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http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/pag...barnwell-grades-big-2017-free-agent-deals-nfl
OT Andrew Whitworth, Rams
Grade: B+
The Rams have spent years attempting to develop their left tackle of the future -- without any success. Now they have their best left tackle since Hall of Famer Orlando Pace. Whitworth isn't quite a Hall of Famer, but he has been one of the five best left tackles in football for several years now while protecting Andy Dalton's blind side in Cincinnati. He hasn't slipped much, if at all. Stats LLC suggests Whitworth didn't allow a single sack during the 2016 season.
The 35-year-old obviously isn't going to be Los Angeles' left tackle for the long haul, which raises questions as to why a rebuilding team would hand Whitworth a three-year, $36 million deal. There are two clear arguments for the deal. One is that the Rams are really committed to Whitworth for only one year; they guaranteed the three-time Pro Bowler $12.5 million in 2017 with just $2.5 million due in guarantees the following year. That's paying Whitworth less than the franchise tag would have cost this season.
Jared Goff. Goff was a mess in the pocket as a rookie but also was beset by pass pressure; he faced the league's third-highest blitz rate (34.3 percent) and second-highest pressure rate (35.6 percent) while taking sacks an unreal 11.2 percent of the time. No quarterback was going to look remotely competent under that level of pressure, let alone somebody as inexperienced as Goff. Whitworth should take over for the massively frustrating Greg Robinson and lock down one side of the line for the time being.
OT Andrew Whitworth, Rams
Grade: B+
The Rams have spent years attempting to develop their left tackle of the future -- without any success. Now they have their best left tackle since Hall of Famer Orlando Pace. Whitworth isn't quite a Hall of Famer, but he has been one of the five best left tackles in football for several years now while protecting Andy Dalton's blind side in Cincinnati. He hasn't slipped much, if at all. Stats LLC suggests Whitworth didn't allow a single sack during the 2016 season.
The 35-year-old obviously isn't going to be Los Angeles' left tackle for the long haul, which raises questions as to why a rebuilding team would hand Whitworth a three-year, $36 million deal. There are two clear arguments for the deal. One is that the Rams are really committed to Whitworth for only one year; they guaranteed the three-time Pro Bowler $12.5 million in 2017 with just $2.5 million due in guarantees the following year. That's paying Whitworth less than the franchise tag would have cost this season.
Jared Goff. Goff was a mess in the pocket as a rookie but also was beset by pass pressure; he faced the league's third-highest blitz rate (34.3 percent) and second-highest pressure rate (35.6 percent) while taking sacks an unreal 11.2 percent of the time. No quarterback was going to look remotely competent under that level of pressure, let alone somebody as inexperienced as Goff. Whitworth should take over for the massively frustrating Greg Robinson and lock down one side of the line for the time being.
