I'd like to see them draft Drew Kendall late to compete with Monk. Whoever won that battle would have an inside track to replace Jenkins if they decide to move on from him and hopefully the other would make it to the PS and be ready to compete for a spot on the 53 in 2026.

For those of you who like football players that wrestled check out Nash Hutmacher, DT from Nebraska. Won the SD State Championship four years in a row and went 166-0 including 73 straight pins to finish his high school career. Went from 325 lbs to 285 lbs to wrestle between the '23 and '24 football season and then added 20 lbs back. Most likely a 6-7 round pick but you have to like his chances to make a team or at least the PS as a backup 1T. Was 312 lbs at Nebraska pro day but will probably play around 320. 7.39 RAS.

I'd take Josh Simmons @23 in a heartbeat. He's pro ready. I'd bet he'd replace Walker by at least mid year and Walker is gone next year, unless he comes back on the cheap. Simmons has elite talent.

I've been a big proponent of securing the OL this offseason. They can hope guys like Glover and Jennings, who could be players with more development, are ready to step in if needed, but--just like WR--if they expect it and draft as if they're relying on it, that's essentially roster mismanagement. I think we all expect Tom to get a new deal done soon, but after that, they're looking at trying to figure out what to do with both Rhyan and Walker--how early they address the draft and with what kind of player will tell us volumes about how they plan to handle those players.

Jonah Monheim would also be a nice pickup late but I think he might go before he should. He could help with depth at all three inside spots but might be a career backup. I saw a few plays where Mason Graham ragdolled him, put him on the ground a couple times.

Monk has been flying under the radar this year while Rhyan actually provides some pretty good value. I think both of these guys impact our draft but could also be key pieces next year. I'm disappointed Monk isn't ready to start at C this year but Jenkins just bought him another year to get ready.

If we expect Morgan to go back to RG this year, then Rhyan becomes a capable backup at center and guard. He's coming up on the end of his contract but I think Rhyan provides us with some pretty good flexibility.

Financially speaking, I think we need Monk to start at C next year because this o-line is starting to get expensive.

I would love the Simmons pick, but as stated above last year Morgan got hurt...lost a year and to do it with Simmons and he sits for a year just asking for trouble.
So Belton and this guy may be picks that would make the oline strong for awhile.

Luke Kandra
OG
Cincinnati
Height: 6 - 4 |
Weight: 319 lbs |
RAS: 9.34
Luke Kandra transferred from Louisville to Cincinnati after two seasons. He is an above-average athlete who gets off the ball quickly and moves well in space. He is also a physical offensive lineman who plays with a high motor in the run game. Kandra is a disciplined player that has unbelievably been penalized just twice in his entire college career. He had elite pass-blocking production this past season with zero sacks and eight pressures allowed on 447 snaps. Kandra does have stiff hips which impacts his overall pad level. He is a strong anchor in pass pro and can hold up to bigger and more physical edge rushers. In the run game, Kandra is an impressive second-level blocker.
Just MHO

Wow, Belton's arms grew 2 inches just during the course of the article.Give some of that prose to Zach Tom.

OL depth is a good idea, but not with rounds 1 or 2; Simmons scares me with the torn patellar tendon. It's not like an ACL where you reconstitute it with a graft, rather just sew the two ends together. Give me Harmon or Nolen first then follow with a CB.

I remain unconvinced that we can’t resign both Walker and Tom, should we wish to. That therefore means that I do not rule out Morgan continuing as a G primarily.

If Jenkins starts at C, the only back up I see other than Monk is Rhyan. Will we resign Rhyan if he’s not a starting G? If we keep Walker, do we see Jenkins at C as a one year thing or expect a radically cheaper 3rd deal?

The long and the short of it is that we have a need to bring on depth, but where depends on what the team believes it has. That includes G/T Donovan Jennings who we guaranteed 100k to last year as a UDFA. While I think he’s a pure G, he’s still listed as a GT. Is he a legitimate contender now healthy? Monk is a mystery to all.

Is Glover really a G or a T needing refinement (he’s now listed as a T only, but then so is Telfort and I think that ship sailed)? Marquis Hayes is a big former draft pick G who got sidelined by injury. He profiles well particularly in the run game. It’s possible he is more than just a name on the 90.

Since we do not know that, it’s pure guesswork. I can see arguments for a C, for a G or a T. However, I don’t see any needed for significant unless we have a lot of injuries this year, particularly if Jennings or Hayes is a legitimate contender at G.

For that reason, I see a later pick with upside being by far the most likely outcome. I think a pick able to help on the interior (at least initially) is slightly more likely but there are too many factors only insiders can know for that to be more than just a gut feeling.

Draft for depth? We need to get better on the O line. We have 2-3 solid starters, everyone else was a Jag.