Investing in the OL

[bakes781]

Onwenu, Strange, Andrews, Sow, Mafi (RFA), Wallace, Robinson, Campbell, Wilson, Bryant, Lomu, and Crownover are all still in the NFL. If you are looking to draft guys that remain in the NFL that is a 71% hit rate. That is a lot of **** sticking to the wall.

**** is still **** though lol

 

[mayoclinic]

Cole Strange had fabulous athleticism, and was well worth a reach - but not at 29. In the late 2nd round would have been reasonable, like "reaching" for Seabass in 2009.

 

[DaBruinz]

My view on this is quite simple as it relates to the draft.

1. If we draft a first round OL next year I will get murderous.

2. Unless they're Quenton Nelson good. I could handle Grey Zabel good.

3. At any other point in the draft, so long as they're clear BPA I could live with it.

4. You can find starting guards in the 3rd - 4th round most years. Remember Joe Thuney, Shaq Mason and Jared Wilson (hopefully).

5. Please take a look at our defensive depth on a depth chart and tell me that shouldn't be the focus for this team next year.

So people have perspective as to what you're referring to:

2026 Depth chart: ( 2026 UDFA or picks beyond 4th round are in Red)
D-Line:
Barmore, Wlliams, Farmer, Gregory, Blay, Shaw

Edge:
Landry, Jones, Ponder, Jacas, Swinson, Holmes

LB:
Spillane, Obiazor, Jacobs, Hutchins

CB:
Gonzalez, Davis, Jones, Dial, Prunty, Harris, Canada

S:
Woodson, Manuma

Free Agents: (taken from OvertheCap)

D-line (3):
Durden (RFA), Taylor (RFA), Pharms (RFA)

Edge: (1)
Jesse Luketa

LB: (5)
Elliss, Britt, Muma, Gainer (ERFA), Reese (RFA)

CB: (4)
Charles Woods (RFA), Kindle Vildor, Kobee Minor(ERFA) , Brandon Crossley (ERFA)

S: (4)
Pettus (RFA), Byard, Mike Brown, Saunders (ERFA)


The ones in Red are obviously fighting for a spot and aren't guaranteed anything.

Obviously, this chart will change by the end of the season. Players like Gregory, Swinson and Dial are by no means certain to make this year's 5. Players listed as RFA/ERFA who are cut at the end of Training camp become SFA unless they are re-signed to the 53. Players will get extensions. We could Landry or Davis cut at the end of 2026. i think that Davis is less likely to be cut unless Prunty really wows during the season than Landry, but stranger things have happened.

 

[DaBruinz]

**** is still **** though lol

They clearly aren't all . Otherwise, they'd be like Stueber, Hines, Woodard, and Will Sherman and working at some other job like the rest of us schlubs.

 

[JoeSixPat]

This is true of interior OL positions but for OT, you're picking those tackles not deemed good enough to go in the first half of the draft. That may sound obvious but it is an important distinction. Because of the value placed on tackles, any tackle deemed quality starter level would almost certainly go top 15. After that, you're looking at prospects with significant question marks or projections, even if they're judged as 'can start'.

But you've got a MUCH better chance drafting OL than you do for pretty much any other position - even into the 2nd round, as there's a lot of teams that reach for need at skill positions.

Even if you do have to pay top dollar to get or retain a pro bowl LT, that makes sense for such an important position, but if one can develop a late 1st round pick to be a starter, that's a lot of FA savings there too

When you look at those other positions, the ability to put that $ towards them to find sure fire starter/pro-bowl caliber players is money better spent on outfitting a free agent OL

 

[Zuma]

I'm also a huge (knucklehead) believer in prioritizing the OL every draft but we are so depleted at ILB that I'm good with rounds 1 and 2 (if the value is there) in the 2027 draft at ILB. Make it a strength...not a weakness.

 

[mgteich]

My view on this is quite simple as it relates to the draft.

1. If we draft a first round OL next year I will get murderous.

As in 2026, I wouldn't be surprised if we draft an OG at anywhere between 28 and 55.

Didn't you believe that there were a couple of OG's in the 2026 draft that we might have drafted at 28 if there were no EDGE or OT worth tour pick.

Vrabel will need to decide whether to extend Onwenu, sign a top FA guard or commit himself to the hope that a pick in the last 50's will be ready to start for us.

 

[JoeSixPat]

As in 2026, I wouldn't be surprised if we draft an OG at anywhere between 28 and 55.

Didn't you believe that there were a couple of OG's in the 2026 draft that we might have drafted at 28 if there were no EDGE or OT worth tour pick.

Vrabel will need to decide whether to extend Onwenu, sign a top FA guard or commit himself to the hope that a pick in the last 50's will be ready to start for us.

Onwenu is a good case in point. I'm not knocking the guy but is he worth $25 million next season?

And if you can find a 4 year upgrade on a rookie contract, that's efficient cap management at a time that we're approaching Maye's extension.

That being said, I could see them going D in the 1st round and OL in the 2nd and later as hopefully 2027 is deeper at OL than this season where we all thought there wasn't 2nd round caliber talent and we were right.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I'm also a huge (knucklehead) believer in prioritizing the OL every draft but we are so depleted at ILB that I'm good with rounds 1 and 2 (if the value is there) in the 2027 draft at ILB. Make it a strength...not a weakness.

Yeah I think I'm with you next year, hoping there's more value in the 2nd round next year.

But again, compare Onwenu at $25 million (and higher for other OLs) with the higher paid ILBs out there in free agency and it's more cost effective to draft your OL and add a LB in free agecy

 

[manxman2601]

As in 2026, I wouldn't be surprised if we draft an OG at anywhere between 28 and 55.

Didn't you believe that there were a couple of OG's in the 2026 draft that we might have drafted at 28 if there were no EDGE or OT worth tour pick.

Vrabel will need to decide whether to extend Onwenu, sign a top FA guard or commit himself to the hope that a pick in the last 50's will be ready to start for us.

I'd have been fine with Keylan Rutledge at 31 but I had others ahead of him. Bear in mind thought that Emmanuel Pregnon, who had been getting early 2nd round love lasted to pick 88. Starter capable guards can be found later in the draft and don't need to be picked in the first. That's for the truly exceptional interior OL.

 

[mayoclinic]

Starter capable guards can be found later in the draft and don't need to be picked in the first. That's for the truly exceptional interior OL.

I'm greedy. I want a "truly exceptional interior OL", and I don't want to use our 2027 1st round pick on him. I'm betting we can get a Quinn Meinerz/Joe Thuney level talent on day 2, if we don't get lucky again in FA.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Yeah I think I'm with you next year, hoping there's more value in the 2nd round next year.

But again, compare Onwenu at $25 million (and higher for other OLs) with the higher paid ILBs out there in free agency and it's more cost effective to draft your OL and add a LB in free agency.

I agree. Don't forget that if we trade for Brown, we will not have a 1st, or not have a 2nd, round pick next year.

 

[mgteich]

Yeah I think I'm with you next year, hoping there's more value in the 2nd round next year.

But again, compare Onwenu at $25 million (and higher for other OLs) with the higher paid ILBs out there in free agency and it's more cost effective to draft your OL and add a LB in free agecy

We decided that Onwenu was worth $17.5M for his 2026 services. Maybe his price for 2027 will be $25M, maybe not.

But I agree with all of you. If you all can get Thuney-quality talent with our 2nd or 3rd, go for it! Just realize that if we choose not to sign a free agent OL (Onwenu or another), then we will have created a major hole at OG.

My suspicion is that we will pay up for a free agent LG and move AVT to RG. Of course, extending Onwenu might be a reasonable option.

 

[mayoclinic]

My suspicion is that we will pay up for a free agent LG and move AVT to RG.

Do you have anyone in mind? I've suggested Ikem Ekwonu. There's not a ton of options right now.

2027 Offensive Linemen Free Agents

Tracking the status and signings of all 2027 Offensive Linemen free agents, including total value, average and guarantees.

www.spotrac.com

 

[DaBruinz]

Onwenu is a good case in point. I'm not knocking the guy but is he worth $25 million next season?

And if you can find a 4 year upgrade on a rookie contract, that's efficient cap management at a time that we're approaching Maye's extension.

That being said, I could see them going D in the 1st round and OL in the 2nd and later as hopefully 2027 is deeper at OL than this season where we all thought there wasn't 2nd round caliber talent and we were right.

Onwenu isn't being PAID $25M next season, That's his cap hit. Big difference.

And YES, as a Top 5 OG, he's worth it.

 

[mayoclinic]

Onwenu a top 5 OG? LOL.

 

[DaBruinz]

Onwenu a top 5 OG? LOL.

He actually returned to the form that got him the top 3 Guard contract. I actually showed the stats that support this back when people were yapping during Free Agency.

 

[manxman2601]

Onwenu a top 5 OG? LOL.

4th best pass blocker according to PFF last year. 14th best run blocker.

 

[mayoclinic]

I can think of a dozen OGs I'd rather have.

Not dissing Onwenu, he had a good year last year. But he's limited in what he can do and what he alliws the OL to do as a unit.