FA LT Andrew Whitworth

[Kevin Greene]

Haven't seen much or any discussion on Bengal FA LT Andrew Whitworth. I believe he could be the key offseason FA signing that would have the greatest impact of any player via FA or Draft on the Panthers success in 2017.

Whitworth plays at a Pro Bowl level year after year and was #5 this past year in pass protection by PFF. 

Durability, since 2009 Whitworth has missed just 2 games.

He just turned 35 and offered a 3 year deal (reasonably expect him to play 2) by Getts would be the transition the Panthers need until a better OT draft class is available in a year or two. 

Availability? The Bengals used there first 2 picks in the 2015 draft on Offensive tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher and it is now their time.

Alternatives like Matt Kalil have had recent durability issues and a Joe Thomas would cost us precious draft picks if the Browns moved him. Whitworth would require only cap space this year which we have a surplus of and as Getts likes to say, would "Set up the draft with FA" nicely. We would then be able to focus on filling other holes on the roster in this years draft which has an abundance at those particular needs.

Cam needs a LT of this caliber somehow for the 2017 season and with Oher's concussion problem the Panthers need to be proactive rather than reactive as they were last year before another season is lost.

 

[The Lobo]

Could be an option. He would be an upgrade. I saw on Facebook that the Panthers shared a pic of TD and Eric berry hugging for national hug day, could it be a sign?

[ncfan]

5 minutes ago, Kevin Greene said:

Haven't seen much or any discussion on Bengal FA LT Andrew Whitworth. I believe he could be the key offseason FA signing that would have the greatest impact of any player via FA or Draft on the Panthers success in 2017.

Whitworth plays at a Pro Bowl level year after year and was #5 this past year in pass protection by PFF. 

Durability, since 2009 Whitworth has missed just 2 games.

He just turned 35 and offered a 3 year deal (reasonably expect him to play 2) by Getts would be the transition the Panthers need until a better OT draft class is available in a year or two. 

Availability? The Bengals used there first 2 picks in the 2015 draft on Offensive tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher and it is now their time.

Alternatives like Matt Kalil have had recent durability issues and a Joe Thomas would cost us precious draft picks if the Browns moved him. Whitworth would require only cap space this year which we have a surplus of and as Getts likes to say, would "Set up the draft with FA" nicely. We would then be able to focus on filling other holes on the roster in this years draft which has an abundance at those particular needs.

Cam needs a LT of this caliber somehow for the 2017 season and with Oher's concussion problem the Panthers need to be proactive rather than reactive as they were last year before another season is lost.

 

Joe Thomas aint getting traded.  Brown took tons of poo from everyone for dismantling their OL minus Thomas this past season and got every QB KILLED.  

Joe Staley couldve been a option for a trade but new coach I highly doubt he trades him considering they are going to get there franchise QB and dont want him to get David Carr'd

Whiteworth is really uo there in age and not worth the money some team will throw him.  A team like Jax is strapped in cash and needs a OL fast before there Franchise QB they invested in becomes damaged goods before he finishes his rookie contract.

Our best option is to keep Oher and  bring in Kalil, a cheap FA who looks like he will be getting a showme deal considering he hasnt lived up to his top 1st round pick that he was.  Competition brings out the best and both have shown flashes to be good (last year Oher graded out as one of the top OTs and first probowl alternate, Kalil showed flashes as a rookie to be a potential stud like his 1st round hype but simce then has dropped off)

[Nails]

This definitely needs to be on the upper echelon of options if there's ANY hint Oher isn't ready to rock and roll.  I think I prefer Staley or Thomas due to them possibly giving an extra year or two with their contracts/ages as well as being better players, but if those teams drive too hard of a bargain this guy is actually more durable than the younger Okung who may also be available.

Matt Kalil is NOT an upper echelon option.

Starting a rookie left tackle from day 1 like Bolles or Johnson that some listed as a "dream" scenario is in reality a NIGHTMARE scenario.

Whitworth for 1-2 years and a day 2 pick as depth and to groom should definitely be WAY up there on our list of options.

[Nails]

8 minutes ago, ncfan said:

Joe Thomas aint getting traded.  Brown took tons of poo from everyone for dismantling their OL minus Thomas this past season and got every QB KILLED.  

Joe Staley couldve been a option for a trade but new coach I highly doubt he trades him considering they are going to get there franchise QB and dont want him to get David Carr'd

Whiteworth is really uo there in age and not worth the money some team will throw him.  A team like Jax is strapped in cash and needs a OL fast before there Franchise QB they invested in becomes damaged goods before he finishes his rookie contract.

Our best option is to keep Oher and  bring in Kalil, a cheap FA who looks like he will be getting a showme deal considering he hasnt lived up to his top 1st round pick that he was.  Competition brings out the best and both have shown flashes to be good (last year Oher graded out as one of the top OTs and first probowl alternate, Kalil showed flashes as a rookie to be a potential stud like his 1st round hype but simce then has dropped off)

Kalil was a potential stud FIVE years ago!!!  The average career itself is only 3 years.  

The Jaguars just threw big $$$ at Kelvin Beachum last year.

[nctarheel0619]

Yes, let's keep shitty Oher at LT.  That makes sense.  Good job guys.  Even Gettlemen doesn't seem like he wants to do that.  

[ncfan]

5 minutes ago, Nails said:

Kalil was a potential stud FIVE years ago!!!  The average career itself is only 3 years.  

The Jaguars just threw big $$$ at Kelvin Beachum last year.

He was 4 years ago haha.  And actually OT is a Lot like DE where 85% of them take atleast 3 years to actually produce.  OTs have a way longer shelf life as well.  Those guys play longer than other positions like RBs (see Gross, Joe thomas, Joe Staley, Whiteworth who this thread is orginally about, etc)

Jax did throw a good amount of money at Beachum last year but still have atleast twice as much cap space as up.  Beachum is the only OL they have thats worth a damn to.  They are trying hard to save Bortles career before that experiment goes down the tank.  Coughlin is in the front office now and you know he will want to protect the QB and help open up the run game.

[KillerKat]

Whitworth and Vollmer would significantly help our line. If DG really wants to stay true to his word that big men allow you to compete, he would go after both. It's time to take the protection of Cam seriously.

[Nails]

4 minutes ago, ncfan said:

He was 4 years ago haha.  And actually OT is a Lot like DE where 85% of them take atleast 3 years to actually produce.  OTs have a way longer shelf life as well.  Those guys play longer than other positions like RBs (see Gross, Joe thomas, Joe Staley, Whiteworth who this thread is orginally about, etc)

Jax did throw a good amount of money at Beachum last year but still have atleast twice as much cap space as up.  Beachum is the only OL they have thats worth a damn to.  They are trying hard to save Bortles career before that experiment goes down the tank.  Coughlin is in the front office now and you know he will want to protect the QB and help open up the run game.

True but once the actual season rolls around in the fall it will have been five years.  This video is nearly five years old, and even THEN, Kiper didn't feel he was in the Boselli, Ogden, Samuels, Thomas, Pace, etc. category.  Just seemed to be a solid pick at a premium position for a team in need.  That team is STILL in need and the thought of Matt Kalil makes Viking fans want to puke.  

 

I don't mind Kalil in the Remmers role, but on an island as the answer for us?  I WILL puke.

[AU-panther]

2 hours ago, Kevin Greene said:

Haven't seen much or any discussion on Bengal FA LT Andrew Whitworth. I believe he could be the key offseason FA signing that would have the greatest impact of any player via FA or Draft on the Panthers success in 2017.

Whitworth plays at a Pro Bowl level year after year and was #5 this past year in pass protection by PFF. 

Durability, since 2009 Whitworth has missed just 2 games.

He just turned 35 and offered a 3 year deal (reasonably expect him to play 2) by Getts would be the transition the Panthers need until a better OT draft class is available in a year or two. 

Availability? The Bengals used there first 2 picks in the 2015 draft on Offensive tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher and it is now their time.

Alternatives like Matt Kalil have had recent durability issues and a Joe Thomas would cost us precious draft picks if the Browns moved him. Whitworth would require only cap space this year which we have a surplus of and as Getts likes to say, would "Set up the draft with FA" nicely. We would then be able to focus on filling other holes on the roster in this years draft which has an abundance at those particular needs.

Cam needs a LT of this caliber somehow for the 2017 season and with Oher's concussion problem the Panthers need to be proactive rather than reactive as they were last year before another season is lost.

 

I would be a fan of adding him also.  Everybody like to talk about his age but he was still one of the top LTs in the league last year. Because of this he will probably command more money then most on here think, it will just be for less years.  I would expect around 9-10m a year for 1-3 years. 

Since his annual salary would be higher for less years his initial cap cost could be a lot more then someone like Reiff.  A 5yr/$50m deal would probably be more back loaded then a 1yr/$10m deal.

Also I'm not convinced the Bengals are going to let him go quietly.  Fisher hasn't shown much yeat and Ogbeuhi has struggled some and been hurt a lot.  They also have plenty of cap space so its not like they need to free up money.

We might be willing to pay him $10m a year but he might prefer to stay in Cincinnati for $9m.  How much over that would you be willing to offer to get him to change his mind? Just because you are willing to pay a free agent doesn't mean they have to take your offer.  There are 31 other teams out there also. 

 

[OneBadCat]

You know how it goes though. If we sign him his ass is getting hurt.

[Khyber53]

You lost me at "he just turned 35"...

Nope. No. Nuh-uh. No way. Don't even think about it. Aaaaah...stop right there, turn around and walk away.

When a free agent player is closer to his first letter from the AARP than he is to his college's Pro Day workouts, then you've got to take a pass. Maybe if it is a one year flyer with a contract high on incentives and low on guarantees for a wideout or a kicker, but that's it. Pass rusher, maybe, if he's already going to be a hall of famer.

Linemen, no. It takes seasons for a team to gel along the offensive line and once a player gets long in the tooth, that drop off can come unexpectedly and quickly. If he wasn't near that point now, the Bengals wouldn't even think of letting him into the marketplace while they are still competitive.

Free agents are like used cars. There aren't nearly as many amazing finds as they say there are... and it is always the salesman (agent) who wants you to not worry about the model year, but look at how it was only a little old lady who drove it only on Sundays to and from church.

Better to grow our own. (And let's not even talk about vet's minimum... he ain't coming here for that and with 13 years of experience, that's going to be a bit steep.)

 

[uncfan888]

I'd take Whitworth over oher any day 

[pantherclaw]

Gettleman won't be spendibg money on a 35 yr old tackle.