Quote
dzrams
Quote
zn
It doesn't matter how long he is under contract...the odds are very good he does not play out that full contract. He's going to be 37 at the end of 2018, and his play is already declining as it is. That's what you know today about Whitworth. Odds are against him playing all 3 years of the contract. That's why the Bengals let him walk.
...
I disagree with this statement. I don't think the odds are against him playing another 2 years and don't believe this statement can be supported with anything beyond speculation.
It's not uncommon for elite O'linemen with a strong health history to play well into their high 30's and sometimes 40's. After K/P and QB's, O'linemen have the highest number of HOF'ers who played over the age of 40.
If we're speculating, I'd guess that there is at least 75% chance that he finishes his contract with the Rams.
Well except the opposite statement---that he WILL play out all 3 years---strikes
me as speculative.
One analysis of him points out that his sacks are up compared to the last 3 years (4 in 2015-16 combined, 6 in 2017) because while his technique is still very good when he takes someone on at the line, he can't recover like he used to and so if they get past him initially it gets much iffier.
I don't know about the idea of guys playing past their 12th year. Some examples: both Ogden and Jones retired after year 12. Pace kept playing but was a shell of himself in years 12 and 13. Munoz also declined in years 12 and 13. Same with Chris Hinton. Richmond Webb, same. Luis Sharpe, same. Roaf retired after year 13 years. Terik Glen retired after 10, as did Jim Lachey. .
So to me it's not certain he will make it through the next 2 years playing at a high enough level. Even if he does, any good LOT they draft can play guard or ROT in the meanwhile (and as I said a guard or center can't play LOT).