Chandler Jones, Andrew Whitworth make impact in NFC WestESPN.com
Which free-agent signing will have the biggest impact in the division?
Josh Weinfuss, Arizona Cardinals: Forget his age. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth will have the biggest impact in the NFC West next season simply because of the running back he’ll be blocking for, Todd Gurley. In the case of the Rams, who made a strong run at most improved through free agency this year, adding Whitworth will cause a domino effect throughout the offense. He’ll give Jared Goff more time to throw, which, in theory, should help the passing game. Because defenses are looking for the pass, the running game should develop. It’s a cycle that will be sparked by Whitworth, who’s still one of the best left tackles in the NFL at age 35.
Alden Gonzalez, Los Angeles Rams: I’m going to go with the addition of Andrew Whitworth, for one very simple reason: The Rams went from one of the very worst to one of the very best at one of the game’s most important positions. By signing Whitworth to a three-year, $33.75 million contract, the Rams added one of the NFL’s premier pass-blockers at left tackle and bought themselves the freedom to potentially move the struggling Greg Robinson to right guard, where he can more freely use his 6-foot-5, 332-pound frame to maul interior linemen. Will it make the Rams a playoff team? Probably not. Will it make their offense respectable? Even that is a stretch. But adding Whitworth creates a ripple effect that could make a world of difference for Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, Tavon Austin and Robinson -- the team’s top picks from each of the past four drafts.
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