Tag: Corey Linsley

NFL Free Agency 2021: The 5 best moves from the first day of tampering

The Patriots and Jets rivalry is about to heat back up!

This year’s free agency feels a bit different than most seasons. Perhaps it’s the constricted cap space or the caliber of players hitting free agency, but the first day of the legal tampering period wasn’t all that exciting.

Still, a few teams added quality players at major positions of need as teams were officially allowed to agree to terms with free agents. One team in the AFC East found two solid values at positions that desperately needed an infusion of youth and talent.

There weren’t all that many deals that were truly cringeworthy, but a few good deals were struck as we begin the new league year.

Here are five deals that stood out among the rest at the start of free agency.

4 options the Packers have to replace Corey Linsley

The Packers are losing Corey Linsley to the Chargers. How can they replace him? Here are four options.

Now that Corey Linsley has a new home with the Los Angeles Chargers, the Green Bay Packers have to find a new starting center for the 2021 season. In seven years with the Packers, Linsley started 99 games. He earned his first All-Pro selection in 2020, which surely helped lead to his massive payday.

Linsley’s new contract is worth $62.5 million over five years, per NFL Network. It’s a well-deserved contract for arguably the best center in football. Last year, Linsley was the highest-rated center in the league by Pro Football Focus.

Linsley will reunite with former teammate Bryan Bulaga and help with a promising young quarterback in Justin Herbert. However, Green Bay now has to find a new player to snap the ball to MVP Aaron Rodgers.

Linsley won’t be easy to replace, but the Packers will have plenty of options to explore this offseason. Here are four options they have to replace Linsley at center:

Jets never checked in on Corey Linsley

The Jets believe Connor McGovern can excel at center in Mike LaFleur’s offense.

The Jets never had much interest in Corey Linsley. If they had, they probably would have given the center a call.

New York never bothered to ask about Linsley’s price, according to The Athletic’s Connor Hughes. Instead, the Jets plan to run it back with Connor McGovern in the middle of their offensive line. McGovern underachieved in his first year with the Jets, and there was some speculation New York could move him to guard and pursue a new center in free agency. But, according to Hughes, the Jets never considered such an option and believe McGovern can rebound as a center in Mike LaFleur’s new offense.

McGovern started all 16 games for the Jets in 2020. He committed three penalties, allowed six sacks and finished the season with a 62.2 Pro Football Focus grade.

Linsley, meanwhile, will cash in with the Chargers. The ex-Packer agreed to a five-year deal worth $62.5 million. Of that, $17 million is fully guaranteed. Once his contract becomes official, Linsley will become the NFL’s highest-paid center.

[listicle id=655136]

What losing Corey Linsley in free agency might mean for Packers

Breaking down what losing Corey Linsley means to the Packers moving forward this offseason.

The Green Bay Packers are losing center Corey Linsley to the Los Angeles Chargers, confirming a departure that was expected after the 7-year veteran put together an All-Pro season in a contract year in 2020.

Losing Linsley will require the Packers to make some changes to the look of their offensive line in 2021.

The team has internal options at center, and additions during the latter stages of free agency and into the draft could help the Packers rebuild the depth along the offensive line, especially with left tackle David Bakhtiari – another All-Pro in 2020 – likely to miss the start of next season.

Internally, the Packers have two solid options, and at least one unknown option. Elgton Jenkins and Lucas Patrick have both played quality snaps center for the Packers and could easily slide inside from guard to take over Linsley’s spot long-term. Jake Hanson, last year’s sixth-round pick, started all four years of college at center and could be a darkhorse option after spending his entire rookie season on the practice squad.

Jenkins, a standout center at Mississippi State and a second-round pick in 2019, has always looked like a potential succession plan for Linsley, who finished out his three-year deal in 2020. He played 300 snaps at center while Linsley recovered from a knee injury last season. And the Packers signed Patrick,  to a two-year extension in part due to his ability to play center and guard.

It’s possible the Packers aren’t sold on simply shuffling the players left over to make it work at center. Jenkins is a Pro Bowl guard and may actually need to play tackle, depending on the status of Bakhtiari early in 2021. The Packers could see Jenkins as the future at right tackle, a far more important spot than center. If that’s the case, the Packers will need to replace another member of their interior, likely necessitating an outside addition.

With commendable foresight, the Packers used three Day 3 picks on the interior of the offensive line in last year’s draft. Jon Runyan Jr. could be a future starter at guard, and the Packers love Simon Stepaniak’s potential for physicality and toughness at either guard spot. So there’s some intriguing depth returning from last year’s draft class.

Still, adding a veteran in free agency or using another draft pick to build depth could make a lot of sense for general manager Brian Gutekunst over the next few months. The team is reportedly interested in versatile offensive lineman Brett Jones, who could provide help at both center and guard. Lane Taylor, who won the right guard job to begin the 2020 season, is a free agent, but a return could make sense. After the first or second wave of free agency, bargains could be available, especially for the interior of the offensive line, where even mid-tier players don’t usually command big deals.

Of course, drafting a center like Linsley – who was a rookie starter after being a fifth-round pick in 2014 – would solve the problem with the least amount of hassle. No team can ever bank on finding a Day 1 starter in the draft, but it’s one potential option as the Packers work through all the options and attempt to put the puzzle back together along the offensive line.

The Packers are losing an All-Pro and one of the NFL’s most reliable centers, dealing a blow to an offensive line that was terrific last season. The team is still well-prepared for his departure, with flexible internal options available and plenty of avenues for shoring up the interior’s depth. No offensive line ever gets better by losing a player of Linsley’s caliber, but the position group doesn’t have to crumble when he’s playing in Los Angeles next season.

[lawrence-related id=56711,56708]

[listicle id=56689]

Chargers will make Corey Linsley the NFL’s highest-paid center

Linsley’s new deal with the Chargers averages $12.5 million per year, per NFL Network.

An All-Pro season in a contract year helped Corey Linsley become the highest-paid center in the NFL.

According to Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Los Angeles Chargers are signing the former Packers center to a five-year deal worth up to $62.5 million.

The deal averages $12.5 million per year, surpassing the $12.4 million number set by Ryan Kelly of the Indianapolis Colts.

The Packers wanted Linsley back, but the team had no chance at matching the deal he signed with the Chargers.

According to Over the Cap, Linsley will become the eighth center in the NFL with a contract averaging at least $10 million per season.

A fifth-round pick of the Packers in 2014, Linsley earned the massive new deal with a steady and consistent 7-year career in Green Bay that culminated with a career-best season in 2020.

According to Pro Football Focus, Linsley played 734 snaps for the Packers at center last season. He allowed four total pressures and one sack, and he didn’t commit a penalty. He was the site’s top center by overall grade and run-blocking grade.

Linsley, 29, was the Packers’ nominee for the Walton Payton NFL Man of the Year award in 2020.

According to Nick Korte of Over the Cap, the Packers are expected to receive a fourth-round compensatory pick in the 2022 draft for losing Linsley, assuming they don’t make a signing of an unrestricted free agent that would cancel out the loss.

[lawrence-related id=56708]

[listicle id=56689]

Jets expected to be interested in Packers C Corey Linsley

The Jets will have interest in the best available center in free agency, per ESPN.

A team flush with cap space and needing help along the offensive line will be in on free agent center Corey Linsley.

According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, the New York Jets are expected to have interest in Linsley and guard Joe Thuney, two of the best interior offensive linemen available in free agency.

Linsley, a seven-year starter at center for the Green Bay Packers, was the first-team All-Pro at the position and the top-graded center overall at Pro Football Focus during the 2020 season. He is expected to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid centers during free agency.

According to Over the Cap, the Jets have over $68 million available in cap space entering the legal tampering window on Monday.

Connor McGovern, the Jets’ starting center last season, gave up six sacks and 33 total pressures while committing three penalties, according to PFF. Linsley allowed one sack, four total pressures and didn’t have a penalty in 2020.

The Jets could easily offer Linsley over $10 million per season on a new deal. Eight different centers are playing on deals worth at least $10 million or more, and Linsley is bound to join them over the next few days.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur, a good friend of new Jets coach Robert Saleh, can provide a strong recommendation for Linsley, who anchored the offensive line of the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense and was the team’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award nominee a year ago.

The Packers are unlikely to keep Linsley, especially after re-signing running back Aaron Jones on Sunday.

[lawrence-related id=56492,56276,54648]

[vertical-gallery id=56677]

Potential free agent target for Cardinals: C Corey Linsley

If Arizona were to make a splash in free agency this year, it would likely be to sign the ex-Packer to solidify their center position.

In a continued look at free agents the Arizona Cardinals could pursue, we look at Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley.

If Arizona were to make a splash on the offensive side of free agency, there is a very good chance it would be Linsley, who figures to have a strong market should something not get worked out with the Packers.

Linsley was an All-Pro last season, and would potentially solidify the center position for years to come in Arizona.

His PFF grade was a phenomenal 89.9. He had no penalties and gave up only one pressure, all of which should be attractive to the Cardinals.

Spotrac estimates that he could be worth $9.7 million per year. Although with the constant need for offensive lineman, if Arizona were to retain his services, it would not be surprising if they paid above market value, especially considering how well he played last season.

What do you all think? Should Arizona pursue Linsley to solidify their offensive line?

[vertical-gallery id=449860]

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Latest show:


Previous shows:


and


Patriots free agency targets: Here are the 5 best options at OL

Who could fill out the Patriots offensive line?

The Patriots’ offensive line may have been the strength of an unproductive offensive unit. While the group dealt with injuries, they never really wavered.

Heading into this offseason, there were a lot of thoughts regarding what the team could look like along the line with Joe Thuney and David Andrews set to become free agents.

Luckily for New England, they found a diamond in the late rounds of last year’s draft in the form of Michael Onwenu. Many are expecting the second-year guard to slide right in and replace Thuney with no issue.

The tackle spots were thought to be good to go with Isaiah Wynn and Marcus Cannon both set to play, the latter returning from a year off due to the COVID-19 opt-outs. However, the Patriots decided to make a move to re-acquire Trent Brown. Now, there may be an odd man out due to having three capable starters for two spots.

Center is a much bigger question. New England doesn’t have a ready-to-go young stud to play in the middle like they do at guard. So, they will likely be looking heavily to find their guy in either the draft or free agency.

If the team is looking for some veterans to add to bolster their line, these five guys could be great options for them.

Is Packers center Corey Linsley a dream free-agent option for the Bengals?

Could the Cincinnati Bengals have the perfect free-agent target in Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley?

[mm-video type=video id=01ezwtaanczddw6a43 playlist_id=01eqbw0bft20de1r4d player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01ezwtaanczddw6a43/01ezwtaanczddw6a43-f20e0cc06565c22f078cc9c475552905.jpg]

Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley isn’t a name brought up often for the Cincinnati Bengals as a free-agent option.

But maybe it’s worth a look. Linsley, going on 30 years old, enters free agency after a first-team All-Pro nod and is one of the best in the NFL at his position — he’ll hit the open market because of cap problems in Green Bay.

Given Cincinnati’s bigger needs are at tackle and guard, plus the money Linsley will make, he doesn’t come up often in the same breath as the Bengals.

But NFL.com’s Gil Brandt just did so, tagging the Bengals as a good fit for what he calls a “boom or bust” free agent:

“The bust scenario: The risk here is relatively low, but Linsley did lose time with a knee injury last season, and he is entering his age-30 season. I don’t personally think this will prove to be the case, but it’s conceivable that he begins the decline phase of his career next season, which would represent a disappointment for whichever team pays top dollar to land him.”

Of course, the upside is Linsley gets right back to being an elite player. He missed three games last year but otherwise had not missed a game since 2016. He was an All-Pro last year while putting up an 89.9 PFF grade and there’s nothing to suggest he’ll suddenly nosedive because he hit the age of 30.

Should the Bengals put out a huge contract for Linsley, Trey Hopkins could easily switch over to guard. Hopkins is not guaranteed to be an upgrade at guard after predictably breaking out at center — and he’s coming back from a season-ending injury — but it’s hard to complain about adding a talent like Linsley.

The stability Linsley could provide for the entire line and his experience working with Aaron Rodgers and then shifting to Joe Burrow would be, in a word, key. Add a tackle like Penei Sewell too and the line dramatically improves. If nothing else, it’s an option to consider as legal tampering gets set to begin Monday.

[listicle id=41285]

The Ravens’ problems on the offensive line are overhyped

While the Baltimore Ravens do need to find some help on the offensive line this offseason, it isn’t nearly as bad as some make it out to be.

The Baltimore Ravens should be looking to bolster their offense this offseason. While there are a few needs, one of the top priorities is finding some answers on what was a makeshift offensive line last season. But for all the harping on about the importance of the offensive line, I think Baltimore’s issues are a little overanalyzed and certainly overhyped.

First and foremost, throw out last year. Whenever you lose an All-Pro left tackle to injury and a Hall of Fame-caliber right guard to retirement, there are going to be issues. So, if we aren’t basing our assessment on last season, we need to look a little closer at what Baltimore has in order to figure out what they need. Below is a breakdown of the starting offensive line as it stands right this minute:

OL Player
LT Ronnie Stanley
LG Bradley Bozeman
C ??
RG ??
RT Orlando Brown Jr.

When you look at the locked-in starters, Baltimore has three of five spots filled with some really good talent. While Brown could be traded this offseason as he searches for a starting job at left tackle, he and Stanley are Pro Bowl players at their positions and a massive luxury for the Ravens. Very few teams can claim to have even two above-average starters at tackle, much less two Pro Bowl bookends. We can’t forget about Bozeman at left guard, who isn’t at Brown and Stanley’s level but has been solid in his own right, giving up just two sacks last season.

While the center and right guard jobs are still wide open and have been much discussed already this offseason, I don’t think Baltimore needs to panic and rush to a conclusion at both spots.

The Ravens shuffled quite a few players into the lineup at right guard last season, starting with rookie Tyre Phillips. While I believe Phillips can and will improve, he was plain terrible there in 2020 and he’s nowhere near ready to start yet. However, Ben Powers — the guy I predicted would win the job from the outset — performed quite admirably there when given a chance. Powers wasn’t outstanding and no one is going to mistake him for Yanda anytime soon but when combined with the depth Baltimore has at guard, the Ravens should feel good about heading into training camp with the starting job open for competition.

Unfortunately, center isn’t in nearly the same shape, thanks in part to the lack of depth. Currently, Baltimore has just UDFA Trystan Colon-Castillo on the roster at center as Matt Skura is expected to leave in free agency. Patrick Mekari and Bradley Bozeman are guards who can play at center but Bozeman is currently the starter at left guard and Mekari sent his fair share of snaps to the moon last season too.

As we saw last season and even in 2019, center is clearly the Ravens’ biggest problem. In fact, I believe the majority of the issues that have been attributed to the interior offensive line as a whole are really a byproduct of the struggles at center. Beyond the poor snaps, things like missed blocks and slow pulls put far more pressure on both the left and right guards to overcompensate. That leads to missed blocks of their own, getting shoved into the backfield, being late to their blocking assignment, and penalties as they either try to fire off too quickly or need to hold.

Luckily for the Ravens, center is the cheapest position on the offensive line to go buy in free agency. According to Over The Cap, Ryan Kelly — the league’s highest-paid center — ranks 25th among all offensive linemen. In fact, there are just nine centers among the 50 highest-paid offensive linemen in the NFL right now. Baltimore is also fortunate that several solid centers are about to hit free agency with former Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley leading the group.

If my assessment is correct, signing a top center like Linsley in free agency would immediately patch up the Ravens’ biggest weakness on the offensive line while making both left and right guard look better as well. And as an added bonus, it won’t cost a fortune to do, even if they overpay and don’t backload the deal, which isn’t something the Ravens have done often.

If history is any indication, Baltimore isn’t going to panic and let a single bad year dictate their path in free agency or the NFL draft. In a potentially down market thanks to the projected lowering of the salary cap for the first time in a decade, the Ravens should be able to patch up their offensive line and make a splash elsewhere, as long as they’re smart about it.

[listicle id=61039]