiered look at big men up front of all 32 teams

Defenses are still finding ways to make the protection scheme of the offensive lines harder, but there aren't a ton of outright atrocious units. Even some teams that might be outright bad this year have a young, talented group of blockers.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Joey007]

Bucs, Cowboys and Eagles among NFL's top offensive lines: A tiered look at big men up front of all 32 teams

Defenses are still finding ways to make the protection scheme of the offensive lines harder, but there aren't a ton of outright atrocious units. Even some teams that might be outright bad this year have a young, talented group of blockers.

sports.yahoo.com

I don’t see that tier he listed above it being any better or worse than ours. All of them have strong spots with question marks.

Again, what Campbell and Wilson end up being in year 2 will greatly make a variance in what this line will be. It does have a low floor if certain things happen, but I think people are too hung up on what happened last January.

 

[Uptown]

I think we’ll be fine in pass protection. The real concern will be if we’re able to run efficiently & effectively; especially when we need to.

 

[rkarp1]

the OL depth issue really comes down to potential vs readiness.
Lomu, Bryant and Crownover might be good to very good OL in time, but really none have played an NFL snap
Van Roten is the oldest player on the team. Brown is injured
if the team carries 10 OL, that's your depth

 

[VrabelJr]

I have no idea how this is even a topic among media and posters when the starting 5 are mediocre at best.

we need a sophomore jump from Campbell and Wilson and AVT to be healthy all year just be a top 12 OL. If that doesn’t happen we’re somewhere around bottom 20-24.

 

[Clonamery]

I don’t see that tier he listed above it being any better or worse than ours. All of them have strong spots with question marks.

Again, what Campbell and Wilson end up being in year 2 will greatly make a variance in what this line will be. It does have a low floor if certain things happen, but I think people are too hung up on what happened last January.

Variance, cool word.

Lets have fun Thursday night watching the variance of the backups to the starters.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Obviously Campbell not getting better is the main concern.

Reports on him are all over the place. One day he looks "stronger". The next day he's getting "walked back" by Jacas. Another day is that his technique is "night and day" from his rookie season. Then he struggles again.

The media can’t pick a side. Opening night will tell us a lot.

 

[mgteich]

the OL depth issue really comes down to potential vs readiness.
Lomu, Bryant and Crownover might be good to very good OL in time, but really none have played an NFL snap
Van Roten is the oldest player on the team. Brown is injured
if the team carries 10 OL, that's your depth

For me, the issue is the starting line, getting better from worst (2024) to way below average (2025) to HOPEFULLY near average this year. We have prospects for 2027 in Crownover and Bryant. However, we need more serious help with the situations with the need to replace Moses and van Roten in addition to replacing or extending Onwenu.

I don't think that our depth is a huge issue. For me, the acquisition of van Roten was a huge step forward. We have a core 7 OL's that is much better than last year.

FIRST OFF THE BENCH
1) an NFL starter who started every game last season (van Roten)
2) our 1st round draft pick (Lomu)

BOTTOM OF THE ROSTER
3) a season JAG veteran who has started for us (Brown)
4) a backup who was active for almost all games last year (Bryant)

PRACTICE SQUAD
5) one each at C, G/T, and T and that should be adequate (Rizy, Conley, Crownover)

 

[Joey007]

the OL depth issue really comes down to potential vs readiness.
Lomu, Bryant and Crownover might be good to very good OL in time, but really none have played an NFL snap
Van Roten is the oldest player on the team. Brown is injured
if the team carries 10 OL, that's your depth

Agree on Lomu, Crownover. But Bryant seems like he’s already developing a bit.

Van Roten still performed pretty well last year. Brown is injured, but doesn’t sound long term.

 

[Joey007]

Reports on him are all over the place. One day he looks "stronger". The next day he's getting "walked back" by Jacas. Another day is that his technique is "night and day" from his rookie season. Then he struggles again.

The media can’t pick a side. Opening night will tell us a lot.

yeah, I’m waiting for in game action before I judge how he’s doing. May even give him a pass during that Seattle game.

 

[Joey007]

we need a sophomore jump from Campbell and Wilson and AVT to be healthy all year just be a top 12 OL. If that doesn’t happen we’re somewhere around bottom 20-24.

I think Van Roten affords us to allow AVT to miss shorter time periods if needed. Just need him most of the year.

 

[Zuma]

Draft OL early again in 2027

 

[mgteich]

Draft OL early again in 2027

That will likely be the case, certainly if we don't extend Onwenu.

 

[JoeSixPat]

It seems like OL depth has forever been a topic people want to scrutinize down to the bone regardless of the season.

This is the first time in quite a few years where the starting 5 feels clear. This is a really good thing. But the hand wringing now has shifted towards why the depth isn’t 3 deep on the interior/exterior.

We right now on the interior have one clear capable starter that can come off the bench in Van Roten. After that, it may depend on the health of Ben Brown and what version of him that we get.

At tackle, IF Marcus Bryant is healthy, I like what I’ve seen enough from him to be fine enough in a spot start situation. Plus Lomu is there, I don’t feel great about him playing now but he may prove to be more capable as the season goes along.

So that’s 2-4 depth options that feel like that can feasibly work. Would I like to have Philly’s line and have even more? Absolutely. But the reality is this is about as good of a depth situation as you’ll have compared to most situations in the league.

Most teams don’t have much starting caliber talent past their starting 5 right now. Many don’t even have a good starting 5. Go look at the Chargers and Commanders right now.

I look at it this way

A few years ago our OL was older and somewhat pathetic

Today we have some young upcoming guys with great upside as well as some decent veterans who we hope stay healthy like AVT - as Moses already showed he's a stalwart not missing a game last year!

Our LT is one year removed from his rookie season as is our center. Having a better LG next to Campbell will make him more effective - though we've already seen stretches when he played like one expects from a top draft pick.

I'm still iffy on Wilson (if you liked him at LG you're going to love him at C) but clearly he didn't adapt in the move from his natural position so let's hope we get more out of him. We focus on LT but the C is the anchor.

So all in all we've got a MUCH better OL now - depth is depth - guys not good enough to start but who you hope can get better if and when they're the next man up. We shall see.

 

[mgteich]

I look at it this way

A few years ago our OL was older and somewhat pathetic

Today we have some young upcoming guys with great upside as well as some decent veterans who we hope stay healthy like AVT - as Moses already showed he's a stalwart not missing a game last year!

Our LT is one year removed from his rookie season as is our center. Having a better LG next to Campbell will make him more effective - though we've already seen stretches when he played like one expects from a top draft pick.

I'm still iffy on Wilson (if you liked him at LG you're going to love him at C) but clearly he didn't adapt in the move from his natural position so let's hope we get more out of him. We focus on LT but the C is the anchor.

So all in all we've got a MUCH better OL now - depth is depth - guys not good enough to start but who you hope can get better if and when they're the next man up. We shall see.

Not good enough to start: Van Roten and Lomu!!

I guess the bar moves when your OL improves.

 

[Wozzy]

We need an update on Bryant to know where depth stands. If healthy the backups are fine and the starters should be better than a year ago where they were middling and inexperienced with two rookies starting on the left side. This year the starters should jump from average to top third of the league. They need to stay healthy, that describes all 32 teams.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I admit I haven't been following this closely, but IMO the top offseason priority was the O-Line, especially Maye's blindside.

I know this is heretical, but the SB was virtually unwatchable at times...that's coming from a guy who's going into his 53rd season as a Pats fan... the left side was a turnstile.

I was at the beginning and have consistently remained skeptical about giving up so much for AJ Brown (a great Receiver!!!)...even if he's still got a couple of seasons at an elite++ level, what's the point if Drake's running for his life or on his butt?