Top five offensive tackles for Redskins to target in 2020 NFL free agency
New York Jets. Kelvin Beachum. 3. player. 30. . Offensive Tackle
Kelvin Beachum is a similar option to Cordy Glenn. Both were underestimated when they came into the league and both turned into solid left tackles. Both have dealt with injury issues at times, but they really helped their team on the field.
And both are in their early 30s, but they still have enough left in the tank to make a difference.
The difference that Beachum made with the Jets last season was very easy to spot. Essentially, when both he and Sam Darnold were on the field, the team was solid. When either wasn’t, the team struggled immensely. Here are the stats on that courtesy of a piece I wrote for NBC Sports Boston.
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"Beachum was arguably the most important player on the Jets offense aside from Sam Darnold. When the Jets were without Darnold or Beachum last season, they had an 0-6 record and averaged just 197.7 yards and 9.3 points per game. When both were healthy, the Jets averaged 329.1 yards and 22.7 points per contest en route to a 7-2 record."
That’s a massive difference. And while Darnold certainly played a role in that, the offensive line was simply a disaster when Beachum was out. He was the only piece that kept that unit from being one of the worst in the league.
Given that Beachum turns 31 in June, he should have a few solid years left. Again, he would make sense as more of a stopgap option for the Redskins, but his mentorship could prove valuable to any offensive tackle the team drafts.
Beachum ranks higher than Glenn because he is less injury-prone (only four games missed in the past four seasons) and he edges out Vaitai because he’s a proven starter. Any of the trio makes sense as mid-tier options, but Beachum could really be the perfect option to hold the fort for a couple of years while the ‘Skins develop a successor from this draft class.