Tag: Jason Peters

Why Chargers should look to sign OT Jason Peters

The Los Angeles Chargers should show strong interest in acquiring the nine-time Pro Bowler.

After trading Russell Okung to the Panthers for Trai Turner, the Chargers got better at the guard position but there’s a big question mark hovering over the left tackle spot.

While there will be plenty of free agent offensive tackles that should intrigue Los Angeles, there is another one that was added to the crop after he was notified that he would not be back on Thursday.

The Eagles decided to part ways with legendary left tackle Jason Peters, a nine-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection.

Over the past three seasons, Peters has been the model of production. Since 2017, he has an 82.6 grade per Pro Football Focus, which is 12th among offensive tackles, where he has played 2,163 regular season snaps along the way.

Even at 38 years of age, Peters only allowed 21 pressures on 562 pass-blocking attempts last season. He had the fourth-highest grade in pass blocking and 17th-highest grade in run blocking, per PFF.

Durability concerns loom as he has dealt with numerous injuries in recent seasons. However, he has started 29 of a possible 32 games the past two years, still managing to play at a fairly high level over that span.

Peters would be a really polarizing short-term option for the Chargers if they don’t want to throw a rookie into the fire or if they’d like to groom former third-round pick Trey Pipkins for another season.

For many, the left tackle position is seen as a pressing need that should be addressed in the early rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft. But success in a rookie’s first season, especially at that given position, is hit or miss.

Like offensive coordinator Shane Steichen said, “A rookie playing tackle in this league. I don’t care who you are, first-round pick or whatever it is, it’s tough.”

Los Angeles has always been a team that has coveted a strong locker room presence from veterans. With Okung gone, Peters could easily replace his voice, especially for a group of young linemen, too.

The bottom line is that the Chargers could benefit from a borderline elite left tackle at the cost of short-term salary cap space, which means essentially nothing without much long-term guaranteed money.

Halapoulivaati Vaitai could get a big payday in free agency: Here are 4 potential landing spots

Halapoulivaati Vaitai expected to get a nice payday in free agency

Jason Peters isn’t the only huge Philadelphia Eagles player set to have suitors on the open market as the team’s backup right tackle is set to become a rich man.

Halapoulivaati Vaitai has earned a nice reputation around the NFL after showing his versatility while playing several spots on the Eagles offensive line.

That versatility and patience is set to pay off for Vaitai in a huge way, as the free agent right tackle is expected to cash out on the open market per Mike Garafalo.

The former fifth-round pick of the Eagles in 2016, Vaitai has seen action in 55 games with 20 starts sprinkled throughout each of his first four years.

This past season, Vaitai logged 41 percent of the offensive snaps at different positions along the offensive line.

With Vaitai likely to move on from the Eagles, here are four possible landing spots in free agency:

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1. New York Jets

Jets general manager Joe Douglas is familiar with Vaitai and has the same scenario in New York as his franchise quarterback needs to be protected. With Kelvin Beachum set to test free agency in March, Vaitai could transition to the left or right tackle for the Jets.

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4 takeaways from the news that Jason Peters could be moving on from the Eagles in free agency

Jason Peters set to test free agency as Eagles prepare to move on

Jason Peters will have the opportunity to put on another uniform, as the Philadelphia Eagles announced on Thursday that they’ll let the Hall of Fame left tackle test free agency.

Eagles brass made it clear that they’ll remain in communication with the nine-time Pro Bowler as “each side continues to evaluate its options.”

Here are four takeaways from the news that Peters will hit the open market.

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1. Peters can still play

Over the past three seasons, Peters has been consistent while losing a step. Over the past 3 seasons, Peters has an 82.6 grade from PFF grade (12th among OTs) while playing 2,163 regular season snaps along the way.

Peters only allowed 21 pressures in 562 pass-blocking attempts last season, placing him ninth among 57 qualifying tackles.

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Eagles to let Jason Peters test the market in free agency

Philadelphia Eagles will let Jason Peters test free agency

For the first time in more than ten years, Jason Peters will have the opportunity to put on another uniform, as the Philadelphia Eagles announced on Thursday that they’ll let the Hall of Fame left tackle test free agency.

Eagles brass made it clear that they’ll remain in communication with the nine-time Pro Bowler as “each side continues to evaluate its options.”

An undrafted tight end out of Arkansas, Peters has slipped some, but he’s still one of the top left tackles in football and finished the 2019 season ranked in the top-10 highest-graded players.

Free agents can officially sign with new teams on March 18 at 4 p.m. ET. Beginning at noon ET on March 16, their agents can negotiate contracts with other clubs.

One offensive line free agent the Dolphins should definitely avoid

One offensive line free agent the Dolphins should definitely avoid

The Miami Dolphins have been attacking their rebuild with a constant churn of their roster ever since last spring — when the team shipped off QB Ryan Tannehill, DE Robert Quinn and others before ultimately flipping young talents like OT Laremy Tunsil and DB Minkah Fitzpatrick in August and September, respectively.

That roster churn will continue, but it will do so through a different lens this time around — this team is looking to add talent. But not all talent is necessarily a great fit for the Miami Dolphins, a team that has embraced youth and upside as much as anything else throughout the course of the last year. So as the team looks to add players, fans will need to be aware that not every player is a logical fit with Miami.

Among those players? The latest confirmed veteran to hit free agency, left tackle Jason Peters.

How could the Dolphins not have time for Peters? He’d definitely be an upgrade and his veteran leadership would be a welcomed addition to Miami’s youthful locker room. But bringing him into the picture accomplishes what, exactly? Peters is 38-years old, long in the tooth by any measure of NFL veterans. And the Dolphins should be focused on getting long-term development out of whoever they peg as their left tackle of the future, not plugging gaps for 2020. That was the operating procedure for Mike Tannenbaum’s Dolphins — not necessarily for Chris Grier’s Dolphins.

Peters is a no-brainer addition for a team looking to plug the position in the short-term while looking to compete for a Super Bowl title in 2020.

That is, unfortunately, not a likely scenario for the Dolphins. Yes, the value Peters brings in leadership and experience would be a nice addition. But this feels like a right place, wrong time type situation for Miami, given their life cycle as a team. Peters is hitting the market because he still wants to play — and the Dolphins giving him that opportunity satisfies a short-term gain and nothing else.

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Did the Texans already win the Tytus Howard versus Andre Dillard debate?

Did the Houston Texans already win the argument on who is a better 2019 first-round tackle: Tytus Howard or the Philadelphia Eagles’ Andre Dillard?

Flashback to the day after the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft through the end of the 2019 preseason.

The Houston Texans blew the draft by letting OT Andre Dillard go to the Philadelphia Eagles. Though they addressed offensive tackle with Alabama State’s Tytus Howard in the first round, he was their worst pick of the draft. The Eagles just snatched Dillard away from the Texans. Philly just stole Dillard from Houston. When they traded for Miami Dolphins left tackle Laremy Tunsil, it was an over correction for mucking things up in trying to land Dillard.

Flash forward to the 2020 offseason, and Eagles believe Dillard isn’t as physically and mentally strong as they would like after a year in the NFL.

According to Jeff McClane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, because of Dillard’s incomplete progress, the club may consider bringing back 38-year-old Jason Peters for his 17th NFL season as the Eagles’ left tackle.

Another year with Peters would allow Dillard to watch and learn and likely play enough to continue his development. He hasn’t made as much progress as the Eagles had hoped when they moved up to draft him in the first round last year. Dillard needs to get stronger, both physically and mentally.

Eagles coaches still believe in Dillard. He has the necessary athleticism. But bringing Peters back, despite the message it would send about Dillard’s future, would give the 24-year-old some additional time in an NFL culture he struggled to adapt to as a rookie.

Ideally, Dillard would have made it obvious that it was time to move on from Peters. He did not. And what can’t be underplayed is the role owner Jeffrey Lurie will play in deciding a future Hall of Famer’s future. He is Peters’ greatest advocate.

Meanwhile Howard, who only played in eight games his rookie season and started in seven of them at right tackle, made the Pro Football Writers of America’s all-rookie team. Not bad for the worst pick of the Texans’ draft class.

Ultimately, it is too early to declare either 2019 first-rounder a winner, though certainly Howard is winning. Presuming Dillard is able to take the next steps in his career in 2020, the only question mark for Howard would be his health given that he did miss eight games and was placed on injured reserve in Week 13.

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4 takeaways from Howie Roseman’s NFL Combine press conference

4 takeaways from Howie Roseman’s NFL Combine press conference

Howie Roseman addressed reporters at the 2020 NFL Combine on Tuesday afternoon and the Eagles’ executive vice president/general manager made it clear that changes are coming and the Birds are moving forward as an organization.

Roseman and head coach Doug Pederson met with reporters for the first time since early January when the Eagles were eliminated from the playoffs.

Here are four takeaways from Roseman’s comments.

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1. Eagles reloading rather than rebuilding

Roseman hinted at the Eagles continuing to maintain a competitive balance in the short-term while keeping a championship window open wit the focus being on 2020 through 2022. With around $44.6 million in cap space, the Eagles are expected to be very active in free agency and the draft process.

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Doug Pederson wants Jason Peters back in Philadelphia for the 2020 season

Doug Pederson wants Jason Peters back in Philadelphia for the 2020 season

The 2019 season ended with some uncertainty surrounding Jason Peters, but after listening to Howie Roseman and Doug Pederson on Tuesday, it appears the future Hall of Fame left tackle could be returning to the Eagles for one more season.

Peters is a free agent and made it clear that he’d like to return to the NFL next season, even if it’s not with the Eagles.

Peters finished the 2019 season among the top-10 highest-graded linemen in the NFL and enters the 2020 free agency period as one of the top available players on the market.

While speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, Doug Pederson confirmed that he’d like to have Peters back, while Howie Roseman was non-commital on the subject.

The Eagles drafted Andre Dillard with the idea of him being the team’s left tackle of the future. Dillard made three starts in place of Peters last season and showed flashes during a redshirt type of season.

The fact that the Birds are still high on Peters means that Dillard may not be that ready to settle in on a permanent basis.

5 left tackles the Jets should target in free agency

The Jets could be in the market for a new left tackle, and the market includes one elite young stud and two veteran stars for Joe Douglas.

Left tackle might be the most important position on the offensive line, and the Jets could be looking to find an upgrade if they decide to not re-sign Kelvin Beachum.

It isn’t saying much to point out Beachum ranked highest among Jets linemen in 2019. Joe Douglas would be foolish not to at least explore the free agent market for a new left tackle if he thinks he can find someone who can better protect Sam Darnold.

The left tackle market is a little wonky. It basically consists of one young, elite talent, two aging veterans way past their primes and a couple of unproven or inexperienced players. Douglas should navigate this pool carefully before pulling the trigger on a high-priced tackle, especially considering how many other positions of need he has to bolster.

Here are the five best left tackles the Jets should target.

(Darron Cummings-AP)

Anthony Castonzo 

If protecting Sam Darnold is what Joe Douglas is looking for from a new starting left tackle, Colts free agent Anthony Castonzo is the best on the market. He’s the eighth-ranked left tackle in pass-protection with an 84.4 Pro Football Focus grade, and the fifth-ranked in dropback passing scenarios. Castonzo is also incredibly consistent, posting overall grades between 76.9 and 83.4 since 2012.

Castonzo is still relatively young – he’ll turn 32 in August – and has the ideal size at 6-foot-7 and 307 pounds for a premier tackle. He’d fortify the offensive line no matter who else Douglas brings in, but it would come at a premium. Castonzo will likely require somewhere between $14.5-$16 million per year, much like Titans tackle Taylor Lewan got in 2018 with a five-year, $80 million deal.

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Eagles have 7 players named to PFF’s top 101 from 2019

The Philadelphia Eagles 2019 season was difficult from an injury standpoint, but individually the Birds have some star-power. Pro Football Focus recently put out their annual list of the “top 101 players” from the 2019 NFL season and seven Eagles …

The Philadelphia Eagles 2019 season was difficult from an injury standpoint, but individually the Birds have some star-power.

Pro Football Focus recently put out their annual list of the “top 101 players” from the 2019 NFL season and seven Eagles made the cut, up from the four players that made the list in 2018.

In a shocker to some Eagles fans, a talented tight end made the cut, but it didn’t include tight end, Zach Ertz.

Ertz didn’t make the list despite making his third Pro Bowl in 2019. Eagles star quarterback Carson Wentz was among the best signal-callers in football but was also excluded from the list.

Here are your seven Eagles to make the cut:

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5. BRANDON BROOKS
2018: Unranked

Brandon Brooks tore his Achilles at the tail end of the 2018 season — in January 2019, to be exact — so playing to even a respectable level this year would have been an achievement. Instead, Brooks went ahead and had the best season of his career and was the best offensive lineman in football fresh off the back of an injury that almost invariably affects performance in the first year a player returns from it. Brooks surrendered just one sack and 19 total pressures all season, and he earned the best run-blocking grade in the NFL among guards. He won PFF’s Bruce Matthews Award as the league’s best lineman and continued to get even better, despite being one the most underrated players in the league.–PFF

Brooks was the highest-graded linemen in the league this season (92.9) and was rewarded with a massive new deal.

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