The questions are mostly for 2022, but they are big questions. Whitworth will be 41. The only LOT option behind AW is Noteboom, and he was just okay at LOT (not a good enough run blocker?). On top of it, Noteboom is a free agent in 2022. So if AW retires, that leaves you with 2 not all that great options: replace Noteboom, or pay Noteboom. In terms of replacing both AW and NB, good FAs at LOT are not all that common. They were lucky the Bengals made the mistake of letting AW walk in 2017. They only have a 2nd round pick and the majority of good LOTs are taken in the first round then sometimes the 2nd round. Like everything there are exceptions to that but obviously you can't count on that. And of course, they face the prospect of playing a rookie.
Corbett as mentioned is also a FA in 2022. So they face maybe paying
both NB and Corbett or starting rookies at both spots.
In terms of right guard, Brewer or Anchrum could be good candidates. They both seem that way to me. I don't have that much faith in Evans though maybe he steps up.
The 2021 OL was pretty solid most of the way but they got dominated in 4-5 games. They do not match up with big, aggressive DLs. I also don't like the image stuck in my head of them failing to score right on the goal line in consecutive games at the end of last year. The Green Bay game is not a great image either. Consistently solid OLs do not let all that happen.
Those who want to put that on the qb, think again. Stafford was sacked more than Goff last year, behind a better OL and facing about the same pressure percentage. Though it is also true that Detroit was playing from behind a lot and they lacked a running game AND they were having to deal with the 32nd ranked defense, which reduced their breathing space. Still, as a rule, most qbs are at the mercy of their OL and most qbs do not (and historically have not) made up for deficient OLs.
So they could be solid again in 2021, maybe even better than just pretty solid, but then 2022 looms over them--and as I mentioned LOT and OC are up in the air when it comes to 2022.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2021 02:50PM by zn.