Tag: left tackle

Broncos select OL Ben Bartch in 3rd round of new NFL mock draft

The Broncos select offensive lineman Ben Bartch in the third round of this 2020 NFL mock draft.

In his latest three-round 2020 NFL mock draft for Draft Wire, Luke Easterling has the Denver Broncos selecting St. John’s offensive lineman Ben Bartch in the third round with the 77th overall pick.

Bartch (6-6, 309 pounds) is a former tight end who transitioned to left tackle while in college. He earned MIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year honors following his senior season.

“He’s an enticing left tackle prospect who continues to evolve, but a step up in competition and a need for continued physical development will require patience and could determine whether his final calling is swing tackle or starter,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote of Bartch.

Easterling has the Broncos selecting South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw in the first round (No. 15) and Penn State wide receiver K.J. Hamler in the second round (No. 46) of his mock.

After selecting Bartch, Denver goes on to also add Oregon linebacker Troy Dye (No. 83) and Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Roberton (No. 95) in the third round of Draft Wire’s mock.

To view Easterling’s complete three-round NFL mock draft, click here.

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Texans’ Laremy Tunsil: ‘I am looking to be the highest paid offensive lineman’

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil told ESPN’s NFL Live that he seeks to be the highest paid offensive lineman in the league.

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil didn’t beat around the bush about the goal of his contract extension.

The Pro Bowler joined ESPN’s “NFL Live” on Thursday for a visit. During the course of the usual talk about how his offseason is going, Tunsil fielded a question about when he hoped to reach an extension with the Texans and if he hoped to raise the bar in the offensive lineman market.

“Of course,” Tunsil said. “I’m not going to talk numbers. I’ll leave that between me and the club, the Texans. But I am looking to be the highest paid offensive lineman, of course.”

Currently, the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL is Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson at $18 million. Anything northward of Johnson’s figures would make Tunsil the highest paid lineman in the league.

The former Miami Dolphins 2016 first-round pick believes he has put in the work the justify such a contract.

“I feel like I work my butt off every day just to be in that position and hopefully we can make it happen,” said Tunsil.

Tunsil is under contract with the Texans through the 2020 season, and would become an unrestricted free agent if a deal weren’t reached.

Texans LT Laremy Tunsil seeks to pay bills, rent of folks struggling to make ends meet

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil seeks to pay the bills, rent, and car notes of people struggling to make ends meet.

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil earned a Pro Bowl protecting quarterback Deshaun Watson’s blindside in 2019.

Now, Tunsil seeks to have everybody’s back.

The former Miami Dolphins 2016 first-round pick posted a video to his Twitter account Monday inviting people struggling to make ends meet from the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout to send him their consequential bills.

“I want to help in critical times like this,” Tunsil said. “So, if you have any necessities such as light bill, water bill, your car note, your rent, et cetera, what I’m going to have you guys do is send a picture of that to this email, laremycares@gmail.com.

“My team will go through the emails and help in any way that we can. A huge thank you to the workers out there who are putting their life on the line daily for us. Thank you. Peace, love, prosperity, and go Texans.”

Though not mentioned in the video, Tunsil’s tweet also stated he will be donating $250,000 to COVID-19 relief, including donations to the Florida Gateway Food Bank in his hometown of Lake City, Fla., in addition to funds appropriated towards Star of Hope Mission in Houston.

Individuals who believe Tunsil can help them are asked to send a picture of the bill to laremycares@gmail.com.

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Texas has the top returning offensive lineman in the Big 12

According to Pro Football Focus, Texas left tackle Samuel Cosmi is the top returning offensive lineman in the Big 12.

It’s not even close. Continue reading “Texas has the top returning offensive lineman in the Big 12”

Broncos met with OT Ezra Cleveland at NFL combine

The Broncos interviewed Boise State offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland at the NFL combine last month.

The Denver Broncos interviewed Boise State offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland at the NFL combine last month, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Cleveland (6-6, 311 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 30 times at the combine. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein believes Cleveland could play either left or right tackle as a pro.

“Cleveland has the athleticism to play swing tackle for a zone-based offense but needs to get much stronger to hold up as a starter,” Zierlein wrote.

Cleveland earned first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2018 and 2019. He started in 13 games for college football’s Broncos last season.

Cleveland is the 12th-best offensive tackle in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s post-combine NFL draft rankings for Draft Wire.

Denver appears content to start Garett Bolles and Ja’Wuan James at the two tackles spots in 2020 but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Broncos draft and develop a tackle prospect. Cleveland is a player to be aware of as the draft draws closer.

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Report: Texans LT Laremy Tunsil had shoulder surgery to repair torn labrum

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Left tackle Laremy Tunsil wants to give his best to the Houston Texans in a contract season.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Pro Bowler underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum at some point in the offseason.

The 2021 season is the last year on Tunsil’s rookie contract. The Miami Dolphins, who took him Round 1 of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss, picked up the 25-year-old’s fifth-year option before trading him to the Texans on Aug. 31, 2019.

Coach and general manager Bill O’Brien wouldn’t get into specifics about how contract negotiations are going with Tunsil, but indicated at the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 25 that the organization wants Tunsil for the long haul.

“I will tell you that we want [Tunsil] on the football team and we’re working very hard to try to get that done,” said O’Brien. “Those things take time. They don’t happen overnight. Everything has to fit together relative to your team, your salary cap, what they’re looking for.”

The expectation is that Tunsil will be ready for offseason workouts in April.

Pros and cons of Jets trading for Redskins LT Trent Williams

The Jets need to weigh the best and worst parts of trading for disgruntled Redskins lineman Trent Williams.

It’s no secret the Jets need offensive line help and it’s even less surprising to hear they’re one of the teams pursuing a trade for disgruntled Redskins left tackle Trent Williams.

With only two 2019 starters – tackle Chuma Edoga and guard Brian Winters – under contract, Joe Douglas and the Jets need to rebuild their offensive line from the ground up in order to better protect Sam Darnold. Acquiring Williams could be the first step.

Williams missed the entire 2019 season after he held out until October over contract and team disputes before the Redskins placed him on the non-football injury list to end the season. The crux of Williams’ displeasure with the Redskins revolved around the medical team downplaying a cancerous growth on his head, and he voiced that frustration throughout the season. Though the Redskins maintained their desire to keep him, they recently gave him permission to seek a trade this offseason.

The Jets need experienced veterans who can immediately upgrade the offensive line and Williams fits the bill as the perfect fit for Darnold’s blindside blocker. He’s played at an extremely high level since the Redskins drafted him fourth overall in 2010 and has been regarded as one of the best left tackles in the game since then.

But not every potential transaction is perfect. Williams has plenty of pros but just as many cons. The same goes for the move to trade for him. Giving up something for a player of Williams’ caliber is always risky, especially when a team is in the middle of a rebuild.

(Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

Pro: On-field production

You might not find a more consistent left tackle in football than Trent Williams. If you take out this past season, Williams is coming off of seven consecutive Pro Bowl seasons. He earned a pass-blocking Pro Football Focus grade of 80.0 or higher over the past six years of that stretch. 

He’s been exceptional over the past three seasons as well – only David Bakhtiari and Joe Staley eclipsed Williams’ 89.1 overall grade between 2016 and 2018 and he only allowed one sack between 2017 and 2018. Williams is elite and would be the best left tackle the Jets have seen since D’Brickashaw Ferguson retired in 2015.

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News: Crazy mock has Cowboys trading Prescott for draft picks

Speculation season runs wild as Philadelphia prepares to break the bank for Byron Jones and Dez Bryant name-drops as he lobbies to return.

In this dry period between the Scouting Combine and the start of free agency, it’s speculation season. It’s the time of mock drafts and hypothetical contracts, of outside-the-box trade scenarios and what-if hot takes. But for fans who don’t believe in an offseason, it’s the stuff that keeps the engines turning. And, truth be told, anticipating what might happen is a lot more fun than just waiting for something to actually happen.

Thursday in Cowboys Nation saw a mock draft that apparently took the Unthinkable Express straight out of Crazytown, a division rival possibly breaking the bank for a Dallas Pro Bowler, an agent talking through Dak Prescott’s potential short-term strategy, and Dez Bryant name-dropping as he lobbies for a storybook return to The Star. All that, plus an encouraging notion for Cowboys defensive linemen and a look at what’s next for the forgotten young talent buried in the Dallas linebacker corps.

Philadelphia Eagles reportedly preparing to ‘take a home run swing’ at Dallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones :: PennLive

Philadelphia appears to be serious about landing the Cowboys’ shutdown corner; media outlets in Pennsylvania are tossing around figures that would make Byron Jones an Eagle and the highest-paid cornerback in the league with a record-breaking deal when the legal tampering period begins on March 16.

What CBA player-vote window means to 2020 Cowboys :: CowboysWire

The football world continues to track the biggest news of the offseason as the Collective Bargaining Agreement has been sent to the players to vote on. The vote and its timing greatly impacts Dallas’s free agency plans. Cowboys Wire’s own K.D. Drummond takes a deeper look at the latest CBA news through a decidedly sliver and blue lens.

Agent’s Take: Can Dak Prescott get the short-term contract he seeks from the Cowboys? :: CBS Sports

The Jones family loves to lock down their superstars in long-term mega-deals, but recent quarterback history and the current CBA numbers suggest that Dak Prescott would rather buck the trend and sign a three-year contract instead. A former sports agent breaks down the dollars to make some sense of the negotiations in Dallas.

Will the Cowboys Open the NFL’s New Stadiums? :: The Mothership

The Rams and Raiders are set to open their new home stadiums this season in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, respectively, and Jerry Jones says the Cowboys would love to help them open their doors.

2020 Mock Draft Roundup: Cowboys commonly attached to Florida CB Henderson :: CowboysWire

With Byron Jones likely out of Dallas, cornerback is a big need in Big D. Tony Thompson breaks down why many experts think the Cowboys could go after this cornerback from the SEC.

Dez Bryant says he would be ‘perfect’ for the Cowboys, name-checks the stars on Dallas offense :: Blogging the Boys

Dez Bryant has been extremely vocal regarding his potential return to Dallas next season. His latest statements indicate how he thinks he could fit in with the rest of the Cowboys’ talented offensive weapons.

Every NFL team’s weakest link heading into free agency :: Bleacher Report

2020’s version of the Great Wall of Dallas could use some patching, according to this list, which calls out the left guard position as the team’s weakest link. With Connor Williams developing too slowly for some and Xavier Su’a-Filo about to hit free agency, maybe those Ronald Leary whispers sound just a little sweeter.

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What’s Up: Gifford likely to have expanded role :: The Mothership

The promising start to linebacker Luke Gifford’s rookie season took a serious hit in the first half of 2019’s first preseason game. Now fully recovered and in a positional group that’s full of question marks, the former Nebraska Cornhusker could get extra looks at some new opportunities.

Gil’s first No. 1 pick? Hall of Famer and “Mr. Cowboy” Bob Lilly. That’s awfully good company for The Playmaker to be in.

Redskins grant LT Williams permission to seek trade; Eagles letting LT Jason Peters test free-agent market :: NFL.com

In separate news items sure to delight the Dallas defensive line and coaching staff, a pair of division rivals could each see their elite-caliber left tackle suddenly leave the NFC East.

2020 NFL Mock Draft: Cowbys tag and trade Dak Prescott to Dolphins in outside-the-box first round :: CBS Sports

In the wildest mock draft making the rounds, Will Brinson has concocted a scenario whereby the Cowboys trade a non-exclusive-franchise-tagged Dak Prescott to Miami for their two 2020 first-round picks. Letting Prescott go may seem certifiably crazy, but what if it meant reloading the roster with Tua Tagovailoa, Grant Delpit, and CeeDee Lamb?

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Does veteran LT Jason Peters make sense for the Jets?

Jason Peters would immediately upgrade the Jets’ line, but his age and durability concerns should give the Jets paise before signing him.

With veteran left tackle Jason Peters headed to free agency, there is an obvious and natural connection to a potential fit with the Jets. Not only does Gang Green desperately need an upgrade on the offensive line, but Peters played for the Eagles during Joe Douglas’ entire tenure in Philadelphia.

Peters would fit a glaring hole if the team doesn’t re-sign Kelvin Beachum and his veteran presence would be tremendous for the Jets if they go heavy on young offensive line talent in the draft or free agency. Despite turning 38 this past January, Peters continued to be one of the best tackles in the league in 2019. He posted the sixth-best Pro Football Focus grade for a tackle at 83.4, ranked fourth in pass-protection and only allowed 25 total pressures in 13 starts.

With all the speculation revolving around the Jets’ search for a new offensive line, Peters could be an easy plug-in starter for a season with a cheaper, one-year contract. He only signed a one-year, $6 million extension with the Eagles in 2019 and PFF projects a similar one-year, $9.5 million deal with $8.5 million guaranteed. That’s a far cry from what free agent linemen like Jack Conklin or Joe Thuney would command and would give Douglas more flexibility to fill other holes across the roster.

Signing Peters wouldn’t preclude the Jets from drafting a tackle at No. 11, either. Peters won’t be able to play forever, and the Jets could tap into his veteran experience to help mentor whichever young linemen they draft, along with 2019 third-round pick Chuma Edoga. Peters is a nine-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro and one-time Super Bowl winner. That knowledge is invaluable for young linemen and almost as important as his ability to block. 

There are concerns with Peters, however, mostly revolving around his age and durability.

Father Time remains undefeated in the NFL and Peters showed signs of his 16 years and 195 starts in 2019. He missed three games in the middle of the season with a knee injury and has seen his snap share per game drop from 97.2 percent in 2016 to 92.2 percent in 2019. While that snaps drop isn’t enormous, it could signal the beginning of a slide for Peters’ health and production, especially since he also has only completed six full 16-game seasons in his entire career and missed 12 games over the past three seasons.

Douglas and the Jets are less than a year removed from the failed Ryan Kalil experiment and could be reluctant to bring in another aging, injury-prone lineman in a pivotal developmental year for Sam Darnold. New York can’t afford to waste any more money on a player who could underperform or not even play with injuries.

The Jets need to build a wall in front of Darnold and Peters would be a great building block for that wall. He’s experienced, can mentor young players and is significantly cheaper than other great linemen in free agency. However, signing Peters would be akin to signing Kalil in 2019 and could result in a similar outcome. Douglas cannot let that happen again. 

Peters is absolutely a great fit for the Jets, but Douglas should have a true contingency plan – whether through the draft or other free agent signings – before allocating between $6-$10 million on a 38-year-old, injury-prone left tackle like Peters.

Report: Texans LT Laremy Tunsil fires agency

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil has fired his agency, Creative Artists Agency, as he seeks to land an extension with Houston.

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil has shaken up his representation.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Pro Bowl left tackle has fired his agency, Creative Artists Agency, on Tuesday. The move comes after reports have surfaced that Tunsil seeks to be the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.

2020 will be the final season for Tunsil, who the Texans traded two first round picks and a 2021 second-round pick to obtain from the Miami Dolphins. There is no reason for Houston to have spent all of that draft capital to not retain Tunsil.

The Dolphins picked up Tunsil’s fifth-year option, and he will count over $10 million on the Texans’ salary cap in 2020. If the Texans are able to extend Tunsil, it would help add more cap space, even though Houston has the ninth-most salary cap space in the NFL at $61.3 million.