Some of my criticism is from as recent as the NFCCG.
But hey, if the team's weakest link is a single offensive lineman playing like one of our 2013 road-graders, I can live with that. Just don't get too upset if he doesn't get a second contract here.
That's the thing. It's the all or nothing attitudes that bother me. Whether or not he gets a 2d deal really doesn't concern me. He has the entire season to prove himself one way or another. I don't celebrate if a players get replaced or hurt. And I don't mourn overly much if a player is demoted, cut, moved or otherwise replaced. That's pretty normal in the game.
I do appreciate that continuity in OL play is important. The OL that blocked for Shaun Alexander's MVP season played all 16 games, and pretty much two whole seasons before Hutch got mishandled by Ruskell. We saw that most of 2025 and I hope to see it again in 2026.
I think it would be a plus if AB keeps improving enough to start this season. However, if Haynes or Stephens beats him out in TC, that would work as well. So far, from the vids and interviews I've seen AB is holding his own, but it is early in camp so that could change.
As to his next contract, like I said above, he has all season to prove he's worth another deal or earn a raise somewhere else if it comes to that. OL don't usually get into biddiing wars like the "skill" position players do, unless they are premium players. AB obviously hasn't reached that level yet, but he might still have a market at the end of the season.