Trading for an interior lineman - what this team really needs

[Kellyb72601]

All this talk about receivers I don't think they need any receivers. The offense has started looking about exactly like it did last year at this point in the season. Can't run the ball at all, can't protect the QB, and can't pick up blitzes. The problem is lack of starting caliber lineman at both guards & the center position. Zion is the main culprit he just can't move his feet and teams specifically target him with blitzes every 3rd down, but really an upgrade could be used anywhere at those 3 spots.

With that said we play cleveland ths week and I'm pretty sure they'd be open to moving either Bitonio or Wyatt Teller at the deadline - both pro bowl caliber guards. Not sure how the salary would work but this team is an interior lineman away from being a legit contender.

Who else you'll got?

[Budsman]

All this talk about receivers I don't think they need any receivers. The offense has started looking about exactly like it did last year at this point in the season. Can't run the ball at all, can't protect the QB, and can't pick up blitzes. The problem is lack of starting caliber lineman at both guards & the center position. Zion is the main culprit he just can't move his feet and teams specifically target him with blitzes every 3rd down, but really an upgrade could be used anywhere at those 3 spots.

With that said we play cleveland ths week and I'm pretty sure they'd be open to moving either Bitonio or Wyatt Teller at the deadline - both pro bowl caliber guards. Not sure how the salary would work but this team is an interior lineman away from being a legit contender.

Who else you'll got?

I can’t recall the last time an IOL was traded at the deadline. On the one hand continuity is important on the other hand like you mentioned players who have the skillset to play are also important. I’m interested to see if there is anyone who we can pick up but I wouldn’t be against trading for quality depth that can push Zion or pipkins and take over if needed.

[Kellyb72601]

Yeah good lineman are in short supply and teams don't wanna get rid of them. But the browns are about to start a major rebuild & they're gonna have to cut one or both of those guys next year anyway.

[KrazyLegs]

All this talk about receivers I don't think they need any receivers. The offense has started looking about exactly like it did last year at this point in the season. Can't run the ball at all, can't protect the QB, and can't pick up blitzes. The problem is lack of starting caliber lineman at both guards & the center position. Zion is the main culprit he just can't move his feet and teams specifically target him with blitzes every 3rd down, but really an upgrade could be used anywhere at those 3 spots.

With that said we play cleveland ths week and I'm pretty sure they'd be open to moving either Bitonio or Wyatt Teller at the deadline - both pro bowl caliber guards. Not sure how the salary would work but this team is an interior lineman away from being a legit contender.

Who else you'll got?

I was with you until you completed this thought: "All this talk about receivers"...

[Boltx]

How easy/hard is it to just insert a new OG halfway thru the season?

I'm guessing difficult, even if it's a quality player.

[Kellyb72601]

I was with you until you completed this thought: "All this talk about receivers"...

I don’t know that it’s been talked much around here because I haven’t been around here much, but it is in other places. Just last week Popper wrote an article about trading for Mike Williams. It wouldn’t hurt but I don’t think a receiver would make all that much difference, especially when they get some guys back from injury. But run the football better and all the sudden the receivers on the roster start to look a lot better.

[sonorajim]

How easy/hard is it to just insert a new OG halfway thru the season?

I'm guessing difficult, even if it's a quality player.

From another team? Unlikely.
OL unity is paramount and hard to build.
If it were a healthy All Pro C, OK. I'd take that chance.
Finding one available and being able to make a deal? Basically impossible.

[sonorajim]

I don’t know that it’s been talked much around here because I haven’t been around here much, but it is in other places. Just last week Popper wrote an article about trading for Mike Williams. It wouldn’t hurt but I don’t think a receiver would make all that much difference, especially when they get some guys back from injury. But run the football better and all the sudden the receivers on the roster start to look a lot better.

It has.

[DerwinBosa]

All this talk about receivers I don't think they need any receivers. The offense has started looking about exactly like it did last year at this point in the season. Can't run the ball at all, can't protect the QB, and can't pick up blitzes. The problem is lack of starting caliber lineman at both guards & the center position. Zion is the main culprit he just can't move his feet and teams specifically target him with blitzes every 3rd down, but really an upgrade could be used anywhere at those 3 spots.

With that said we play cleveland ths week and I'm pretty sure they'd be open to moving either Bitonio or Wyatt Teller at the deadline - both pro bowl caliber guards. Not sure how the salary would work but this team is an interior lineman away from being a legit contender.

Who else you'll got?

Bitonio is 33 years old, so I would stay away from him. Teller is about to be 30 on November 21 and is signed through 2025, so he will want a contract extension after this season is over. He was just activated this past weekend after being on injured reserve with a knee injury.

It's a good thought with the Browns, who probably would be receptive to trading both of them. Personally I would stay away from both, though. I think we should focus on players in their primes. So, in that case, we'll have to wait until the offseason, because I can't imagine any team trading a good interior lineman in his prime.

[Steve]

Bitonio is 33 years old, so I would stay away from him. Teller is about to be 30 on November 21 and is signed through 2025, so he will want a contract extension after this season is over. He was just activated this past weekend after being on injured reserve with a knee injury.

It's a good thought with the Browns, who probably would be receptive to trading both of them. Personally I would stay away from both, though. I think we should focus on players in their primes. So, in that case, we'll have to wait until the offseason, because I can't imagine any team trading a good interior lineman in his prime.

Teller just got reactivated off of IR from a knee injury. He was not that great vs Baltimore, but maybe he can get healthy. Still, I am not sure trading for a guy who is hurt, when we are looking for immediate help makes much sense.

If he wasn't hurt, then it would be a good move. Last year he played through a calf injury and was a solid player.

Bitonio is a declining player, who was one of the best OG in football, but is now just a solid-ish player. An up and down guy at this stage. Still, he would be an upgrade.

[Steve]

Bitonio is 33 years old, so I would stay away from him. Teller is about to be 30 on November 21 and is signed through 2025, so he will want a contract extension after this season is over. He was just activated this past weekend after being on injured reserve with a knee injury.

It's a good thought with the Browns, who probably would be receptive to trading both of them. Personally I would stay away from both, though. I think we should focus on players in their primes. So, in that case, we'll have to wait until the offseason, because I can't imagine any team trading a good interior lineman in his prime.

The other thing that we could try is to find someone that we trade a minor pick for (very minor), use them as a stop gap.

Then if the usual trend of OL being overpaid for continues, let them go in FA (all of these trade guys are in the last or next to last contract year) and try and get a comp pick. Might involve a bit of negotiating with the player to drive his price up, but it could net us something. We might end up losing a 6th or 7th rounder this year, but might net a 3rd or 4th the following.

[Velo]

Good IOL is nice to have. But they don't catch passes or run after the catch or score touchdowns.