There are two positions that must be addressed via the draft this year:
1) Left Tackle
2) Center
We have a bridge left tackle for a couple years in Ben Ijalana who is a free agent this year... Figure a contract two years average $4 to $6 per is what we can retain him for... As for center, we have to really look at where Nick Mangold is because the injuries are piling up quickly and he isn't able to rebound from the injuries as he used too... Wesley Johnson is a restricted free agent, figure a tender offer to keep him for at least one year looks like the safe bet... I do believe Nick Mangold could retire this year, and if he does would like to see him back in a coaching role for the offensive line really think he would do well...
With Ijalana at left tackle, affordable option James Carpenter salary of $6.8 M for both years he is under contract our left side will be stable for the next two years...
Looking at the right side, there are a couple of ways to go... Brent Qvale or Brandon Shell could be installed as right tackle moving forward... If Brent Qvale is the right tackle expect Craig Watts on the practice squad this year to make a jump into that right guard position if the team can not retain Brian Winters... I personally expect Winters to out price himself out of New York... He probably will be seeking $7 - $9 M annually and this regime won't pay that... If this year's draft selection Brandon Shell takes the job then Qvale can be kicked inside to the guard spot or be the backup at both tackle spots...
I wasn't only the one that was surprised Craig Watts didn't make the final cut this year as he showed up big time in the preseason... I do expect him to make the jump... Even if he doesn't start being quality depth along with Dakota Dozier who has found a role on special teams...
There are a couple of players in free agency we could target, that will be short term affordable options... Travis Bond, formerly of UNC can play both the right guard and right tackle positions... In emergency situations he could be a viable option at center... Other players like veteran Dallas Reynolds and/or Eric Kush would be ideal interior options... A prospective tackle option would be current Buffalo Bill Jordan Mills who could play either tackle position and is a viable spread scheme lineman...
I believe G.M. Maccagnan will keep on revolving talent until he finds gems that will be here long term but also believe it starts with drafting a left tackle and a center to get this revamped process underway...
There are three tackles but the one I think would be the best is Avery Gennesy from TAMU he is a pure left tackle and likely to be gotten in the second round unless he has an outstanding combine... The other two are Chad Wheeler from USC and Ryan Ramczyk from Wisconsin (many are stating he isn't likely to go pro this year)... Current mid late third round center prospect is connected to current backup quarterback Bryce Petty... Kyle Fuller like Petty fit this offensive game plan and yes I do not believe Chan Gailey will be going anywhere this year... Regardless of if Gailey is here or not, the connection between these two should be more than enough to reunite them... Fuller reminds me of a young version of Nick Mangold...
So just a recap players I don't see coming back:
LT: Ryan Clady
RT: Breno Giacomini
RG: Brian Winters
OC: Nick Mangold
We will be just fine, but the time to rebuild has to be this year...
1) Left Tackle
2) Center
We have a bridge left tackle for a couple years in Ben Ijalana who is a free agent this year... Figure a contract two years average $4 to $6 per is what we can retain him for... As for center, we have to really look at where Nick Mangold is because the injuries are piling up quickly and he isn't able to rebound from the injuries as he used too... Wesley Johnson is a restricted free agent, figure a tender offer to keep him for at least one year looks like the safe bet... I do believe Nick Mangold could retire this year, and if he does would like to see him back in a coaching role for the offensive line really think he would do well...
With Ijalana at left tackle, affordable option James Carpenter salary of $6.8 M for both years he is under contract our left side will be stable for the next two years...
Looking at the right side, there are a couple of ways to go... Brent Qvale or Brandon Shell could be installed as right tackle moving forward... If Brent Qvale is the right tackle expect Craig Watts on the practice squad this year to make a jump into that right guard position if the team can not retain Brian Winters... I personally expect Winters to out price himself out of New York... He probably will be seeking $7 - $9 M annually and this regime won't pay that... If this year's draft selection Brandon Shell takes the job then Qvale can be kicked inside to the guard spot or be the backup at both tackle spots...
I wasn't only the one that was surprised Craig Watts didn't make the final cut this year as he showed up big time in the preseason... I do expect him to make the jump... Even if he doesn't start being quality depth along with Dakota Dozier who has found a role on special teams...
There are a couple of players in free agency we could target, that will be short term affordable options... Travis Bond, formerly of UNC can play both the right guard and right tackle positions... In emergency situations he could be a viable option at center... Other players like veteran Dallas Reynolds and/or Eric Kush would be ideal interior options... A prospective tackle option would be current Buffalo Bill Jordan Mills who could play either tackle position and is a viable spread scheme lineman...
I believe G.M. Maccagnan will keep on revolving talent until he finds gems that will be here long term but also believe it starts with drafting a left tackle and a center to get this revamped process underway...
There are three tackles but the one I think would be the best is Avery Gennesy from TAMU he is a pure left tackle and likely to be gotten in the second round unless he has an outstanding combine... The other two are Chad Wheeler from USC and Ryan Ramczyk from Wisconsin (many are stating he isn't likely to go pro this year)... Current mid late third round center prospect is connected to current backup quarterback Bryce Petty... Kyle Fuller like Petty fit this offensive game plan and yes I do not believe Chan Gailey will be going anywhere this year... Regardless of if Gailey is here or not, the connection between these two should be more than enough to reunite them... Fuller reminds me of a young version of Nick Mangold...
So just a recap players I don't see coming back:
LT: Ryan Clady
RT: Breno Giacomini
RG: Brian Winters
OC: Nick Mangold
We will be just fine, but the time to rebuild has to be this year...
