We're looking at free agency ahead of the official FA start period (March 12th, kinda officially…but things are happening all week+ prior), going position by position to discuss some of the big names, tour top ranked guys, as well as the sleepers and frauds of the group…and we'll make some throwaway/dart throw predictions on landing spots.
Today's position group: OLs
The consensus top three OLs available…
1) OG Trey Smith, KC
2) OT Ronnie Stanley, BAL
3) OC Drew Dalman, ATL
FFM’s Top Three OLs Available...
1) OT Ronnie Stanley, BAL
If you can get a good-to-great (was once ‘great’) OT protector for your QB, you take it -- especially if you’re one of these teams with big CAP space and a perpetually crappy O-Line.
Stanley is not what he once was, but he’s still pretty darn good.
2025 FA PREDICTION: You’d think the Ravens lock him back up...and that has to be the odds-on favorite thing to happen, but the Ravens are tight on CAP space...if they ‘pass’, I’d watch for the Raiders, Browns, and Patriots to have a feeding frenzy here.
2) OC Drew Dalman, ATL
Arguably the top FA OL...a true starting center available...and he’s only 26+ years old and has been considered a top 5 graded OC the past two seasons.
2025 FA PREDICTION: The Falcons would be fools to let him get away, but they’re also sitting with negative CAP space available right now...and they have to do a lot of maneuvering to clear up some space -- including losing Grady Jarrett and probably trading Kyle Pitts.
If Dalman hits the open market, he will command a big contract...and there will be plenty of bidders, so no guess to who outbids who for his services. Assume the teams with the most money to spend that need a center -- the Raiders would be chief among them.
3) OG Trey Smith, KC
A really solid guard to be available in free agency, but I have him #3 on my list here because he’s good...but he’s going to get way overpriced in free agency, if he’s on the open market. I would say KC is not likely to let him go, but KC is in a hole for CAP space with no real way to get out of the hole.
KC has already applied the franchise tag on him at $23M for 2025, which KC really can’t afford, so it will have to be a slick contract structure...or KC trades Smith to another team for fiscal reasons.
2025 FA PREDICTION: If Smith hits free agency (or made available in trade), there will be a bidding war for Smith. If KC doesn’t sign him, it’s impossible to say which team will land him because there will be so many suitors. I will say, I’m sure Smith is going to go for the biggest bag he can get, regardless of team -- he’s already won Super Bowls...he was robbed in the NFL Draft from making good money, so this is his moment for the big pay day.
The fraud OL of free agency 2025: Cam Robinson, MIN
He’s OK, but he’s got this legacy ‘vibe’ where he’s supposedly so great of an offensive tackle and he went to ‘Alabama’, so he must be great.
Well, his blocker ratings are always good/mediocre-not-great. Jacksonville was good to dump him instead of paying him...which if the Jags don’t want you...and then was traded to the Vikings last trade deadline, and now if the Vikings pass him by -- you can only conclude that there’s something ‘not right’ when arguably one of the worst franchise in the NFL (JAX) and arguably one of the best (MIN) doesn’t want you back.
2025 FA PREDICTION: This is the perfect setup for the bad teams or bad/desperate organizations with money/CAP space and OL desperation to get suckered in -- Patriots, Steelers, Giants, Bengals are all contenders here.
The best value OL in free agency 2025: OG/OT Patrick Mekari, BAL
Solid 2022 and 2023...up and down 2024...is a guard but has played tackle in a pinch. Versatile and potentially cheap. He is only 27+ years old.
2025 FA PREDICTION: Doubtful Baltimore lets him get away, but the Ravens don’t have a ton of money...if some team chases him hard with big money (which I doubt) then he could be on the move to any number of teams.
The deep sleeper OL in free agency 2025: OG Trystan Colon, ARI
Was a very solid backup/reserve guard last year for Arizona. Did nice job when pressed into a starting role for a few games. Played some center for the Ravens early in his career. A versatile backup who should come cheap...you can never have enough OL depth.
2025 FA PREDICTION: Arizona will surely try to re-sign him, but he may bolt to go to Dallas...where his 2024 Arizona OL coach is now the new O-C.
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