James

Carpenter

The 32-year-old figures to get a shot on the active roster at some point, but he’ll get his footing underneath him on the taxi squad. The former first-round pick has made 121 career starts in the league and started 13 games for the Falcons last season.

13 days shy of his 32nd birthday, Carpenter was two seasons into a “four-year deal.” The move creates just over $4 million in cap space. The starter of 24 games over the past two years, Carpenter was a liability on the left side of the Falcons’ typically shaky line. The best he can probably hope for in free agency is landing a spot in a competition.

Carpenter started 11 games in his first season with the Falcons after spending the previous eight years of his career with the Jets and Seahawks. The Falcons signed OL Sean Harlow to the 53-man roster in a corresponding roster move.

Carpenter was one of the better pass-blocking guards in the first half of the 2018 season, but a shoulder injury slowed him down as a run blocker and ultimately caused him to miss the last six games. In 2015 and 2016, Carpenter was viewed as an average-level guard with notable limitations, but he’ll need to rebound in Atlanta to return to that level of play. He figures to slide right in between LT Jake Matthews and C Alex Mack. The Jets upgraded on Carpented by acquiring LG Kelechi Osemele from the Raiders.

Carpenter missed the final six games of 2018 with a shoulder injury. He had a down year as a run blocker but was one of the better pass-protecting guards in the league. Carpenter played under Vikings OL coach Rick Dennison with the Jets last season. With Tom Compton and Nick Easton free agents, Carpenter would be a strong fit in Minnesota.

Carpenter is missing his first games with the Jets after starting all 48 games 2015-2017. 29-year-old Carpenter has been one of the worst guards at Pro Football Focus this season, checking in at No. 65 among 77 qualifiers and 68th as a run blocker. Spencer Long will make another start at left guard. Carpenter will be a free agent in March and is likely done with Gang Green.

It sounds like he arrived to his first training camp out of shape. Carpenter’s play has improved “significantly” of late, and he’s coming off his best performance of the season. It’s no surprise that the Cardinals failed to get a pass rush, however. It’s been a problem since the opener.

Seattle’s 2011 first-round pick went down with the injury in mid-November. He’s almost certain to start the 2012 season on PUP after struggling in his comeback. Carpenter’s 2011 replacement, Breno Giacomini, returns as the favorite to hold down right tackle, but will face competition from veteran journeymen Paul McQuistan and Frank Omiyale.

The coaching staff was satisfied with Breno Giacomini’s work at right tackle late in the season, and they could add depth via the draft or free agency. Carpenter struggled in pass protection as a rookie, but he has the size and demeanor to fit in as a road-grader at guard.

“That would be overly optimistic I think,” Schneider said. “I would probably personally guard against it.” Carpenter is not known to have encountered a setback, but the Seahawks won’t rush him back after Breno Giacomini held his own at right tackle down the stretch.