Quote:Everybody on this board has thought about it at some point since the off-season began, so let's have a discussion on the Free Agent options at ORT.

 

Candidates:

 

1. Brian Bulaga - ORT - Packers - 6'5" 314 lbs - 26 Yrs old in 2015

 

He is the sexy pick for just about every team in need of an upgrade at ORT. He is a former Rd 1 pick of the Packers who drafted him to play the OLT spot, but he torn his ACL and a Rd 4 pick took his spot at OLT, so the Packers moved him to ORT. Interestingly it was in his 4th year in the league, the 2014 season did he play with any consistency as to warrant value as a former Rd 1 selection. We should keep this in mind when we think of Joeckel.

 

Bulaga is going to require top dollar to sign him and that could be in the 8 to 9 Mil per season range. The Packers want to re-sign him and it is said that he wants to re-sign with the Packers so it could be that a Home Town Discount could be achieved and Bulaga is re-signed by the Packers. The Packers have the money and the flexibility to re-sign him so the chances of him hitting the market in my opinion is probably less than 50%.

 

2. Orlando Franklin - 6'7" 320 lbs - Broncos - 27 Yrs old in 2015

 

Franklin was drafted in the 2nd Rd of the 2011 draft as an OLT, which is the position he played at Miami. The Broncos tried him at ORT, but moved him to OLG when Beadles was lost in Free Agency. Franklin like Bulaga is a road grader and the fact that he can play multiple positions on the Oline is a Big Plus.

 

Franklin will not demand the same as Bulaga but the price tag will still not be cheap - say 7 to 8 Mil per season.

 

3. Derek Newton - 6'6" 313 lbs - Texans - 28 Yrs old in 2015

 

Newton is a former Rd 7 selection in the 2011 draft. He has been a starter for the Texans the past several years and has been helpful in establishing a dominant running game for the Texans. Other than Bulaga, Newton graded out the highest of the Free Agent ORTs by Pro Football Focus. Newton is a surprisingly adept pass blocker as well as a run blocker.

 

Newton may command between 6 to 7 Mil per season to sign.

 

4. King Dunlap - 6'9" 330 lbs - Chargers - 30 Yrs old in 2015

 

Another former Rd 7 pick out of Auburn. While a bit older than the top 3, Dunlap has developed into a very nice ORT for the Chargers adept at both Pass Blocking and Run Blocking. The Chargers want him back so no one knows whether he hits the market but if he does, he definitely is an option for the Jags.

 

Dunlap will command between 5 to 7 Mil per season to sign.

 

5. Doug Free - 6'6" 325 lbs - Cowboys - 32 Yrs old in 2015

 

Free may be the most accomplished of the ORTs that potentially hit the market. Free missed 5 games in 2014 due to some foot injuries and in his place Jermey Parnell, another Free Agent ORT played fairly well. Since Parnell is the younger of the two (by 3 years) it is thought that the Cowboys will opt for Parnell over Free, especially since Parnell may command less money. Still Free comes from the Cowboy running system and would be a calming and teaching force for the Jags young Offensive line. If Free is signed then the Jags need to draft his replacement to start in perhaps the 3rd year. For a 2 year rental, Doug Free could offer an upgrade to the Jags.

 

Due to his age, Free will not land the bigger contract - say around 5 Mil per season.

 

6. Jermey Parnell - 6'6" 307 lbs - Cowboys - 29 Yrs old in 2015

 

Parnell has been in the league for 5 years primarily as a backup. The last four have been with the Cowboys and he finally got some playing action in 5 games in 2014. It is rumored the Cowboys will pick between Free and Parnell and the betting action is that the Cowboys will save some money by signing Parnell over Free. Parnell is most valuable to the Cowboys over any other team where he is Just a Guy (JAG).

 

In my mind not really an option but I have offered it here because who knows what Dave Caldwell thinks.

 

So there are the six Free Agent ORT. I am sure we all would love to sign Bulaga, but Franklin offers some value as does Newton, Dunlap and Free. If the Jags sign anyone other than Bulaga or Franklin then they had best draft an ORT in Rds 3, 4 or 5.

 

I will provide a breakdown of the OTs in the 2015 Draft Class in the Mock Draft section under College Football.