Free agency in the NFL begins March 10, with teams allowed to speak with free agents from other organizations beginning March 7. While some positional markets are thin (quarterback) and others are extremely robust (wide receivers), the offensive linemen fall in between.
2015 NFL free agents: Mike Iupati, Orlando Franklin top offensive linemen available
Football is won and lost in the trenches, making these men highly coveted on the open market.
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Although most fans are focused on the skill positions when watching games, offensive and defensive linemen tell the true story. Contests are almost always won and lost in the trenches, which the Dallas Cowboys proved this past year. After years of mediocrity, Dallas fielded the best offensive line in football and won 12 games despite a middling defense.
This offseason, plenty of teams will hope to add pieces to their offensive lines. The San Diego Chargers will be one of the main teams looking for players in the market, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Below are the offensive linemen about to hit free agency:
Iupati is the best offensive lineman available and is likely to command one of the largest contracts for a guard in NFL history. Iupati came into the NFL as a first-round pick of San Francisco in 2010 and has become dominant in the run game while solid in pass protection. Iupati has also been fairly durable, missing only five games over his five-year career.
With the 49ers currently over the projected salary cap, it will be tough for San Francisco to retain the former Idaho standout. At 6’5 and 331 pounds, Iupati will provide an anchor for some team’s offensive line. Only 27 years old, Iupati is primed for a massive payday.
Update: Iupati signed a five-year, $40 million deal with the Cardinals.
Franklin is an interesting player. Taken by Denver in the second round of the 2011 draft, the 27-year-old has been a stalwart along the front line. Franklin has been an outstanding player at both right tackle and left guard, a place he moved in 2014 to help the Broncos protect Peyton Manning better.
Franklin’s versatility is going to be helpful for his wallet. At 6’7 and 320 pounds, Franklin is an athlete who can anchor in pass protection while maintaining enough mobility to crush would-be tacklers on the second level. Franklin’s main suitors could be in the AFC West, with his skill set fitting all four teams.
Update: Franklin signed a five-year, $35.5 million deal with the Chargers.
Bulaga came into the NFL with plenty of fanfare as a first-round pick with the Green Bay Packers in 2010. Early on, the former Iowa star struggled to gain traction, missing four games in 2011, seven contests in 2012 and the entire 2013 campaign. Bulaga dealt with injuries, ranging from a hip problem to a torn ACL.
However, Bulaga has played superbly when healthy. In the NFL, teams will take a chance on a young player coming off a year where he played 15 games at a high level. Bulaga is a mountain at 6’5 and 314 pounds, and the tackle can use his hands with the best of them. Look for Bulaga to earn between $6-7 million per season.
Update: Bulaga signed a five-year, $33.75 million deal to stay in Green Bay.
4. Rodney Hudson (Kansas City Chiefs)
Hudson is one of the most underrated offensive linemen in the NFL. After missing all but three games in 2012 with a broken leg, Hudson played well in 2013 before becoming a star in 2014. The 25-year-old is easily the best center hitting the free agent market.
The Chiefs will try hard to keep Hudson, but he could price himself out of their grasp. The Jacksonville Jaguars are likely to make a hard run at Hudson after narrowly missing on Alex Mack last offseason. Hudson is extremely mobile and can handle nose tackles one-on-one.
Boling is a solid guard who can come in and help stabilize a line. The Bengals have enjoyed good offensive line play in front of Andy Dalton, and Boling has been a major part of that over the past four years alongside Andrew Whitworth. Boling will not command top dollar, making him a desirable player for teams hoping to upgrade with a budget in mind.
At 6’5 and 310 pounds, Boling is a quality guard in both facets of the game and can get to the second level. His athleticism is not elite, but he can make all the expected plays. Cincinnati is well under the cap and is expected to make a play to keep Boling, although the franchise is known for letting players walk.
Update: Boling signed a five-year, $26 million deal to say in Cincinnati.
Other notable names
Connolly is a quality guard who has helped protect Tom Brady for the past seven seasons. At 32 years old, Connolly can help fortify a line and teach younger players.
Carpenter is a good guard who can reach the second level. He has never lived up to his first-round selection status, but he remains a viable option for many general managers.
Update: Carpenter signed a five-year $19 million deal with the Jets.
Wisniewski is a talented center hitting free agency for the first time. The Raiders can outbid anybody with ample cap space, but does he want to continue his career in the Black Hole?
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