2020 OL

O'Neill, Dozier, Bradbury, Elflein, Udoh/Hill

That's.... that's not a good starting o-line. Not the worst in the NFL, but still not good. Add the NFC North defensive lines and the possibility of an injury or two into the equation and things could get very ugly for Kirk. I wonder if they flip O'Neill to the left side they will also move Elflein back to LG? He may benefit with decent support on both his left and right to sure up Cousin's blind side (assuming Bradbury improves a little or at least doesn't play like he started last year). Whether its Elflein or Dozier though, the right side of the line looks pretty flimsy. At least Kirk will be able to see the DE's coming...

The Ripple Effect.

What I like:

I think Udoh is in the top 5 lineman on this team, and it's good that he is starting.

Oneil is looking to be a franchise player, and if he can make the switch seamlessly, we have our bookends.

Saving the cap gives us some flexibility


What I dont like:

Zero chance Udoh can take Elfs spot now

Moving our best lineman with 2 weeks to prepare

Losing depth, as Reiff is better than our depth and an injury will be really bad news now

Now what with Cleveland? Was the move all along to make him a guard? If not, and he sucks at guard as he looks more like a natural tackle, then we just threw away a 2nd round pick.

I don't think this is all bad.  I didn't want Cleveland to be a guard.  We need OT help! (d$mnit).  Trying him at OG was prudent, so as to see if he might be better than our other Guards (pretty low bar there), but I'm happier just leaving him to develop at OT.  I don't think we threw away a 2nd round pick.  We (ostensibly) got first round talent in the second round.  Is he a day one starter?  Apparently not, but then not many rookie O linemen are.  We won't talk about that guy whose initials are WH right now..... 

Also, you can't pay $10.9M in base salary for "depth."  (I may have read your message wrong....but that's what you seemed to be suggesting).

It appears that we did have other plans for the money (Ngakoue). 

Likely true.  That said, I think we're mostly looking beyond this (non?)year and I don't see Reiff in any long term plans.  He's getting more expensive every year and we need better performance from LT.  Will we get it this year?  I (and many others) highly doubt it (unless we rob Peter to pay Paul and move O'Niel to LT).  The big dollars need to go to game changers and I don't see Reiff as meeting that criteria.  

I've wanted us to keep Reiff, simply because I don't want the OL to get even worse.  That's admittedly not a very good argument.  It is refreshing to see Rick willing to part with veterans who aren't wowing us.  Rhodes, Waynes, Alexander, Reiff, Grif, Joseph, etc. Mostly solid players, but nobody who stands out and changes games (although Rhodes changed a few games by disappearing at the worst time and Grif was known to change a game or two with a very ill-timed off-sides penalty).  Circle of life in the NFL.  From a "ground up" perspective, we have a consistent QB and a pair of great, young pass rushers.  Skill position players are slowly becoming plug-and-play commodities.  This is certainly true of RB across the league.  Even WR/TE is heading in that direction.  Just as a consistent QB magically makes the WRs better, I think a strong pass rush magically makes the defensive backfield much "better."  Zim is a defensive genius and I am not, so I'll defer to him and Rick at this point.