Latest news with #offensiveLine
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys trying to fix $4.3 million former Commander who retired at 25
The Dallas Cowboys went to great lengths to shure up the interior of their offensive line this spring. After the retirement of Zack Martin, Dallas had a Hall-of-Fame size hole in their starting lineup. Before eventually spending the No. 12 overall selection on Alabama guard Tyler Booker, the team went to great measure to ensure they had options. First, the team tendered Brock Hoffman, an exclusive rights free agent who started nine games over the last two seasons for the club. Then they inked Robert Jones, a 17-game starter for the Miami Dolphins in 2024, guaranteeing the team they at the least had capable starters competing for the jobs. The front office wasn't finished though, as they unearthed another potential starting candidate when they signed the surprisingly unretired Saahdiq Charles. Advertisement Charles, after spending four seasons all at or below .500 in Washington, signed with the 4-13 Tennessee Titans in free agency to be their starting right tackle. But after a few missed day due to undisclosed personal reasons, Charles abruptly retired from football. A year later, he was coming out of retirement, gaining his release from Tennessee, and signing a one-year deal with the Cowboys. Rundown Jul 27, 2022; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders tackle Saahdiq Charles (77) walks to the field prior to day one of training camp at The Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports Position: Offensive Guard Age: 26 (Week 1 age) Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 322 pounds Hometown: Jackson, Mississippi High School: Madison-Ridgeland College: LSU (Film Study Video) Draft: 2020 Fourth-round pick (No. 108 Overall) Advertisement Acquired: 2025 Free Agency Contract: One-year contract (2025), $1.1 million 2025 Base Salary: $1.1 million Career Earnings: $4.3 million (per Over The Cap) Profile Feb 26, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Louisiana State offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles (OL09) speaks to the media during the 2020 NFL Combine in the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Charles started 10 of 11 contests for Washington in 2023. He didn't play particularly well in those starts, but he's certainly capable of stepping in and starting in a pinch if necessary. After playing primarily at right guard in 2022, he was a staple at left guard in 2023, so he'll have the flexibility to fill in for either spot if he's able to make the game-day rosters. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys player profile: No. 77 OL Saahdiq Charles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys fortified OL with versatile, $3.7 million reclamation project
The Dallas Cowboys went about fixing things along their offensive line in the right way this past spring. Faced with a deteriorating group starting in 2024, they continued working on the position to ensure they would be able to better protect Dak Prescott. With the added stress from the retirement of future Hall of Famer Zack Martin, the team went about adding multiple players to find a solution to their needs. Prior to drafting Alabama's Tyler Booker, the team added three players in free agency; ERFA Brock Hoffman along with Saahdiq Charles and Hakeem Adeniji. Adejini is an intriguing addition as he has both inside and outside versatility, but like Charles missed all of 2024. While Charles walked away from the game presumably healthy, Adeniji missed the season due to a preseason knee injury suffered while with the Cleveland Browns. He now seeks to become a premiere backup for a reconstructed Cowboys OL. Rundown EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 21: Hakeem Adeniji #77 of the Cincinnati Bengals jogs toward the bench during the first half of a preseason game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on August 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by) Position: Offensive Line Advertisement Age: 27 Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 315 pounds Hometown: Garland, TX High School: Garland College: Kansas (Video) Draft: 2020 Sixth-round pick (No. 180 Overall) Acquired: 2025 Free Agency Contract: One-year contract (2025), $1.1 million 2025 Base Salary: $1.17 million Career Earnings: $3.76 million (per Over The Cap) Profile Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji (74) is helped off the field during the second half of an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys player profile: No. 75 OL Hakeem Adeniji
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs' Biggest 'Red Flag' Aimed At 'Unproven' Talent
Chiefs' Biggest 'Red Flag' Aimed At 'Unproven' Talent originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Kansas City Chiefs will enter the 2025 season with a lot to prove after the Super Bowl debacle still front of mind for some. Advertisement With several roster changes that include multiple new pieces along the offensive line, many are dubious as to what the Chiefs, who still have Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and Chris Jones, can be this upcoming season. Yes, they are the defending AFC champs fresh off a 15-2 regular season record, but it seems that doesn't matter with the Super Bowl loss leaving a lasting impression. For CBS Sports, the Chiefs have one big red flag on their roster, and it is relying on unproven talent along the offensive line. "The Ravens just need their front to stay healthy," CBS Sports writes. "The Chiefs, meanwhile, may or may not have a title-caliber line at all. That was clear as day in Super Bowl LIX, when the Philadelphia Eagles tore them to pieces, rendering Patrick Mahomes a nonfactor. Advertisement "Now All-Pro interior man Joe Thuney is gone, and two new faces occupy the present and/or future of left tackle, with rookie Josh Simmons and former San Francisco 49ers prospect Jaylon Moore tasked with protecting Mahomes' blind side. That's a fair amount of pressure for unproven blockers." Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes© Denny Medley-Imagn Images Does the success of the Chiefs hinge on a revamped offensive line? We saw in the Super Bowl that even a quarterback as good as Mahomes is rendered useless when his front five can't protect against a four-man front. Jaylon Moore, a four-year backup, and Josh Simmons, a rookie left tackle, along with Kingsley Suamataia, who has shifted from left tackle inside to guard, will be tasked with protecting the best quarterback in football. Advertisement Do that, and the Chiefs are golden. Struggle and alarms will be going off everywhere for Reid and his coaching staff. Related: Chiefs Push For Major Move Amid Stadium Relocation Rumors Related: Chiefs Rookie Receives High Praise From Eagles Legend This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Bills training camp 2025 offensive line preview: One battle could be brewing
Since this Bills regime took over in 2017, they have been attempting to find their way with the offensive line. Through many draft picks, free agent investments and tough decisions, it all finally clicked for the team in 2024. The Bills had a good starting unit in 2023 that took an even bigger step forward in 2024, giving franchise quarterback Josh Allen the best offensive line he's had during his NFL career. How do things stack up for the offensive line heading into yet another year that they'll be pushing for a Super Bowl? While many faces remain the same, an eye on the future is essential with this group. Here is a detailed outlook of the offensive line for when the Bills return for training camp in late July. For the most part, nothing. The Bills had one of the best offensive lines in football last year and returned all five of their starters for 2025. The Bills employed one of the best offensive tackle duos in the league in Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, and the expectation is for that to continue as a strength in 2025. On the interior, left guard David Edwards, center Connor McGovern and right guard O'Cyrus Torrence were well above-average players. Even the team's top three backups are the same, with Alec Anderson, Tylan Grable and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. The Bills did use one of their late-round picks on Chase Lundt to bring in another developmental offensive tackle prospect, but outside of him, the continuity for most of the group is uncanny by NFL standards. Advertisement How are they prioritizing extensions for the three interior starters? The Bills starting five are all signed in 2025 as they hope to resume their stay as one of the best units in the league. However, 2025 may very well be the last time the entire starting group is together. There are two key free agents on the horizon in McGovern and Edwards. On top of that, Torrence is a free agent after the 2026 season, which complicates the future of their interior offensive line a great deal. Torrence took a big step forward during the second half of the 2024 season, and should he continue that progress into a full year, the Bills could look at him as their next substantial extension investment next offseason. Top-of-the-market guards are not as cheap as they once were, so if Torrence becomes one of their key pieces moving forward, the cap space needed to keep him on the team could cause them to move on from the combination of Edwards and McGovern. The money for Torrence might be what the Bills have usually set aside for their starting center since general manager Brandon Beane arrived. Between McGovern and Edwards, the natural inclination is to think the Bills would favor McGovern just because of their investments at center throughout Beane's tenure. Beane invested in a contract extension for Eric Wood. After Wood had to retire and the Bills went a year without an answer at center, they signed Mitch Morse to a long-term, top-of-market deal. McGovern settled in nicely in 2024 in his first year at center, and that will help their potential decisions. However, McGovern turns 28 during the season, they have some in-house candidates to start there should he leave, and the Torrence discussion complicates a potential new deal for McGovern entirely. Edwards has been a revelation for the contracts he's signed with the team. He was their trusted jumbo package sixth offensive lineman in 2023 and that earned him a low-cost two-year deal. In 2024, he not only became their starting left guard, but he was also one of the most consistent players on the team last season. Edwards has easily outplayed his originally signed extension of $6 million over two years, and nailing contracts like that is part of what helps a team get over the top. Given his impact, it would be a surprise for Edwards to sign an extension before the season anywhere near the value they got him on in this last deal. Plus, the 28-year-old Edwards could be their lowest priority between Torrence, McGovern and Edwards, given his age and position. But the big question remains: what are the Bills valuing most with this trio? Do they want to prioritize Torrence, even if it means assigning more cap space to one guard than they ever have before under Beane? Or will they want their most notable continuity to be at center, with McGovern remaining the man in the middle of the offensive line past 2025, even if it means watching Torrence walk in 2027? And what does that all mean for Edwards? The upcoming season will be paramount to all of their critical decisions for a part of their offensive line that has helped them get to greater success as both a rushing offense and pass-blocking unit. IOL Alec Anderson vs. IOL Sedrick Van Pran-Granger While this battle won't be at the top of everyone's list, the battle between Anderson and Van Pran-Granger could have long-term implications. They would be battling for the backup center role to McGovern, who, as we pointed out, is a free agent in March and may not be in their plans if their re-signing priorities are elsewhere. If their plan is to move on from McGovern, it opens up an opportunity for one of Anderson or Van Pran-Granger to be at the top of their mind for who would be the potential starter in 2026. Anderson is a restricted free agent, while Van Pran-Granger is signed through 2027. Anderson has more in-game experience, but there are questions about whether he's better suited to play guard than center. Van Pran-Granger struggled a bit in his lone extended opportunity in Week 18, but he's a center first, which helps his cause. It would be unfair to conclude what Van Pran-Granger's potential could be based on that one game. Because the starting positions are spoken for in 2025, how Anderson and Van Pran-Granger perform in their center reps during camp practices and the preseason could determine who McGovern's true backup is this season, and if they play well enough, maybe even the Bills' starting center in 2026. Advertisement OT Ryan Van Demark Van Demark has been a success story of the Bills' development abilities, graduating from a practice squad player to having two seasons on the 53-man roster — many of those games with him serving as the top backup offensive tackle. But a few things have put Van Demark on the bubble in 2025. The first was his performance at right tackle during camp and in opportunities last season. Now with three full seasons under his belt in Buffalo and similar concerns that he's a left tackle only, the lack of versatility hurts his cause. Second, Van Demark was passed on the depth chart by versatile rookie Tylan Grable, who has been trained at both tackle spots and inside at guard. And third, the team used a sixth-round pick on Lundt this April, which could take Van Demark's spot on the team. This is a big summer for Van Demark's future on the team. Tylan Grable Grable came through in his first summer and rose through the ranks rapidly. He made the 53-man roster outright as a late-round pick and took Van Demark's job as the top offensive tackle reserve to begin the year. Grable then landed on Injured Reserve in Week 4, allowing Van Demark another chance to reclaim his job, but with Van Demark's struggles at right tackle in Week 18, the Bills went back to having Grable as the top backup swing tackle for the playoffs, making Van Demark a healthy scratch for the entire postseason. The expectation is that Grable will be the favorite to retain that role this summer, but what makes him a sleeper is his versatility in giving the team reps at guard. With Grable signed through 2027, you can't rule out him being a contender for the starting left guard job in 2026 if the Bills move on from Edwards. Grable had an impressive rookie year, all things considered, so we'll see if he can continue his in-house ascent. Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Alec Anderson, Tylan Grable, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Chase Lundt Because the Bills have so many of the same faces returning for 2025, there aren't that many difficult decisions ahead. The starters will remain the same, and the top three backups will likely remain the same. It really comes down to two questions. First, will they find enough room to keep 10 offensive linemen? They have in the past, but usually only go with nine, and have some different positions with many contenders to make the team, pulling them toward keeping nine again this year. Second, if they only keep nine, will it be the experienced Van Demark or the rookie Lundt, who is on a four-year deal, that they keep as their final offensive lineman? At this stage, I'll give the benefit of the doubt to the rookie, as the Bills generally like to keep their picks on the team if they have the spot for them.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers Afternoon Drive: Will O-Line Rebuild Succeed?
Welcome to the Steelers Afternoon Drive, our new daily podcast featuring all the latest Steelers news and analysis. Chris Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Locked On Steelers Podcast joins Alan Saunders to discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, the guys discussed the fate of the Steelers' offensive line rebuudling project, expectations for 2025, and if anything can be learned from the three weeks of offseason pracitces in the rear-view window, or if we have to wait until training camp. Advertisement The guys also talked about Beanie Bishop and the Steelers' secondary plans for the upcoming season. Check out the show on our YouTube page, or find it on Megaphone or wherever you get your podcasts. Got a question for the guys? Leave a comment on YouTube, here on the website, or find them on Twitter at @ASaunders_PGH and @ZacharySmithPGH Hey fans! We want to see your black and gold rides! Show us your car, truck or van that's painted in Pittsburgh colors, decorated with logos or Terrible Towels, covered in bumper stickers, or uses some other way to show off your dedication to the Black and Gold. Click to check out more from Alan Saunders and the gang on the SN YouTube page. Click for full archives of the Steelers Afternoon Drive with Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith. This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Afternoon Drive: Will O-Line Rebuild Succeed? Advertisement Related Headlines
