Rodger Saffold, OG, Los Angeles Rams (... or any other top interior OL)
There was scuttlebutt around Indianapolis last week that Saffold could become the highest-paid guard in football despite never making a Pro Bowl. Dynamic in the running game and on screens, Saffold is closer to average as a pass protector. He’s a good player who is about to be paid like an absolute superstar as he enters his age 31 season and changes offensive systems.
There is this strange bromide often repeated at this time of year about guards in the draft being “plug-and-play 10-year starters” or free-agent guards being “safe pickups,” but a look at recent interior lineman getting big money in free agency reveals results as mixed as any other position, with Jaguars guard Andrew Norwell, Bucs center Ryan Jensen, 49erscenter Weston Richburg, Browns guard Kevin Zeitler, former Vikings guard Alex Boone and Lions guard T.