2023 NFL Free Agency: Teams Prioritize O-Linemen on Day 1
Analysis 3/13/23
Working in the NFL trenches is paying dividends.
As the legal tampering period frenzy began Monday, protecting the quarterbacks who really make the big bucks clearly was a priority. So the league’s best player, MVP Patrick Mahomes, got a stud blocker to replace a likely departing stud blocker: Jawaan Taylor is in, and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., is out.
Mahomes won’t have his protector on the right side, though, as tackle Andrew Wylie will follow former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to the Washington Commanders.
Russell Wilson, who rarely received solid blocking during his first season with the Denver Broncos, now will have tackle Mike McGlinchey and guard Ben Powers in front of him.
Desmond Ridder – or whoever winds up behind center in Atlanta – will have second-team All-Pro guard Chris Lindstrom back after he got a new deal from the Atlanta Falcons.
And Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts can breathe easier with perennial All-Pro center Jason Kelce announcing he will be back for 2023.
Yep, the Hogs are getting fed nicely.
The 25-year-old Taylor will leave Jacksonville for what ESPN reported is an $80 million, four-year deal, with $60 million guaranteed. He could replace either Brown or Wylie; Taylor played the right side for the Jaguars in the best of his four pro seasons. His durability also was a selling point, with Taylor playing in every game since he was selected in the second round of the 2019 draft.
Wylie, 28, will get $24 million over three years from the Commanders, who, for now, plan to go with untested second-year quarterback Sam Howell. Wylie has been with the Chiefs since 2017 after brief stays with the Colts, Browns and Chargers, and was a favorite of Kansas City coach Andy Reid.
Denver’s line was a sieve, a major contributor to the worst season of Wilson’s previously stellar career. So getting right tackle McGlinchey from the San Francisco 49ers for a reported $87.5 million over five years, with $50 million guaranteed, is a coup. McGlinchey has been rated by many as the best O-lineman available in this crop, and after missing most of 2021 because of a torn quad, he rebounded with the best of his pro seasons in 2022. At age 28, he figures to be a leader up front for Denver.
"[Sean Payton] did the first thing you do when you go into a new team like that — you solidify the offensive line. Everything starts with the offensive line" said Mike Martz, former NFL head coach and analyst for The 33rd Team. "It's absolutely the right thing to do to bring in those two solid guys, particularly Powers, I like him a lot."
Barry Wilner was a sportswriter for the Associated Press for 46 years. He has covered virtually every major sporting event, including 14 Olympics, 9 World Cups, 34 Super Bowls, the World Series, and the Stanley Cup finals, and has written 75 books. Follow him on Twitter @Wilner88