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

I disagree with all the talk of the Jacksonville Jaguars taking a left tackle with the second overall pick.  Sure, the Jags had some serious deficiencies in pass protection, but current left tackle Eugene Monroe is part of the solution not the problem.  Assuming the Jags don’t waste an early NFL Draft pick on a right/left tackle, free agency seems to be the perfect opportunity to solve the right tackle woes.  The Jaguars need an improvement over Cameron Bradfield.  The right tackle they need should be able to both pass block and pave the road for the running game.

Here are some guys I think the Jaguars should target in free agency:

Sebastian Vollmer

• 2012 Team: New England Patriots
• Why: Vollmer has been a popular player suggested who could solve the Jags’ right tackle woes.  While I think he may be too high priced for the Jags to pursue, Vollmer would be a solid right tackle who could stay with the team for some time.  He suffered a back injury that could cause his price to drop, but I think he could be worth the risk no matter what.  He is a high caliber player that would be tough to pass up on if he is physically able to continue his high level of play.

Eric Winston

• 2012 Team: Kansas City Chiefs
• Why: The Chiefs seemed to be making all the right moves this offseason and then they unexpectedly cut Winston.  Winston still has some quality years in front of him as a right tackle and the Jaguars should jump on the opportunity, especially if he sits on the market a bit longer than anticipated.  He is not the best right tackle available in free agency, but he is much better than anybody the Jaguars currently have.

Gosder Cherilus

• 2012 Team: Detroit Lions
• Why: The Lions may have forced Cherilus out a bit prematurely.  While they should have a good replacement in Riley Reiff, Cherilus – the second ranked right tackler per Pro Football Focus – was quietly emerging as a strong starting right tackle.  The Jaguars should take a good, long look at Cherilus and decide whether he is worth pursuing over the next couple of days.  I don’t think he’ll be quick off the market, but he will make some team incredibly happy.  A more detailed look at Cherilus can be found here.

- Luke N. Sims

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You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims

While many thought that Kansas City had moved in another direction when they chose to use the franchise tag on left tackle Branden Albert, perhaps a better view of that decision is seeing Albert’s contract for what it’s worth – a one year deal.  For Kansas City, it makes complete sense for them to maximize their salary cap, by signing a cheap replacement for Winston as well as maximizing the value of their draft pick by taking arguably the best available player.  It’s not completely clear what the Chiefs have in mind yet, because if they’re looking at Albert’s contract as a one year deal, it may have made more sense to hold onto Winston, not retain Albert, and draft Joeckel to play the left side.  As high as Winston’s cap number was going to be, the one year for Albert is certainly higher; moreover, it leaves them with a hole at right tackle after this year when Albert’s contract is up unless they a) convince Albert to play on the right side and sign a contract worth right tackle money (unlikely); b) keep Joeckel on the right side, which would not exactly be maximizing the value of their number one pick; c) trade Albert, which will still leave them with a hole on the right side, but they get something in return.  Essentially, the Chiefs did what many Jaguars fans have been clamoring for: drafting the best available player and sticking him on the right side – both to solidify the line and as an insurance policy in case their left tackle doesn’t re-sign after this season.

Feb 23, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas A

What does this mean for the Jaguars?  Unless you had your hopes set on the Jaguars drafting Luke Joeckel, I can only think of good things.

First, it means that Eric Winston is available at a position the Jaguars sorely need.  Although Winston doesn’t make sense for the Jaguars due to his age (29) and due to the salary he may command (probably a downgrade from the 8 mil he would’ve made this year, but how much less?), he played much of his career in a zone blocking system, and even if the Jaguars don’t sign him, Winston will go elsewhere, which will leave another RT available for the Jaguars to sign.

Secondly, I think it makes the number two pick marginally more valuable.  Two of the “safest” guys in the draft are left tackles Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher.  Behind those two, Lane Johnson is the only tackle likely worth top 15 consideration, and much of that is based on potential.  With Joeckel gone, the demand for the other polished tackle, Fisher, should escalate, and teams interested in Fisher that may not have the opportunity to grab him with Oakland and Philadelphia at 3 and 4 may come-a-calling.  Furthermore, if Mike Mayock’s assessment of Eric Fisher is true – that he’s basically an equal prospect to Luke Joeckel, then this truly is the best-case scenario for the Jaguars, as they’ll lose out on a player (Joeckel) who has a functional equal (Fisher).  If Luke Joeckel is the Andrew Luck of this draft, does that make Eric Fisher this year’s RG III?

– Zain Gowani