Look at the best Saints teams. They had two of the best guards in the game, and prevented pressure from up the middle. Gave Brees a comfortable pocket. Good guards can affect outside rush, simply by allowing the tackle to ride the rusher over the top while the pocket is clean.

If we had a badass LT as well? Damn

EDIT:

I shouldn't have said best Saints teams, but at least the ones circa 2010, when they had Nicks and Evans at guard

If we don't land Williams, at this point I'd rather just draft another OT, see how things go, and experiment with kicking Thuney out to LT for a season. Would be pretty meh on Reiff. I've seen a bunch of Vikings games, and Reiff makes me soft.

"But with a great LG..."

Brian Waters wasn't enough to make Jordan Black not a huge giant piece of shit. Reiff isn't Jordan Black-level bad, but I wouldn't call him a big upgrade from replacement level. He's as meh as it gets, and if I could have Fisher on his old contract or Reiff on a cheaper deal, I'd rather have Fisher. Injury recovery and all.

I’m going ok if we’re overpaying if it means better protecting Mahomes. Now go get a tackle.

Thuney at NC State per (Patriots.com)-Did not allow a sack in 589 snaps during 2015 ACC play from his left tackle spot.

Give me Sam Cosmi in the first this year.

LT: Cosmi
LG: Thuney
C: Allegretti
RG: LDT
RT: Niang

That's going to get the job done. The left side of the line could be elite in pass pro, especially on play action.

there's nothing surprising about the projected Williams numbers. Thuney was not a consolation prize.

Veach has decided he's sick of bullshit play on the offensive line and is going whole ass on the problem.

Williams is still coming. It'll be shades of Roaf and Waters over there for the next 3-4 years.

lmao seriously

People think we're done. LMAO

oh hell no.

Veach is going to fix the offensive line goddamnit.

The fact that Trent Williams isn't a 49er again right now says a lot, IMO.

Not a guarantee we land him, but they're still swinging for the fences.

This seems like an excellent signing. Maybe a slight overpayment but it instantly improves the interior OL. If we can somehow get Trent Williams, damn that would be sick. If there is anyone who can pull it off, it's Veach.

Seriously guys. The wailing and gnashing of teeth to Schefter's tweet in the OP is ****ing priceless LMAO

Rappaport has already said we’re still in on Silverback.

Veach isn’t even close to being done.

Trent Williams is a guy named Williams.

The Chiefs sign and play dudes named Williams.

It's poetry.

James Palmer is the most useless reporter that covers the NFL. Guy never breaks any news and is often times wrong in his projections. He's like Teicher lever useless.

Darrel Williams would no longer be my favorite Williams.