Andrew Whitworth dares the Bengals to draft his replacement Posted by Darin Gantt on April 28, 2015, 7:21 AM EDT Getty Images The Bengals have the oldest starting left tackle in the NFL, so it only makes sense that they might look for a replacement this week. But Bengals left tackle Andrew Whitworth has a message for any tackle they might draft — bring it on. The 33-year-old Whitworth said he’s playing his best football as he enters his 10th season, and doesn’t see that changing soon. “Mess up and draft somebody at my position because you are going to sit around and watch him sit the bench,” Whitworth said, via Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “That’s always been my mentality. I see it as a challenge.” The former second-rounder has grown into one of the league’s top tackles, even after knee surgery two years ago, and has continued to play at a high level. “Right now, this is the strongest I’ve been in my life, most conditioned I’ve been in my life,” Whitworth said. “I don’t see the door that’s closing. This is the strongest I’ve ever lifted in my career. I feel like I’m as fast or faster than I’ve ever been in my life. I’m in the best shape ever. “I stop listening to what people thought about what year you are in or when they thought you should be done and started to just listen to what my body says. My body says I can still go get it. I’m still excited to take on anybody any day.” It’s not that Whitworth would be a bad teammate if a young tackle came in, as he’s become the leader in their locker room. But the way he’s playing, the Bengals have to know any such pick is an investment in the future and not the present.
LSU TIGERS (44) OT Joe Barksdale, San Diego Chargers LB Lamin Barrow, Denver Broncos WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants RB Alfred Blue, Houston Texans WR Kadron Boone, Indianapolis Colts WR Dewayne Bowe, Cleveland Browns DB Delvin Breaux, New Orleans Saints DT Michael Brockers, St. Louis Rams CB Ron Brooks, Buffalo Bills CB Morris Claiborne, Dallas Cowboys DL Glenn Dorsey, San Francisco 49ers DE Lavar Edwards, Dallas Cowboys DT Ego Ferguson, Chicago Bears RB Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals RB Kenny Hilliard, Houston Texans DE Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings DE Tyson Jackson, Atlanta Falcons DE Ricky Jean Francois, Washington Redskins DT Anthony Johnson, Miami Dolphins P Donnie Jones, Philadelphia Eagles WR Brandon LaFell, New England Patriots WR Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins DT Bennie Logan, Philadelphia Eagles S Craig Loston, Jacksonville Jaguars S Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals S Danny McCray, Dallas Cowboys QB Zach Mettenberger, Tennessee Titans LB Barkevious Mingo, Cleveland Browns LB Kevin Minter, Arizona Cardinals DE Sam Montgomery, Cincinnati Bengals CB Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals WR Rueben Randle, New York Giants S Eric Reid, San Francisco 49ers RB Stevan Ridley, New York Jets LB Perry Riley Jr., Washington Redskins WR Russell Shepard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Tharold Simon, Seattle Seahawks G Trai Turner, Carolina Panthers RB Spencer Ware, Kansas City Chiefs OT Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati Bengals DT Kyle Williams, Buffalo Bills P Brad Wing, Pittsburgh Steelers DL Al Woods, Tennessee Titans WR James Wright, Cincinnati Bengals
After looking a little closer: A couple more left off...... Kwon Alexander Tampa Bay Buccaneers Linebacker Jalen Collins Atlanta Falcons Cornerback J.C. Copeland La'el Collins
La'el Collins practicing at RT for Cowboys during OTAs Jeffrey Kahn - May 27, 12:00 PM (Photo: James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys) At the start of OTAs for the Dallas Cowboys, offensive lineman La'el Collins is getting his work in at the right tackle position. The undrafted free agent out of LSU was a huge signing for the Cowboys after the 2015 NFL Draft concluded. Owner/GM Jerry Jones had plans for Collins to compete for the starting left guard spot with Ronald Leary before eventually taking over for Doug Free at right tackle. But with Free rehabbing his ankle, Collins is practicing at right tackle behind Darrion Weems. “We think he has the physical ability to play a couple of different spots,’’ head coach Jason Garrett said during a Wednesday press conference. “He was a tackle for most of his career in college but did play guard. We see him as a guy who can maybe do both of those things as he goes. “The big thing for him is to try to get him acclimated as quickly as we can. So right now he’s going to play right tackle for us. He and Darrion Weems are competing at that spot in Doug Free’s absence and we’ll just see how that unfolds. “All those guys, having some position flex and some versatility on the offensive line is really, really important. He’s someone who’s demonstrated that in college and has the physical traits to do it at this level.’’ Collins is listed as an offensive lineman on the Cowboys roster for OTAs. After missing rookie minicamp, he's already showing off some of his versatility and worth to the team.
