Paying Cordy Glenn

by Paul Wanecski
As Bills fans, it may be tough to believe what you are about to read. It just doesn’t seem like he has been around long enough, but, the time has finally come. The phenomenal steal of the 2nd round, Cordy Glenn, has finally reached his contract year. Entering what will be his 4th professional season, the Bills have been very quiet as to if extension discussions have been happening. Do they have the room to do it this year, or, will then need to wait until near the end of the season to ink the left tackle to additional years?

In 2013, Pro Football Focus had Glenn ranked as the 11thbest tackle in football. He was strong in both pass protection and run blocking. As poorly as the offensive line performed last season, ranking 23rd in pass protection and dead last in run blocking, Glenn was still able to pull in positive numbers in what was arguably his poorest season as a professional. Still, Glenn is considered to be a top 12 tackle in the NFL. The time has finally come to pay him like one. He did miss nearly the entire pre-season due to an undisclosed “illness”, details of which are only speculative at this point. Will the team consider that during his extension talks? Quite possible given the length and value of what a top 12 tackle will make. Let’s review some comparable players:

Russell Okung was the 6th overall selection by the Seattle Seahawks in 2010. Okung is a good player to reference, so keep an eye on Seattle if they work out an extension with him, Glenn could sign a similar offer. Both are in the last year of their rookie contracts. The major problem in Seattle is that another “Russell” is up for an extension. That would be Russell Wilson and his contract could mark the end of Okung with the Seahawks. Okung was the only member of the offensive line to turn in positive ratings in pass blocking from Pro Football Focus, so his loss will be felt, especially since Seattle jettisoned their first round (albeit it was the 31st) selection to New Orleans.

Eugene Monroe was drafted 8th overall in Baltimore in 2009. His contract extension was signed at the start of 2014, worth 37.5 million for 5 years with 17.5 million guaranteed. His cap charge escalates from 7.7 this year, slowly climbing to the final two years, both at 8.95 million. This is currently ranked the 12th highest contract for a left tackle. Given production, Monroe is probably the most logical starting block for discussion on a contract extension.

These two players will control market value for Glenn, who will probably look to split the difference between the two players. The length of the contract will be the biggest debatable topic given his undisclosed medical issues. If these were not long-standing issues, Glenn should be signed for at least 5 years at a minimum of 40 million. In the Bills case, the sooner the better; Okung’s contract if he were to hit free agency would spell expensive news for Buffalo as someone is sure to overpay a player who was the blindside protection for two Super Bowls.