By: David Buskirk @DBus49

When the Packers drafted Center Corey Linsley out of Ohio State with the fifth round draft pick in 2014 they planned on him being the back-up center. Late in the preseason of 2014 the expected starter JC Tretter, got injured making Linsley the starter his rookie season. After Tretter returned from his injury, Linsley remained the starting Center and ended up starting every game during the regular season as well as the two playoff games. His performance in his rookie season earned him a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team.

In 2015, Linsley started 13 games, missing three to an ankle injury. In 2016, Linsley started the season on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. Tretter started seven games until Linsley was activated off Reserve on November 5. Linsley went on to start every game to end the season. On March 9, 2017 Tretter signed a three-year, $16.75m contract with the Cleveland Browns leaving Linsley as the starting Center on the Aaron Rodgers led Packers team. After starting all 16 games for the Packers in 2017 Linsley signed a three-year, $25.5m contract extension.

Fast forward to 2020, Linsley has started 50 games straight and the Packers are the favorites to win the NFC North division title going into the season. After the Packers went 13-3 they were considered by many to be the favorites to represent the NFC in the superbowl. However, as fate had it they would go on to lose 26-31 against the eventual Superbowl Champions the Tampa Buccaneers in the NFC Championship game. For the great year that Linsley had he was named 2020 First-team All-Pro.

Going into this offseason the Packers have one of the worst cap situations in the league with a projected -13.55m in total space per Spotrac.com. This means that most of their expiring contracts will have to look elsewhere for jobs. After his All-Pro campaign Linsley deserves to get paid like the great center he is. According to PFF he is projected to get a three-year, $33m deal. Here are some potential destinations.

Seattle Seahawks – estimated $14.45m in cap space

Russell Wilson is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. However, 2020 showed that the Seahawks need to do better when it comes to protecting him.

Historically the Seahawks have been able to rely on Wilson to scramble away from pressure, allowing them to spend less money on their offensive line. I personally would worry now that Wilson is getting older that the wear and tear that he’s taken by being sacked 40+ times every year since his rookie year will start to catch up to him sooner rather than later. 

The starting center for the Seahawks in 2020 was Ethan Pocic who is also a free agent this year. Pocic was the 26th ranked Center in 2020 by PFF and is a decent starter, however if you can get an upgrade like Linsley it is worth doing.

Coach Pete Carroll said that he wants to run the ball more in the 2021 season at an end of the season press conference. A big factor of the run game will be upgrading the offensive line. The Seahawks should do what it takes to upgrade the offensive line, even if that means releasing some of the more lucrative contracts.

Los Angeles Chargers – estimated $34.97m in cap space

The Los Angeles Chargers have gone through a coaching change this year, bringing in the Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as their next head coach.

On top of this their left tackle Sam Tevi,  and left guard Forrest Lamp are slated to be free agents as well as Center Mike Pouncey announcing his retirement in February 2021. This means that the offensive line for the Chargers is a top priority. Interestingly in 2020 the Chargers signed veteran right tackle Bryan Bulaga to a three-year, $30m contract.

Linsley and Bulaga were teammates on the Packers for six years. The Chargers organization should do everything in their power to help quarterback Justin Herbert succeed in his career and that begins with fixing the offensive line.

It is very important that the Chargers land Corey Linsley or another veteran offensive lineman this offseason.

Dolphins – estimated $36.63m in cap space

After a 10-6 2020 season for the Dolphins, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey resigned. Running backs coach Eric Studesville, and Tight ends coach George Godsey will serve as co-offensive coordinators in 2021.

In 2020 the Dolphins drafted quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and immediately started working on the offensive line drafting offensive tackles Austin Jackson, and Robert Hunt as well as guard Solomon Kindley.

The dolphins also added guard Ereck Flowers and Center Ted Karras in free agency. This left the offensive line with 5 players who did not have experience with the Dolphins.

Center Karras played decently well for the Dolphins in 2020 ranking as the 17th Center by PFF. He is a free agent in 2021. It is likely that the Dolphins will look to upgrade the position before resigning Karras.. Corey Linsley is the upgrade that would help solidify and mentor their young offensive line. 

Bengals – estimated $45.6m in cap space

The Bengals looked to have an exciting season after drafting quarterback Joe Burrow number one in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The one thing that the Bengals organization failed to do leading up to the season was building their offensive line to protect Burrow. Not having a training camp hurt as well since the Bengals coaching staff didn’t have a clear cut plan on who to start.

Over the course of the season, we saw a lot of switching back and forth on the offensive line, mostly because of injuries but also because of poor play by the guys on the field. 

On January 9th, 2021 offensive line coach Frank Pollack made his return to the Bengals. Pollack previously served as the bengals offensive line coach in 2018 and many of the players who were on the roster then are excited to have him back.

In 2018 the Bengals drafted Center Billy Price out of Ohio State to serve as their long-term center, however since then he has struggled. The question the Bengals coaching staff has to answer is if he is salvageable. If he is not salvageable in their opinion they should go get Corey Linsley, who was born and raised in Ohio and may be welcome to a return home.

My favorite of these options is the Seahawks personally, however, it may be hard for the Seahawks to get the cap to do this move. Regardless I look forward to seeing what’s in store for Linsley’s future.

The post Potential Destinations For Corey Linsley in Free Agency appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: David Buskirk (Twitter: @DBus49)

The New England Patriots have become one of the most iconic teams in NFL history because of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s partnership. However, In 2020, the unthinkable happened. Tom Brady left Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. Belichick was left with whatever was leftover on the quarterback market since he had very little money to spend. After three months on the market, Belichick decided to sign Cam Newton to a one-year deal worth $1.05 million which was the minimum for a player with Newton’s experience.

With Cam Newton as the starter in 2020, the Patriots went 7-9. It was obvious to many that Belichick would need a new quarterback to come 2021. This was not the only issue facing the franchise though, as the receiving group underperformed. Jacoby Meyers led the team in catches, bringing in 59 of his 81 targets for 729 yards. Going forward I believe Meyers can be an excellent Y receiver for the Patriots. Assuming Edelman is back he will be able to control the majority of the snaps in the slot. The Patriots drafted Devin Asiasi at 91 and Dalton Keene at 101 in the 2020 NFL Draft to play tight end. I expect both to play a role in 2021, however, the Patriots may be able to upgrade the position in free agency.

This offseason there are a number of quarterbacks that the Patriots could bring in to start in 2021. The biggest question surrounding the team is whether they are trying to compete or simply trying to develop young players and begin a rebuild for the first time in a long time.

Option One – Sign a Veteran via Free Agency

Ryan Fitzpatrick went 4-3 with 13 touchdowns and 2,091 yards before the Dolphins decided to start Tua Tagovailoa. Andy Dalton went 4-5, while throwing 14 touchdowns and 2,170 yards for the Cowboys after Dak Prescott got injured in week five against the Giants.

Jacoby Brissett has experience with the Patriots and was a Walter Payton Man of the year nominee. Mitch Trubisky struggled most of his career with the Bears, however, showed improvement in 2020. In 2019 he had a 63.2 percent completion rate for 17 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and an 8-7 record.

In 2020 he also had a 67 percent completion rate for 16 touchdowns and 8 interceptions while going 6-3 and got sacked 20 times less than his total in 2019.

With the right coaching staff, Trubisky may be able to resurrect his career.

Option Two – Keep Cam Newton

Cam Newton is a bridge quarterback in my opinion. The argument against bringing Newton back is that they don’t have anyone to bridge to. I would consider bringing Newton back if I had a young player who can learn and develop under him.

Option Three – Draft a Quarterback

The Patriots draft at number 15 in the 2021 NFL Draft. This means that the top options will likely be drafted by the time they are on the board, as long as they don’t trade up.

However, at 15 they may have a chance to get Mac Jones from Alabama. I believe Mac Jones can be a franchise quarterback for the Patriots given the skilled coaching staff and offensive line.

The biggest obstacle for Jones is the NFL will require him to throw into tight windows far more often than he had to in Alabama, so it would be smart to have him develop more before throwing him into a live game. Mac Jones would be a better fit than Newton in Josh McDaniels short passing attack.

Option Four – Trade For a Quarterback

There are a few teams that would likely trade their quarterbacks for one reason or the other. The players that come to mind are Sam Darnold, Gardner Minshew, Marcus Mariota, Carson Wentz, and potentially Jimmy Garoppolo.

The asking price varies, however, if the Patriots go with this option they should not be giving up first-round draft picks. All of these options seem like long shots at this point to ever truly be a franchise quarterback. There was rumors of Belichick being interested in Taysom Hill when he was a restricted free agent in the 2020 offseason. Perhaps, Belichick makes a run at Hill or a different dual-threat QB like Jalen Hurts.

Option Five – Start Jarrett Stidham

Stidham was a fourth-round draft pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and has spent the last two years with Belichick learning under both Brady and Newton. There was speculation going into the 2020 season that Belichick would start Stidham, before signing Newton.

My opinion on what the Patriots should do is draft Mac Jones if he is available. Along with drafting Jones I think they should sign a veteran that can serve as a bridge while Jones is developing.

The best option in my opinion is Jacoby Brissett. Brissett is a great man and a great teammate who would go above and beyond to help Mac Jones reach his potential.

The second option would be to sign Mitch Trubisky to a one year deal and hope he can continue to improve under Belichick. If it doesn’t work out with Trubisky then get in a position to draft a top quarterback next year.

The post Top Five Quarterback Options for the Patriots appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: David Buskirk

In 2021 the league is facing a potential cap drop, and because of this it is likely that there will be more trades and stars on the free agency market than ever before. As of now the Broncos are projected to have $18,550,052 in salary cap according to spotrac.com. 

The Broncos have a few big names slated to become free agents. Justin Simmons, Alexander Johnson and Shelby Harris are the most notable unrestricted free agents. I predict Simmons and Harris to be back in 2021. Tim Patrick and fan favorite Phillip Lindsay are both restricted free agents and I fully expect both to be back via tenders. Von Miller will also be a hot topic since he has got a team option worth $22,225,000, which for even a hall of famer coming off a season ending injury is too much money.

The Broncos on the hot seat include Cornerback AJ Bouye, and Defensive Lineman Jurrell Casey. The Broncos could trade them for late round draft picks or release them to clear $23,151,588 in cap space. This would give them the ability to make some big moves. Here are some of the big names I expect to be on the Broncos radar come this offseason if they are not franchise tagged or resigned by their current team.

When it comes to needs on the Broncos roster, I think about the cornerback, linebacker, and Defensive line positions. At cornerback the Broncos have Bryce Callahan, who was one of the best cornerback in the league in 2020 that plays best in the slot but is versatile and can play on the boundary also. The Broncos also have 2020 3rd round draft pick Michael Ojemudia who struggled in his first season, but showed promise down the stretch. Ojemudia plays best on the outside. Here are some options to help upgrade over AJ Bouye.

1. William Jackson III

Jackson played well in the Bengals backfield earning a 72.4 (22nd ranked) Pass coverage rating among all cornerbacks in 2020. After being drafted in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Houston, he was placed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle and had to undergo season ending surgery. He has proven that he can stay healthy since then and is still only 27 years old. PFF predicts a market value of 13.33m a year for Jackson. Jackson is my favorite cornerback in this year’s free agency class.

2. Shaquill Griffin

Griffin posted a 64.8 (46th ranked) pass coverage rating in 2020 while coming away with 12 pass deflections and three interceptions on the year all the while playing through injuries. Against the Dolphins in week 4 he didn’t allow a single reception all game and has shown high-end play. Griffin is projected to cost about 9.5m a year.

3. Chidobe Awuzie

Awuzie posted a 52 (87th ranked) pass coverage rating in 2020. However in 2019 he came away with a 70.5 coverage rating. The difference between 2019 and 2020 is mostly due to Byron Jones leaving to the Dolphins in 2020 via free agency .Awuzie is best suited as a number 2 corner in my opinion. Awuzie is projected to cost around 9m a year.

At linebacker the Broncos have Josey Jewell expected to come back for his fourth year after proving he is a reliable starter, and Alexander Johnson is slated to become an unrestricted free agent. Since every team needs at least 2 good linebackers the Broncos may look to upgrade at the position. Here are some options currently projected to enter free agency in 2021.

1. Lavonte David

One of the best linebackers of his generation. Lavonte David is still playing at an incredibly high level past the age of 30. In many ways, he has been the archetype for the modern linebacker that counters the league’s shift in offensive philosophy away from smash-mouth football and toward speed and efficiency of his own, in addition to exceptional coverage skills. He is a three time all-pro talent that would be a game changer on defense. David is expected to cost around 13.33m a year according to PFF.

2. Jayon Brown

Brown is an undersized, modern-day linebacker who has earned the 10th-best coverage grade among linebackers in the league via PFF since 2018. He is a good coverage linebacker, but below-average as a run defender. Brown performs best in zone coverage and has the fourth-best forced incompletion percentage since 2017. Brown is expected to get around 11.88m a year.

3. Matt Milano

Milano is another modern-day linebacker who has the 11th-best coverage grade among linebackers in the league since 2018. He is excellent at matching up with running backs in single coverage and held his own when asked to line up over the slot. Milano’s tackling has been an issue as he missed 36 over 2018 and 2019. However the coverage value makes milano an intriguing option given the importance of matching with offensive weapons. Milano should be able to get around 11.25m a year.

On the defensive line the Broncos have Shelby Harris, who I hope will return, Dre’Mont Jones, and Jurrell Casey who can play the outside spots. Jurrell Casey however was injured for most of 2020 and the Broncos can clear over 11m in cap space if they move on from him. The Broncos have the option to replace him with McTelvin Agim, who was a third round pick in 2020, however, I feel more confident in him as a rotational player. It is likely the Broncos decide to start Jones and Harris, while having Mike Purcell in the Nose tackle position. However there are a couple great Giants defensive lineman that may become free agents.

1. Leonard Williams

One of the most proven in the class, Williams gas graded well in every season in his six years of his career. He excels at Run defense as he ranks in the 86th percentile in PFF run-defense grade since entering the league. Williams is a above average pass-rusher with a career-high 13 sacks this season, he’s yet to break a 72.0 pass-rush grade for his career. He is very valuable and would be considered a franchise player on the defense. He is projected to make 20m a year.

2. Dalvin Tomlinson

Tomlinson is a above-average run defender and a below-average pass rusher. He ranks in the 82nd percentile in PFF run-defense grade since 2017 and he knows how to finish plays. He can play all over the defensive interior and represents one of the best nose-tackles in this class.

If the Broncos were to secure any of the cornerbacks, linebackers or interior linemen I have listed I would be happy about it and you should too. I am very excited for this offseason and the bevy of moves it will bring with it. Let me know what players you want the Broncos to go after in the comments.

The post Free Agents the Broncos Should Target: CB, DL, LB appeared first on Pro Football Mania.