New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead is one of the biggest names that are set to enter free agency in the upcoming offseason. He recently saw the end of his five-year, $65 million contract signed back in 2017 and the team's difficult cap situation will make it quite hard for them to bring him back for another tour of duty.
Armstead has always been an anchor of the Saints' offensive line and is a solid veteran who has good hands and athleticism in the position. Given his skill set, the 30-year-old can surely be a game-changer in any offensive line that he will join for next season.
However, a major point of concern would be his ability to stay healthy which has always haunted him ever since his arrival in the league. The same can be said for the 2021 season as he only played a total of eight games due to elbow and knee injuries. Despite Armstead's health concerns, it can't be denied that he is still a valuable player who can make an immediate impact for any team that is looking for an upgrade at the left tackle position for 2022.
With that said, let's take a look at three potential landing spots for the nine-year veteran in the upcoming NFL offseason.
Terron Armstead Free Agency Landing Spots
It is safe to say that the Miami Dolphins' offensive line has greatly underwhelmed in recent seasons which ultimately led to the on-field struggles of QB Tua Tagovailoa. In fact, they are the lowest-ranked unit in the league for 2021, per Pro Football Focus. That in itself already shows that they should put an emphasis on rehauling their offensive line heading to next season.
In addition, they also have to find a replacement for their starting left tackle in Liam Eichenberg. The 24-year-old rookie failed to make a good account of himself in 17 games played as he merely earned a 50.7 grade from Pro Football Focus. The lackluster performance of the other linemen didn't help his cause as well, which eventually hindered the team from having a dynamic offensive attack on most occasions.
Luckily, the Dolphins are finding themselves in a favorable position as they currently have the most cap space in the league with around $60 million. They can surely afford to land Armstead's services with that amount of money and allow him to be a cornerstone for a young rebuilding team that is aiming to make it back to the playoffs sooner than later.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Indianapolis Colts have one of the most impressive offensive lines for the 2021 season. The emergence of running back Jonathan Taylor, who previously led the league in rushing, only speaks volumes of the group's ability to be a solid run-blocking unit.
As good as they were in that aspect, the offensive line greatly struggled in providing pass protection for their QB in Carson Wentz, primarily due to injuries sustained by their key players. Moreover, in the upcoming offseason, the Colts are also expecting veteran LT Eric Fisher to test the waters after his one-year contract has already expired.
Indianapolis can brace for his departure as they currently have the seventh-most cap space in the league with $35.8 million. With that said, general manager Chris Ballard can take a look at Terron Armstead to be a long-term solution at the left tackle position. If he manages to stay healthy then there is no doubt that the Colts' offensive line will see a significant improvement for the 2022 season.
Perhaps the most ideal destination for Terron Armstead out of all the teams in the league would be the Cincinnati Bengals. In recent years, the squad's offensive line was in dire need of a major overhaul, especially after Joe Burrow arrived in 2020.
Unfortunately, the team failed to completely address the gaps in that group which led their franchise QB to be sacked 51 times in the 2021 regular season. Despite the evident holes, Zac Taylor and his men still managed to overachieve and reach Super Bowl 56 in the 2021 season. Even with their success, addressing their offensive line remains to be a top priority for the front office in the weeks to come.
Much like the Dolphins and the Colts, the Bengals also have the flexibility to do make significant changes as they currently have an estimated $49 million in salary-cap space available in the offseason. If they manage to land the three-time Pro Bowler in Armstead then it will surely open up more opportunities for Burrow in the pocket. Additionally, it will also help elevate their rushing attack which is being led by a potent RB in Joe Mixon.
Hopefully, a tenured veteran like Terron Armstead would be the missing piece that the Bengals need in order to return to the Super Bowl stage and finally win a title next season.
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