The offensive line is one of the most important aspects of any football championship and teams looking to improve over the offseason will be happy to find a deep roster of names on the market, including Jake Long, Ryan Clady, Sam Baker, Andre Smith and Brandon Albert.
The tackle position is one of the most important on the field and on top of the big names out there, the free agent roster has even more depth, with Will Beatty, Max Starks, Gosder Cherilus and Sebastian Vollmer also available.
Both the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens have invested heavily in their offensive lines over the past few years, which is one reason why they made it to the Super Bowl. The 49ers have an All-Pro stalwart in Joe Staley, while the Ravens have one of the best young linemen in Michael Oher, who was featured in "The Blind Side" book and film.
The only defense between the ferocious linebackers and defensive ends is the offensive line and teams that do not put a focus on the position usually find themselves home come playoff time in January.
The past two times the Giants have won the Super Bowl it happened in large part because the offensive line held up on the most crucial plays of the game. The line was essential in knocking defenders off of Eli Manning before he found David Tyree in 2008 and last year Manning was able to find time in the pocket to hit Mario Manningham on the sideline because of the blocking of the offensive line.
Sports World Report has taken a big look at the free agents this year, including the top players at all positions, the free agent quarterbacks, the running backs as well as the wide receivers. Here is a look at some of the top offensive tackles hitting the free agent market this offseason.
Ryan Clady, Denver Broncos
Clady might be the most important player on the roster apart from Peyton Manning and in a way he might be just as important because he is the left tackle aka the man that needs to protect the quarterback that had four neck surgeries. Clady is likely not going anywhere despite being an unrestricted free agent and if the team can't come to an agreement with him chances are they will franchise him and pay him around $10 million dollars while they figure out what to do.
The Broncos were one of the top offensive teams this season and one of tyeh biggest reasons was because of the play of Clady and the rest of the offensive line. Manning had time all season to throw and put up stats like he usually does despite playing outdoors for the first time in his career. Clady was solid in the postseason, but he did have surgery on his shoulder. The team said he should be ready for the start of next season and if he decides he wants to move on from Denver there is no doubt he will have suitors, including in places like Kansas City, the Jets, New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings.
Andre Smith, Cincinnati Bengals
Smith had issues with the Bengals with his weight and about getting on the field when he was drafted, but since then he has turned into one of the most consistent offensive lineman in football. He is possibly the top right tackle and Pro Football Focus gave him a rating tied with Clady last season, ranked highest of any lineman in football. The 26-year-old is an unrestricted free agent and even though he is at right tackle, the Bengals may want to franchise him and pay $9 million to keep him another year. Smith is one of the main reasons the Bengals have made the playoffs the past two seasons and he has been able to help Andy Dalton develop by giving him time in the pocket. The team has also been solid run blocking over the past few seasons. Smith will have suitors if the Bengals decide to let him go, including with the Jets, Chargers Chiefs and possibly the Titans.
Jake Long, Miami Dolphins
As a former number one-overall draft pick, Smith is one of the most interesting free agents out there. The Dolphins invested a ton of money in the left tackle when he was drafted and according to NFL.com, he is looking to stay compensated, asking for about $10 million to stay with the team. He was one of the top left tackles in the NFL over the past few years, but he has been steadily declining as he gets older and he has also been dealing with injuries. Two seasons ago he was an All-Pro, but based on the injuries and his age the Dolphins may let him go. Many teams likely would go after him, including the Raiders, Vikings, Patriots, Panthers and Jaguars.
Sam Baker, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons made it to the NFC Championship game this season and one of the main reasons was because of the play of the offensive line throughout the season. The team had issues running the ball with Michael Turner for most of the year but they gave Matt Ryan tons of time to work with receivers like Julio Jones and Roddy White. Baker has dealt with back issues over the past few years, but he was fully healthy last season, starting all 16 games and allowing just 3.5 sacks, his best performance since his rookie year.