@$15.5M per year...I don't know that it's a whiff... He was without a doubt the top OT on the free agent market by a large margin. He was also the only one I would honestly say could step in and replace Joe Thomas, but, make no mistake, he is not Joe Thomas, nor is he even in the top 10 OTs (maybe not the top 20) in the league. To pull a stopper here, I am all for over paying free agents to come here and help the team, but there is a limit to that overpaying.
I think they will try moving Shon Coleman over to his natural position...possibly Joel Bitonio..and start newly acquired Chris Hubbard on the right side. I don't see a draft pick that comes in and starts on the left side...Unless it is a guard to replace Joel Bitonio who slides outside.
Tell that to me when your shiny new QB is face down on the turf, or when your shiny new RB doesn't have a hole to run through or when your shiny new slot receiver goes without a catch because you can't pass protect.
@showstopper: *sh*ts on all things Browns* Joe Thomas, roundly considered a first ballot HOF player: *retires* @showstopper: "u think he's HOF bound?" Me: *gives you a hard time* @showstopper: "relax guys... it was a joke."
They won't take a tackle in the top ten of the draft...but it wouldn't shock me if they took Quentin Nelson (guards rarely go this high) at #4-#6 (with a trade down) and move Bitonio out. Honestly, I think 2018 will be a struggle from the left side. It will take time and effort to replace Joe Thomas, took him for granted for 11 seasons.
Remember, Joe Thomas made this one of the premier lines in the NFL...HOWEVER, it is still one of the top lines without him. Hubbard makes the right side better, now Shon Coleman may be able to play better moving back to his normal position.
Just curious why. Taking a look at PFF.com's top-rated left tackles from last season: 1 - David Bakhtiari (R4, P109) 2 - Joe Staley (R1, P28) 3 - Jason Peters (undrafted) 4 - Joe Thomas (R1, P3) 5 - Trent Williams (R1, P4) 6 - Anthony Castanzo (R1, P22) Laramy Tunsil - the top-graded tackle (and player) in 2016 is/was bad. A guy like Andrew Whitworth (R2, P55) was a major catalyst for the Rams' turn-around. We aren't going to be able to replace Joe Thomas - we just need to find a solid tackle in the draft. The top three guys in 2018 came from the fourth round, late first, and undrafted converted tight-end.
No it is NOT one of the top lines in the NFL. Not without Joe Thomas. You can slide people all over the place but you simply can not replace a Joe Thomas. All you will do is create a rush lane somewhere else. I DO NOT begrudge Joe for making this decision. It just came at a point in time where we were on the cusp.
Did they come in and start as rookies like Joe Thomas did? 1 - David Bakhtiari (R4, P109) Anomaly, came in as RT, started because of injury 2 - Joe Staley (R1, P28) Was highly regarded and expected to start, played his entire rookie year at RT 3 - Jason Peters (undrafted) Took him 4 1/2 years to move to LT 4 - Joe Thomas (R1, P3) Duh...Expected 5 - Trent Williams (R1, P4) Duh...Expected 6 - Anthony Castanzo (R1, P22)...again expected I'm not saying a rookie can't come in and start, THIS CLASS doesn't have one that I look at and think is capable of coming in and starting. I am talking about starting him day one at the blind protection job...I don't think I trust any of these guys to do that. I would rather see Shon Coleman over there than one of the rookies...or Bitonio.
Bitonio is regarded as one of the top guards, Kevin Zeitler is regarded as one of the top guards. Those two will keep the middle clean with Tretter. Bringing in Solder, who is probably a top 25 LT would not necessarily stop the siv you are talking about. I think he would have been the ABSOLUTE best option available, but to pay him $15.5M per year, I would rather take one of SASs rookies and develop them strongly over 2018 to get them ready for 2019. McGlinchy and Rankin are two that I think can be groomed to take over the LT position, just not as green rookies.
