Dec. 16, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Detroit Lions tackle Gosder Cherilus against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Lions 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

For those of us who are watching NFL Free Agency still and wondering if our teams are going to solve that gaping hole at right tackle it seems odd that so many talented players at the position continue to sit on the market.  Is Andre Smith really not worth paying?  If the Bengals who “have more cap space than the GDP of some small countries” don’t want to re-sign him, what’s wrong with him?  Why is Tyson Clabo still on the market despite reported interest?  How is it that Eric Winston is cut and lingers on the market but Gosder Cherilus proved he is worth being picked up immediately?

All of these questions make this year’s free agency period incredibly odd.  Right tackle is by no means a premium position (Cherilus signed a $7 million dollar contract this free agency period) but it is still a crucial position that dictates how the run game performs and can still be an important factor in pass protection.  You need look no further than the Jacksonville Jaguars to see how detrimental it can be to have a rotating door of players acting as a sieve to decimate one of the better running attacks in the NFL.

So, what is up with right tackle?

It appears that there is a consensus among NFL front offices that right tackle simply isn’t worth investing in anymore.  For those players that can’t play left tackle and are shifted over, that’s a tough break.  Players like Doug Free are unlikely to make nearly as much money after shifting to the right side.  Having an “L” in front of the “T” is simply more valuable in this quarterback-driven league.

In order to “get by” (as if making $7 million is just getting by) a right tackle needs to be the complete package.  Perhaps the best example of this is Tyson Clabo, recently released by the Atlanta Falcons.  Clabo has been incredibly consistent during his time in the NFL.  He consistently ranks among the best right tackles in the NFL, he’s a workhorse, and he shows that he can be dependable and a team player.  That’s pretty much all you look for in a guy who acts as 1/5 of an offensive line unit.  He is a strong link at the other end of the chain from the left tackle.  Because of this he is getting immediate interest from the Dallas Cowboys and the Jaguars.

Those that aren’t the complete package, like Andre Smith, have had some mediocre to poor years in their time on the gridiron.  Coming off a year being the best right tackle in the league, Smith has some poor years that act as red flags which teams lookign to sign him seem to be wary of.  Handgun possession at an airport (just check it, man!) outside of Montana is a big no-no and since the Plaxico Burress debacle a lot of teams will steer clear of players with gun-related incidents.  Smith’s red flags, despite a great year, are just too much.  The fact that he was the best right tackle of the 2012 season and can’t be signed, no matter the reason, seems to have put a damper on right tackle on the whole.

Neil Hornsby of Pro Football Focus thinks that right tackle and left tackle have now become two separate positions entirely.  While some left tackles can effectively play on the right side, not many right tackles can play on the left.  Left tackles have simply become more valuable.

Because there is less importance placed on right tackle I think a lot of teams are waiting until the NFL Draft, where they can snag a right tackle for cheap in a deep draft class, to see if they can fill their need.  If the need isn’t met in the draft, players like Winston and maybe even Clabo will still be available on the free agent market.  It’s a tough year to be a right tackle because of the depth of the draft class and the continued minimization of the position’s value.  As Hornsby notes, “Mammas don’t let your babies grow up to be right tackles.”

- Luke N. Sims

Sep 30, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tackle Andre Smith (71) blocks Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Austen Lane (right) during the third quarter at Everbank Field. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Sebastian Vollmer, Andre Smith, Eric Winston.  These are all good right tackles that teams are waiting to sign during this offseason’s free agency period.  So far, despite the premium talent of all three, nobody has been able to make a move.  Are they all waiting on Jake Long to sign or are they all waiting on one of the other three?

Eventually one of them, or Long – despite playing left tackle, and the market will be set.  Gosder Cherilus signed early in free agency but was considered more of a value pickup and less of a premium talent at the right tackle position.  There are a number of teams who will be in play for the services of the three top right tackles and they will have to be quick as soon as the signing starts occurring.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been quite quiet thus far in free agency, but going after any of these three right tackles would be a big move for the team.  I expect the Jags to be in play for Vollmer, likely to let Smith and Winston walk, though the latter would also be a good fit.  All three have a decent number of playing years left in them and should be solid additions either as bridges or cornerstones of GM Dave Caldwell’s rebuild.  I expect the dominoes to begin to fall sometime this week, maybe by the middle as rumors seem to indicate that players like Jake Long are getting closer to signing.

- Luke N. Sims

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Dec. 16, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Detroit Lions tackle Gosder Cherilus against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Lions 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

With the Jacksonville Jaguars’ team needs heading into the draft passing on a right tackle in the early rounds make sense.  Whether it’s because you want West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith and a pass rusher, because you want to rebuild the defense, or because you value a different position (guard) on the offensive line, right tackle seems like the odd position out.  Fortunately the NFL has free agency.  There a couple of good prospects that the Jags could take a swing at if they want to solve the void on the right side of the line.

Gosder Cherilus, RT, Detroit Lions

• The Lions have a suitable replacement (Riley Reiff) for Cherilus, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see them let him walk. Cherlius had Regenokine Therapy on his knee in January, so it seems even more likely that the team may just abandon him and let him go to someone else.  If the Jags are looking for value, Cherilus (Pro Football Focus’ second ranked right tackle) could have a resurgence in a new location and for cheap.

Andre Smith, RT, Cincinnati Bengals

• PFF’s top ranked right tackle, Smith will be more expensive and more sought after than Cherilus.  Smith is expected to test free agency, but it would be shocking if the Bengals didn’t saddle up and pay him.  He would be a big upgrade over Cameron Bradfield, but it seems unlikely that the Jags are willing to shell out the kind of money Smith will be looking for.

The Jags aren’t looking to spend a whole lot of money during free agency, so Cherilus seems like the likely option, assuming they turn to free agency and not the draft.  While it would be pleasant to see the team make a play for someone as talented as Smith, it’s doubtful that GM Dave Caldwell suddenly changes his stance on being a big player during 2013′s free agency period.  I would love to see a quality tackle brought in and Cherilus should be considered, but really anybody could be an improvement over the Guy Whimper/Cameron Bradfield experiment from 2012.

- Luke N. Sims

Feel free to leave comments on here or visit us at Facebook or Twitter!

You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims