PFF opinion of the Falcons re-signing of Sam Baker

reerunn said

Sam Baker to ATL: 6-year, $41.5m
One of the great fabrications in the NFL is that you need a franchise left tackle. The book and movie The Blind Side made the position into something it wasn’t, a glamor spot on the roster, and contracts given out to these stud pass protectors began to perpetuate the myth.

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That's not true at all. Orlando Pace and, in particular, Walter Jones made the LT position a glamour spot, combined with the prevalence of Tampa-2 style teams with 4 man rushes.

Walter Jones repeated franchising in particular created a rapidly escalating pay scale for the position, and it was at a time where 4-man rushes which relied heavily on the pass rusher beating the individual in front of him one-on-one were in vogue.

The LT positions importance has diminished in part because of the increasing complexity of defenses pressure packages, which puts a higher premium on 5-good man lines which can identify pressure and work cohesively (as well as QBs who can recognize it).

It's telling that neither Manning, Brees, or even really Brady (depends on what you feel about Matt Light I suppose) have ever really had an elite LT.