Current Undrafted Offensive Linemen

by Jefferson1935 on Jul 3, 2009 11:08 AM EDT

There are currently (7/3/09) about 161 undrafted free agent (UDFA) offensive linemen (OL) on NFL team rosters. OLs that played in games amounted to 49 of this total and 37 of these players started at least one game. The 2009 rookie UDFA were 67 and many of which will become part practice squads after 9/1/09.
There were another 45 UDFA OL that did not play in 2008 and a lot of them came into the league in 2008.

NFC East
Team………………….....Total…..Rookies…..Played in 2008…..Other
Dallas Cowboys………….6……….3…………….1.(1)………….2
New York Giants……….....6……….1…………….2.(2)………….3
Philadelphia Eagles……..5……….1……………..3.(3)………….1
Washington Redskins…...6……….2……………..2(1)………….2

Most significant UDFA in the NFC East:
The Cowboys have Cory Procter ( #71, guard, 16 games and 11starts in 2008) signed in 2005 by Detroit Lions.
The Giants have (#60 ,center, signe in 2000 by Cleveland Browns) and Rich Seubert ( #69, guard) originally signed in 2001 by the New York Giants.
The Eagles have guard Nick Cole | #59 | a 2006 signing with the team who played in 16 games and started 5 in 2008; center Jamaal Jackson | #67 | a 2003 UDFA who started all regular season games; and most recently, tackle Jason Peters | #71 | , a 2004 Buffalo Bills’UDFA, (originally a tight end).
Devin Clark | #62 | (tackle signed in 2008 by the Washington Redskins) played in 2 games and Stephen Heyer, a 2008 Skins UDFA, who played in 9 games and started 7in 2008.

One of the most significant turn around offensive linemen in 2008 was Ike Ndukwe Dolphins guard, http://www.nfl.com/players/ikendukwe/profile?id=NDU355964.
Season…Team………….. . .G………GS
2008……Miami Dolphins…16………15
2007……Miami Dolphins ....0………. .0
2007……Baltimore Ravens.. 0……….0
2006……Baltimore Ravens..5………..0
2006……Wash. Redskins….0………..0
2005……Wash. Redskins….0………..0
TOTAL ……………………......21……...15

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A Measure of the Offensive Linemen Labor Force before cutdowns

The sum of the current UDFA (161) and the the active drafted (317) offensive linemen is about 478 at this point of the off season.

The matrix (per Va_Skin) which shows the drafted offensive linemen by position and draft round is a model which gives some indication of attrition of these players. It can also provide the means for a draft strategy for maintaining and improving the offensive line component of a team. While the “what you see is what you get” from the preview screen did not maintain it’s format in my earlier post, it can be seen that the attrition rate from 1st round to 7th round selected players is progressively greater, i.e., generally speaking 6th and 7th round selections do not stay in the league as long as 1st and 2nd round selections. The 3rd to 5th round selections are intermediate in this perspective. This suggest a model where early round selections should be allocated by management over “x” seasons depending on various factors such as injuries and loss of players due to free agency. While UDFA and late round selected players can end up as top quality, it is not the easiest means of maintaining or improving offensive lines.
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by Jefferson1935 on Jul 4, 2009 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

This model

could also be applied to every position in the NFL. The higher round draft picks for any position are statistically more probable to become starters and play longer. I would also like to see how the OL position compares to the other positions, in terms of finding top talent in the lower rounds and their attrition rates.

RAK EM UP!

by VA_Skin on Jul 4, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

This Model

My guess is that large size (300 lbs +) and less speed would decrease the chances of OL playing on a number of special teams. Punting and kick off situations do not favor playing time for linemen that are usually playing first, second, or third downs.

I am not the likely candidate to do additional review for other positions.

by Jefferson1935 on Jul 4, 2009 4:23 PM EDT reply actions

Offensive linemen that are "projects"

are on every team and get to grow up a couple of years before they get tested

by terpsez11 on Jul 5, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

Offensive linemen that are "projects"

“are on every team and get to grow up a couple of years before they get tested” This is partially true of the Giant’s starters.
David Diehl | #66 | T
Rd 5 2003 ps160 New York Giants
Height: 6-5 Weight: 319 Age: 28
Born: 9/15/1980 Chicago , IL
College: Illinois
Experience: 7th season
Season Team G GS
2008 New York Giants 16 16
2007 New York Giants 16 16
2006 New York Giants 16 16
2005 New York Giants 16 16
2004 New York Giants 16 16
2003 New York Giants 16 16
TOTAL 96 96
Kareem McKenzie | #67 | T
Rd 3 2001 ps79 New York Jets
9th offensive lineman selected
Height: 6-6 Weight: 327 Age: 30
Born: 5/24/1979 Trenton , NJ
College: Penn State
Season Team G GS
2008 New York Giants 16 16
2007 New York Giants 16 16
2006 New York Giants 15 15
2005 New York Giants 14 14
2004 New York Jets 16 16
2003 New York Jets 16 16
2002 New York Jets 16 16
2001 New York Jets 8 0
TOTAL 117 109
Shaun O’Hara | #60 | C
UDFA 2000 Cleveland Browns,
Height: 6-3 Weight: 303 Age: 31
Born: 6/23/1977 Chicago , IL
College: Rutgers
One time pro-bowler
Experience: 10th season
Season Team G GS
2008 New York Giants 16 16
2007 New York Giants 16 16
2006 New York Giants 15 15
2005 New York Giants 16 16
2004 New York Giants 12 12
2003 Cleveland Browns 14 14
2002 Cleveland Browns 16 16
2001 Cleveland Browns 16 4
2000 Cleveland Browns 8 4
TOTAL 129 113
Rich Seubert | #69 | G
UDFA 2001 New York Giants
Height: 6-3 Weight: 310 Age: 30
Born: 3/30/1979 Rosellville , WI
College: Western Illinois
Experience: 9th season
Season Team G GS
2008 New York Giants 16 16
2007 New York Giants 16 16
2006 New York Giants 14 3
2005 New York Giants 4 1
2004 New York Giants 0 0
2003 New York Giants 6 6
2002 New York Giants 16 16
2001 New York Giants 2 0
TOTAL 74 58
Chris Snee | #76 | G
Rd 2 2004 ps34 New York Giants
4th offensive lineman selected
Height: 6-3 Weight: 317 Age: 27
Born: 1/18/1982 Edison , NJ
College: Boston College
Experience: 6th season
Season Team G GS
2008 New York Giants 16 16
2007 New York Giants 16 16
2006 New York Giants 16 16
2005 New York Giants 16 16
2004 New York Giants 11 11
TOTAL 75 75

by Jefferson1935 on Jul 5, 2009 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

what's amazing to think about

2 of our best O-linemen ever went undrafted. Jacoby and Bostic. Furthermore, by today’s standards, George Starke would have been undrafted, since he went in the 11th round in ‘71. That’s 3 of the 5 main Hogs going undrafted. May was a 1st rounder, and Grimm a 3rd rounder.

This really says something about Joe Bugel’s knack for developing these guys (something we all knew already). But what does it say about todays players vs. yesterdays, when one of the best offensive lines ever was comprised of 3 largely unheralded players, not to mention only one 1st rounder. There are many ways to go with that, but I personally think it has more to do with the vast improvement in the draft and scouting process than anything else.

by CJHutch on Jul 5, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions

It's a tough comparison...

i always struggle with asking myself would Bostic and Jacoby be able to handle the quality of DL today…Freeney, Ware, Haynesworth, etc…

by Kevin Ewoldt on Jul 6, 2009 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

the weight

and speed are way up. But I don’t think today’s guy’s have the nastiness. Maybe Haynesworth. But there are no Dexter types, no Deacon Jones’, not even a John Randle. Wilbur Marshall would step on guys’ fingers while they’re on the ground. Lavar would help guys up. That’s a BIG difference.

by CJHutch on Jul 6, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions