From the Athletic.... (Not a promising lot
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Here is a look at the best free-agent tackles remaining (with their age as of Sept. 1):
Morgan Moses (30)
Arguably the best free agent still available at any position, Moses has played seven seasons in Washington with 96 consecutive starts. Among tackles who started at least eight games in 2020, Moses ranked 41st with a 70.8 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. His 84.7 run-blocking grade last year was a career high.
Mitchell Schwartz (32)
He had never missed a start in eight seasons with the Browns and Chiefs before suffering a back injury six games into the 2020 season. Schwartz has said he is considering retirement, but he’s also continuing to rehab from back surgery and should be healthy enough to play by the start of the season. In his two most recent full seasons, Schwartz was PFF’s ninth highest-graded pass blocker in 2018 and 13th in 2019.
Russell Okung (32)
The Bengals coaches never viewed Okung as an option when they were looking for a starting tackle in free agency in March, but bringing in the 11-year veteran as an injury contingency could be a different matter. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Okung’s play fell off in 2019, leading the Chargers to trade him to the Panthers. The No. 6 pick in the 2010 draft made just seven starts for Carolina last year because of groin and calf injuries.
Rick Wagner (31)
Another durable and dependable veteran in the mold of Moses, Wagner has appeared in 118 games with 96 starts for the Ravens, Lions and Packers. Last year in Green Bay was the first time since his rookie season in 2013 that he didn’t start at least 12 games. He ranked 23rd in pass blocking among qualifying tackles with a PFF grade of 69.3. Like Schwartz, Wagner is said to be contemplating retirement.
Demar Dotson (35)
After playing 11 seasons with the Buccaneers, Dotson missed out on the Super Bowl run last year when he signed a free-agent deal with the Broncos. According to reports, he’s received offers from multiple teams to play for the league minimum of $660,000 this season. He made eight starts last year and earned a 70.0 pass-blocking grade from PFF.
Dennis Kelly (31)
The nine-year veteran started all 16 games for the first time in his career in 2020, but he showed a marked dip in production in pass protection. PFF ranked Kelly 64th among qualifying tackles with a 60.2 grade, down from 77.4 in 2018 and 75.2 in 2019.
Marshall Newhouse (32)
He’s played for eight teams during his 10-year career, including the Bengals when he made five starts during the 2014 playoff run. But this is his second offseason as a street agent. The Titans signed Newhouse to their practice squad in November and elevated him to the active roster in December. He appeared in four games, with no starts.
Chaz Green (30)
Maybe the least likely candidate due to the shaky start to his career, Green also is the most intriguing as Bengals offensive line coach Frank Pollack held the same position in Dallas in 2015 when the Cowboys selected Green in the third round. Green has played for five teams during his short career, which is a giant red flag. But if Pollack and the Cowboys saw something in him in 2015, perhaps a reunion could be in store.
