The Eagles and Saints have two of the league's very best offensive lines, so when they move on from a player, other teams should be placing a call. That will probably happen very quickly with Jason Peters and Larry Warford.
Peters, a nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle, is 38 years old, and the Eagles didn't resign him. They drafted Andre Dillard in the first round a year ago and plan to go with him in that spot. But even at 38, Peters was an above-average left tackle last year. Look around the league at who teams will be starting, and there are definitely some for whom Peters would be an upgrade. The Chargers, Raiders and division-rival Washington come to mind.
The Saints cut Warford yesterday. The writing was on the wall for their high-paid right guard the last three years when they drafted Cesar Ruiz in the first round. But Warford's departure is strictly financial; he's just 28 years old and has been to the Pro Bowl the last three seasons. He'll be signed by tomorrow, most likely. There are few teams that wouldn't find him to be an upgrade.
Part of the reason the Saints and Eagles have the lines they do is they've invested in it on draft day. The Saints are one of five teams that will start at least three first-round picks this year, and two of the others (Indianapolis, San Francisco) also have among the best offensive lines in the league. (The other two, Atlanta and the Giants, have certainly been trying.) The Eagles will start a pair of first-round tackles.
| OFFENSIVE LINES - 1ST-ROUNDERS | |
|---|---|
| Team | 1sts |
| Atlanta | Matthews, Carpenter, Lindstrom, Mack, McGary |
| New Orleans | Peat, Ramczyk, Ruiz |
| Indianapolis | Castonzo, Nelson, Kelly |
| San Francisco | Williams, Tomlinson, McGlinchey |
| NY Giants | Solder, Thomas, Zeitler |
| Philadelphia | Dillard, Johnson |
| Houston | Tunsil, Howard |
| Dallas | Smith, Martin |
| Pittsburgh | DeCastro, Pouncey |
| Minnesota | Reiff, Bradbury |
| Cleveland | Conklin, Wills |
| Denver | Bolles, James |
| Arizona | Humphries, Pugh |
| Tennessee | Lewan, Wilson |
| LA Chargers | Bulaga, Pouncey |
| Detroit | Decker, Ragnow |
| Miami | Jackson, Flowers |
| Seattle | Iupati |
| Tampa Bay | Wirfs |
| Chicago | Ifedi |
| Las Vegas | Miller |
| Kansas City | Fisher |
| Carolina | Okung |
| Cincinnati | Williams |
| Baltimore | Stanley |
| New England | Wynn |
| Washington | Scherff |
| NY Jets | Becton |
| Buffalo | -- |
| Jacksonville | -- |
| Green Bay | -- |
| LA Rams | -- |
Draft position isn't everything. Peters himself was undrafted. while Warford was a third-round pick. But it's telling which teams have invested in their lines on draft day, especially when some of them have among the very best lines in the league.
--Andy Richardson