Set at LT, LG and C

[mgteich]

We entered the offseason with this left side of the OL being our #1 weakness.

THEN WAS THEN, NOW IS NOW
1) Very, very good OL coaches
2) Campbell, our now and future LT
3) Wilson, our now and future LG/C
4) Brown, our now and future LG/C [He is an RFA, to be extended or re-signed]
5) Bradbury, arguably our best performing OL (certainly a very solid starter). He should be at least a backup in 2026.
6) In Bryant, it seems that we have a backup LT and swing OT

WOW!

7) and yes, for now, we are OK on the right side with Onwenu and Moses.
8) I suppose that I should mention our #9 OL Wallace, who could have some value in the future. The team seems to have hope or he wouldn't be on the 53.

 

[BTTA]

Does center really feel settled? If so that's huge for the next off-season and draft.

 

[mgteich]

Does center really feel settled? If so that's huge for the next off-season and draft.

I think that we have THREE starting centers for 2026: Bradbury, Brown and Wilson.

 

[mgteich]

I would note that we have Onwenu under contract for basically $17.5M. We cut him and owe no new money. Or, we could trade him for a 6th.

CHOICES
Play Onwenu for $17.5M for one year.
Extend Onwenu {BTW, he'll be 28 in December.
Wait and sign one of the best RG's available and move on from Onwenu.

My guess is that we will extend him. Of course, that depends on the assessment of his play by the coaches.

BTW, Moses may be old to us, but the team expects him to play through 2026. $4.5M of his 2026 salary is guaranteed. At very least, he would be a good veteran backup and mentor. As of now, RT is high 2026 priority. However, they may see Bryant winning that spot or at least being a backup under Moses for another year.

 

[signbabybrady]

Campbell and Wilson alone give us a foundation to build on.

Onwenwu is what he is. I don't think he's a pro bowler but he's a pretty solid starting linemen. A little over paid but maybe that allows us to renegotiate this off-season and get another spot locked up long term.

Bradbury isn't young but he isn't old either. I am pleasantly surprised that he is better than I thought. Probably our 3rd best lineman maybe even 2 ahead of Wilson (Campbell is already 1).

Moses also has been a pleasant surprise but we quickly knew that in OTAs even. Oddly enough his play on the field probably makes him out 5th best linemen but still he's played through injury and been solid. Unfortunately he is kind of getting up their. But he's a tough bastard and depending how the year goes I wouldn't hate it if he's our startr again next year.

It would be ideal to have all 5 be young studs on the rise but this is very good mix of talent young and old.

After that all bets are off. Yes Brown filled in nicely and has some versatility. And for a young kid and a late round pick Bryant seems intriguing but I'm still not sold on any of them.

It could make things a little tricky next off-season as we will want to improve the depth but we might not have the starter reps to offer a free agent. We'll have other needs to use our high picks on. So we'll have to nail another mid round pick or 2 to really round out the group.

 

[mgteich]

Campbell and Wilson alone give us a foundation to build on.

Onwenwu is what he is. I don't think he's a pro bowler but he's a pretty solid starting linemen. A little over paid but maybe that allows us to renegotiate this off-season and get another spot locked up long term.

Bradbury isn't young but he isn't old either. I am pleasantly surprised that he is better than I thought. Probably our 3rd best lineman maybe even 2 ahead of Wilson (Campbell is already 1).

Moses also has been a pleasant surprise but we quickly knew that in OTAs even. Oddly enough his play on the field probably makes him out 5th best linemen but still he's played through injury and been solid. Unfortunately he is kind of getting up their. But he's a tough bastard and depending how the year goes I wouldn't hate it if he's our startr again next year.

It would be ideal to have all 5 be young studs on the rise but this is very good mix of talent young and old.

After that all bets are off. Yes Brown filled in nicely and has some versatility. And for a young kid and a late round pick Bryant seems intriguing but I'm still not sold on any of them.

It could make things a little tricky next off-season as we will want to improve the depth but we might not have the starter reps to offer a free agent. We'll have other needs to use our high picks on. So we'll have to nail another mid round pick or 2 to really round out the group.

Isn't it truly amazing that you are saying that we probably having a starting 5 for next year, so no free agent that we sign is likely to get any starting reps. Of course, we might draft someone who might be able to start. Isn't it great to have Brown and Bryant as 2026 backups (and perhaps even Wallace).

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Isn't it truly amazing that you are saying that we probably having a starting 5 for next year, so no free agent that we sign is likely to get any starting reps. Of course, we might draft someone who might be able to start. Isn't it great to have Brown and Bryant as 2026 backups (and perhaps even Wallace).

Every NFL team is looking to improve, at every position if possible. Outside of Campbell at LT and Wilson at LG/C, we very easily could turn over the other 3 spots if the opportunity arises. Whether that be a guy available in the draft that improves a position, or a FA that makes sense.
That said, the line today looks pretty good, and assuming no major drop-off, we would be fine going into next year with the same starting 5.
And of course a QB who evolves into a top tier franchise guy makes every line better.
Several fans seem to think we had incredible talented Olines during Brady's tenure, and that just simply was not the case many years. His presnap recognition and quick decision/release made some of our lines look much better than they were. If Maye continues to ascend, a good line is good enough, and our line certainly looks to be good enough so far.

 

[farn]

If Campbell and Wilson ascend, that will be a huge win for the 2025 class. I think the team should continue to look T ways to improve the OL going forward.

 

[mgteich]

Every NFL team is looking to improve, at every position if possible. Outside of Campbell at LT and Wilson at LG/C, we very easily could turn over the other 3 spots if the opportunity arises. Whether that be a guy available in the draft that improves a position, or a FA that makes sense.
That said, the line today looks pretty good, and assuming no major drop-off, we would be fine going into next year with the same starting 5.
And of course a QB who evolves into a top tier franchise guy makes every line better.
Several fans seem to think we had incredible talented Olines during Brady's tenure, and that just simply was not the case many years. His presnap recognition and quick decision/release made some of our lines look much better than they were. If Maye continues to ascend, a good line is good enough, and our line certainly looks to be good enough so far.

Yes, we can always improve.
===========
It is a matter of priorities and opportunities (taken and missed).

We likely have a starting OL for 2026 plus a couple of backups and will draft at least one youngster.

Sure, we might have a choice of signing a $15M a year RG or a $15M OLB. Which do you think we would sign if player quality, contract terms age are equal?
================
We'll sign many additions and replacements. We COULD spend a lot a new starting OL, but it won't happen. OL's in the off-season cost a lot, as they should. We COULD use a top draft choice for an IOL. I'm all for BPA at a needed position, but I also doubt this, especially since I expect Onwenu be already extended.

 

[Ross12]

I would note that we have Onwenu under contract for basically $17.5M. We cut him and owe no new money. Or, we could trade him for a 6th.

CHOICES
Play Onwenu for $17.5M for one year.
Extend Onwenu {BTW, he'll be 28 in December.
Wait and sign one of the best RG's available and move on from Onwenu.

My guess is that we will extend him. Of course, that depends on the assessment of his play by the coaches.

BTW, Moses may be old to us, but the team expects him to play through 2026. $4.5M of his 2026 salary is guaranteed. At very least, he would be a good veteran backup and mentor. As of now, RT is high 2026 priority. However, they may see Bryant winning that spot or at least being a backup under Moses for another year.

You could convert that same salary into a new signing bonus, plus a little extra, and add a few years on. The last years would be non-guaranteed still, so it would like a 2 or 3 year add-on - basically, keeping him around until they have a replacement. I think they’d prefer to keep him a little longer and find a new RT first.

 

[Brick27]

Okay and with saying extending Onwenu as being most likely, what do you suggest as rough ballpark terms of the deal?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Yes, we can always improve.
===========
It is a matter of priorities and opportunities (taken and missed).

We likely have a starting OL for 2026 plus a couple of backups and will draft at least one youngster.

Sure, we might have a choice of signing a $15M a year RG or a $15M OLB. Which do you think we would sign if player quality, contract terms age are equal?
================
We'll sign many additions and replacements. We COULD spend a lot a new starting OL, but it won't happen. OL's in the off-season cost a lot, as they should. We COULD use a top draft choice for an IOL. I'm all for BPA at a needed position, but I also doubt this, especially since I expect Onwenu be already extended.

Of course we will have certain positions prioritized over others.
All I'm saying is Vrabs might be fine running out the same starting 5 next year.....but then we get to the draft and a RT or IOL they have rated really high somehow makes it to a pick you weren't expecting him to make it to. Good teams jump on those opportunities, as they should.
I would be fine with the same 5 next year, they have looked really good for the most part, but the possibility of a couple new starters on the line next year is definitely a possibility.

 

[mgteich]

You could convert that same salary into a new signing bonus, plus a little extra, and add a few years on. The last years would be non-guaranteed still, so it would like a 2 or 3 year add-on - basically, keeping him around until they have a replacement. I think they’d prefer to keep him a little longer and find a new RT first.

The devil is in the details.
You want Onwenu to take a "little extra".
You want him to agree to two guaranteed years at a set price.
=======
The issue is how much extra and the details of the Year 2 and Year 3 contracts. If I were his agent, at very least I would want an option to be exercised before free agency starts.

 

[Ross12]

The devil is in the details.
You want Onwenu to take a "little extra".
You want him to agree to two guaranteed years at a set price.
=======
The issue is how much extra and the details of the Year 2 and Year 3 contracts. If I were his agent, at very least I would want an option to be exercised before free agency starts.

His market won’t be nearly as robust as it was last time. There were zero tackles available and he’s a solid RT himself so he made out well.

Perhaps Onwenu himself can man the RT position next year and a year or two after. Generally speaking, finding a starting caliber right guard is typically easier than a starting right tackle.

 

[signbabybrady]

Isn't it truly amazing that you are saying that we probably having a starting 5 for next year, so no free agent that we sign is likely to get any starting reps. Of course, we might draft someone who might be able to start. Isn't it great to have Brown and Bryant as 2026 backups (and perhaps even Wallace).

Every NFL team is looking to improve, at every position if possible. Outside of Campbell at LT and Wilson at LG/C, we very easily could turn over the other 3 spots if the opportunity arises. Whether that be a guy available in the draft that improves a position, or a FA that makes sense.
That said, the line today looks pretty good, and assuming no major drop-off, we would be fine going into next year with the same starting 5.
And of course a QB who evolves into a top tier franchise guy makes every line better.
Several fans seem to think we had incredible talented Olines during Brady's tenure, and that just simply was not the case many years. His presnap recognition and quick decision/release made some of our lines look much better than they were. If Maye continues to ascend, a good line is good enough, and our line certainly looks to be good enough so far.

I certainly didn't mean to imply that we can't improve and that we shouldn't try. We have a very good line but by no means is it perfect (hopefully it's still improving too as they get more cohesive). I'm not trying to over rate or anything it's obviously not the greatest unit put together.

But we've also seen that it's not easy to find good linemen on the market each team tends to hord them. And I think individually they've each earned their spots and if this lasts all year I think they deserve first crack at starting again next year even if it might mean pushing off a long term solution at one spot or another (the youth we have in Campbell and Wilson should allow for a lot flexibility). Not that we can't try for both too but just trying to respect that I like the 5 we have. And if it holds up like this all year there might not be much better on the free agent market anyway.

I even mentioned drafting someone high next year in another thread as a reasonable thought as building out the lines is always a good idea.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I certainly didn't mean to imply that we can't improve and that we shouldn't try. We have a very good line but by no means is it perfect (hopefully it's still improving too as they get more cohesive). I'm not trying to over rate or anything it's obviously not the greatest unit put together.

But we've also seen that it's not easy to find good linemen on the market each team tends to hord them. And I think individually they've each earned their spots and if this lasts all year I think they deserve first crack at starting again next year even if it might mean pushing off a long term solution at one spot or another (the youth we have in Campbell and Wilson should allow for a lot flexibility). Not that we can't try for both too but just trying to respect that I like the 5 we have. And if it holds up like this all year there might not be much better on the free agent market anyway.

I even mentioned drafting someone high next year in another thread as a reasonable thought as building out the lines is always a good idea.

Bradbury has been the nicest surprise to me.
Every day reading the camp reports it seemed like he was a cut candidate, but he has been incredibly solid.
Campbell and Wilson have been good and will only get better.
Ownenu is a starting OG in this league all day.
Moses is what he is. A solid vet with leadership galore.
I like the way the starting 5 are playing as a unit, and again, would be fine with them being the starting 5 next year assuming they keep up the level of play.
But....could we improve the C and whole right side? Sure we could. I don't think it's a huge need, but as we all know, teams that draft for need year after year are usually the worst teams in the league.

 

[mgteich]

Bradbury has been the nicest surprise to me.
Every day reading the camp reports it seemed like he was a cut candidate, but he has been incredibly solid.
Campbell and Wilson have been good and will only get better.
Ownenu is a starting OG in this league all day.
Moses is what he is. A solid vet with leadership galore.
I like the way the starting 5 are playing as a unit, and again, would be fine with them being the starting 5 next year assuming they keep up the level of play.
But....could we improve the C and whole right side? Sure we could. I don't think it's a huge need, but as we all know, teams that draft for need year after year are usually the worst teams in the league.

I agree.

If we can get another Wilson in the 3rd that could start in 2027, we should jump on it, presuming that there isn't more value when we draft at LB, S, CB or TE (all depending on who we sign in free agency).

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I agree.

If we can get another Wilson in the 3rd that could start in 2027, we should jump on it, oresuming that there isn't more value when we draft at LB, S, CB or TE (all depending on who we sign in free agency).

It's been a long time since we had a really dynamic LB, would luv to have one of those again.
We need a real explosive Edge rusher imho.
Landry is good, but not a "put fear in the opposing O-coordinator" type.
White looks like he's not going to develop into what so many of us thought he would. Still time but I'm losing faith fast.
Chaison may get another contract here.
Will Swinson develop?
The good thing about our roster this year is we look competent in all areas. Not great in all, but competent so we really should be able to draft best available outside of the QB position next draft.

 

[TommyD4207]

Okay and with saying extending Onwenu as being most likely, what do you suggest as rough ballpark terms of the deal?

Why would you extend Onwenu?

 

[n1997y]

Why would you extend Onwenu?

Kick the can down the road.

Reduce urgency of drafting IOL (RG) to let the pick be used on more pressing need.