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D6 · 03-15-2021, 03:11 PM

(03-08-2021, 01:41 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote:
(03-08-2021, 11:46 AM)Bullseye Wrote: Great point.

I have long argued the best GMs use the middle rounds to build the best OLs.

The great Dallas OLs of the 90s were build with mid round picks. Walsh built the 49ers offensive lines and Beathard built the great Hogs with those mid round picks. Your example with the Packers further exemplifies this concept.

That is indeed one of the best examples of drafting quality offensive linemen. I remember really liking David Bakhtiari and thinking that who ever drafted him would be getting a value, but with that said, I had no idea he'd end up being as good as he is. With LT though, guys like Bakhtiari are very rare. You usually don't find premier LT's that late in the draft. You definitely can find very good players at all the other O-Line positions in the middle of the draft though. Great OG's, Centers and RT's can even be found in the later rounds of the draft. That's where I'm hoping we find competition for Jawaan Taylor at RT.

(03-08-2021, 12:41 PM)D6 Wrote: A related thought came to mind when reading the article.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Urban Meyer's strategy is to be very active with big ticket FAs in 2021. With the plan on front loading most of the new contracts. Hence, taking advantage of the Jaguars excellent 2021 salary cap situation.

An additional risk with this type of strategy ( besides losing interior Offensive Line continuity if Andrew Norwell is let go ) is many, if not most players and agents, have short memories. By year 3 or year 4 of a long term contract, the perception will be their contracts are outdated.

That would definitely be my strategy with acquiring Trent Williams. I'd sign him to a 3 year deal and front load the contract so much with guaranteed money, that no other team could compete. That would buy us at least 2 years with a "rock solid" blind side protector for our new QB.

This strategy makes a great amount of sense with an older player like Trent Williams. It will likely never reach the point that the front loaded contract signed in the present will be outdated by the time the team would be comfortable moving on from the player.

Andrew Norwell reportedly will be back with the Jaguars in 2021.

Jaguars' Andrew Norwell agrees to lower salary - ProFootballTalk (nbcsports.com)