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Where does Free rank among NFL left tackles?
June, 14, 2011
By Todd Archer
By Todd Archer
IRVING, Texas -- Whenever the NFL gets back to business the Cowboys will make Doug Free one of their first priorities.
Depending on the situation Free will either be a restricted or unrestricted free agent. However, once the Cowboys say they want to keep a guy, they keep him. I can’t think of a guy they let walk that they really wanted to keep over the last few years.
But where does Free rank?
Our guys at ESPN.com had him as the 13th-best left tackle in football in their power rankings. He received two top-10 votes. According to that ranking, it puts him as the fifth-best left tackle in the NFC behind Carolina’s Jordan Gross (No. 4), Philadelphia’s Jason Peters (No. 7), Tampa Bay’s Donald Penn (tied for No. 8) and Green Bay’s Chad Clifton (No. 12).
The guys at ProFootballFocus said Free had the fifth-best season of any left tackle in pass blocking efficiency in their rankings.
Last year’s NFC Pro Bowlers, who were either picked for the game or added later, were Gross, Atlanta’s Tyson Clabo, Penn and Clifton. That’s a solid group, but Free has the potential to be as good or better than them.
He had a terrific first season as a full-time left tackle in 2010. The Cowboys drafted Tyron Smith with the No. 9 overall pick in April in part because he has the athleticism to play left tackle in the future.
Sorry, he’s not needed over there.
June, 14, 2011
By Todd Archer
By Todd Archer
IRVING, Texas -- Whenever the NFL gets back to business the Cowboys will make Doug Free one of their first priorities.
Depending on the situation Free will either be a restricted or unrestricted free agent. However, once the Cowboys say they want to keep a guy, they keep him. I can’t think of a guy they let walk that they really wanted to keep over the last few years.
But where does Free rank?
Our guys at ESPN.com had him as the 13th-best left tackle in football in their power rankings. He received two top-10 votes. According to that ranking, it puts him as the fifth-best left tackle in the NFC behind Carolina’s Jordan Gross (No. 4), Philadelphia’s Jason Peters (No. 7), Tampa Bay’s Donald Penn (tied for No. 8) and Green Bay’s Chad Clifton (No. 12).
The guys at ProFootballFocus said Free had the fifth-best season of any left tackle in pass blocking efficiency in their rankings.
Last year’s NFC Pro Bowlers, who were either picked for the game or added later, were Gross, Atlanta’s Tyson Clabo, Penn and Clifton. That’s a solid group, but Free has the potential to be as good or better than them.
He had a terrific first season as a full-time left tackle in 2010. The Cowboys drafted Tyron Smith with the No. 9 overall pick in April in part because he has the athleticism to play left tackle in the future.
Sorry, he’s not needed over there.
at Jason Peters being 7th overall. One of the most overrated players in the league at that position.
