:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50100217/usa-today-8914350.0.jpg)
The Atlanta Falcons worked a small miracle when they plucked Ryan Schraeder out of college free agent purgatory in 2013. The talented right tackle had something Thomas Dimitroff liked and his signing has paid huge dividends. In 2015 Schraeder absolutely dominated his competition. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, he was the best right tackle in the league last season.
Top overall grades among RTs in 2015:
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) July 8, 2016
1. @RyanSchraeder73, 87.0
2. @MitchSchwartz72, 86.6
3. @Moe_Foundation, 80.2
4. @BazookaJoe72, 79.3
Schraeder signed a second round tender in April. That means we're only on the hook for $2.5 million this season. (Bargains like that only exist in Dave's mom's coupon-cutting dreams.) To say that Dimitroff hit a home run when he found Schraeder is a substantial understatement.
To be frank, I'm not sure what Schraeder's 2016 will look like. I'd like to think he's as good as he appeared to be last season. Then again, even with some regression, he's still an enormous value. What's more, he's going to command a substantial salary increase next off-season. This may be our last opportunity to see him work.
Your thoughts?