With the new league year just around the corner, it's time for all 32 NFL teams to turn their attention to NFL free agency in a bid to improve their rosters for a new campaign.
Here are the top free agents at offensive tackle, taken from PFF's free agency rankings.
Editor's note: For up-to-the-minute updates based on everything we’re hearing around the NFL, go to PFF's free agency rankings, where you can sort by position, team needs, and more all offseason long.
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1. OT Orlando Brown Jr.
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
After threatening to hold out for the 2022 season following a franchise-tag saga that didn’t culminate in a long-term deal, Brown turned a slow start into a strong second half protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes. From Week 10 to the end of the regular season, Brown’s 88.7 pass-blocking grade ranked third best among left tackles.
He may not become one of the game’s true top tackles given his much-maligned athletic limitations, but he’s a very reliable blindside protector who has succeeded in two diametrically opposed offensive schemes.
2. OT Mike McGlinchey
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
McGlinchey hasn’t quite lived up to his top-10 pick billing coming out of the 2018 NFL Draft, but he is a quality starter at right tackle who has returned to form after suffering a torn quadriceps in 2021. He’s dealt with various minor injuries over the years but has done well to avoid missing much time overall.
McGlinchey is a perfect fit in Kyle Shanahan’s wide-zone rushing attack, with his 85.4 run-blocking grade since he entered the league a top-10 mark among tackles. He still has room to grow as a pass protector but notably dropped his pressure percentage allowed from 6.1% over his first three seasons to 5.1% over the past two.
3. OT Jawaan Taylor
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Taylor earned a career-high 76.4 pass-blocking grade in 2022 that landed him in the top 25 among tackles on the year. He allowed pressure on just 2.5% of dropbacks, the third-lowest mark among tackles in the NFL, though quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s lightning-quick 2.51-second average time to throw certainly helped. However, Taylor’s 76.7 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets still ranked 14th among tackles and his 5.2% pressure rate allowed was a top-10 mark.
On the other hand, Taylor had the highest rate of negatively graded run blocks among tackles in the NFL (22.4%). This is, of course, the less important aspect of tackle play, but it’s undoubtedly still a cause for concern if a lineman is earning a negative grade on more than one out of every five rushing plays.
4. OT Kaleb McGary
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
McGary, a first-round pick in 2019, had his fifth-year option declined for 2023 and responded with a career year that sets him up nicely. The Falcons chose not to franchise-tag him, with the approximately $18.25 million price likely too rich in their eyes.
McGary’s 91.6 run-blocking grade in 2022 ranked second among tackles, trailing only the great Trent Williams, with 19.7% of his run-blocking snaps earning a positive grade, which also placed second best. The concern here will be if he’s a beneficiary of the NFL’s run-heaviest offense and if his 66.9 pass-blocking grade — a career best — can continue to improve in years to come.
5. OT Isaiah Wynn
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Wynn had a very tumultuous rookie contract with the New England Patriots, missing his entire rookie 2018 season to injury and good chunks of time in 2019 and 2020. Nevertheless, over the 2019-21 seasons, Wynn earned 70.0-plus pass-blocking grades each year, and his 79.6 overall grade ranked 26th among tackles.
Injuries are a legitimate concern, and the Patriots seemed to reach a boiling point in 2022 with the lack of certainty, but Wynn will be just 26 years old for most of his sixth NFL season and has logged significant time at both tackle spots. We projected a deal that is right about the same value as his 2022 fifth-year option but over a two-year stretch. Perhaps Wynn looks to take a one-year flier instead if he thinks he can boost his stock into a multi-year deal.
6. OT Taylor Lewan
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Knee injuries have ended two of the past three seasons for Lewan, and there have to be some questions about how he will return this time. He bounced back in 2021 from injury, and he will face the same uphill climb in 2023.
7. OT Kelvin Beachum
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Beachum earned his 10th straight season-long pass-blocking grade above 70.0 and showed few signs of slowing down at 33 years old, logging more than 1,100 snaps with a revolving door of lineman teammates at each of the other four positions all season long.
He’s limited as a run blocker, and that won’t change, but you know what you’re going to get with Beachum at right tackle, and you’re likely going to get tremendous value considering he’s coming off a two-year, $4 million deal signed in 2021.
8. OT Jermaine Eluemunor
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Eluemunor’s journey is one of perseverance, and after finally being trusted with a starting job for a full season, the longtime swing tackle deserves a solid payday above the minimum.
From Week 7 through the end of the season, Eluemunor’s 83.1 pass-blocking grade ranked fourth among right tackles, with his 4.0% pressure rate allowed on true pass sets (2.0 seconds or more, straight dropback, screens and play action removed) also the fourth-best mark at the position.
9. OT Cameron Fleming
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Fleming has bounced around the league over the past few years but earned a career-high 72.6 grade on a career-high 976 snaps in 2022.
The 30-year-old tackle also put his swing-tackle prowess on display, with nine starts at right tackle and six at left tackle, earning grades right around 70.0 on each side of the line.
The veteran should have a handful of suitors after reminding the league that he can be a very reliable swing option.
10. OT Donovan Smith
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
11. OT George Fant
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Fant struggled with injuries and once again moved back and forth between right and left tackle, an unfortunate development after a career year in 2021 had him looking for an extension before the season began. The seventh-year tackle earned a career-high 75.1 pass-blocking grade in 2021, playing almost exclusively at left tackle.
His 3.2% pressure rate allowed was the sixth lowest among tackles on the season. Fant will be 31 years old in 2023, and at worst he is a reliable swing tackle who has plenty of experience over the past two years on either side of the line. He just needs to get back to full health.
12. OT Trey Pipkins
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
13. OT Andrew Wylie
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
14. OT Billy Turner
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
15. OT Brandon Shell
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
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