Previewing 2021 OL free agents for Washington football to watch

Offensive Tackles

If all these guys hit the open market in 2021, watch out. There will be a plethora of riches rarely seen. There are currently half a dozen first-rate tackles entering the final year of their contracts. Even if only half of them make to free agency, there will be some excellent options. The best of the lot may be right up the road in Baltimore, where Ronnie Stanley has been holding down the left side since he entered the league. Stanley has everything you would want in the tackle, and I can’t imagine the Ravens letting him leave the building. If he is on the market, he will command a monster deal.

But just step down from Stanely are young studs the likes of Dion Dawkins (Buffalo), Garett Bolles (Denver), and Taylor Decker (Detroit). All would draw interest from Washington. Perhaps the most intriguing option is Taylor Moton, an improving right tackle who has played his entire career for Ron Rivera down in Carolina. If Saahdiq Charles or Cornelius Lucas proves capable at left tackle this season, Washington football might save a little money by going after a very productive player on the right side.

Bolles is currently 28. None of the others are past 26. The other premium tackle who is currently scheduled for free agency is David Bakhtiari, and I suspect Aaron Rodgers will chain him to the Lambeau Field goal post before seeing him leave Green Bay.

The situation in Pittsburgh bears watching. Both starting tackles, Pro Bowler Alejandro Villanueva and right tackle Matt Feiler, are pending free agents, as is promising backup Zach Banner. It will be interesting to see how the Steelers choose to handle this situation.

Villanueva is an older player and they may let him test the market, while striving to re-sign their younger talent. If they decide to throw big money at Villanueva, then Feiler, who can play either tackle or guard, would be an excellent lower-priced option for a team like Washington football. Banner, has not played a lot in his three seasons as a pro, but he is a massive prospect who could pay off with the right training and coaching.