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B.J. Raji reunion makes sense for Green Bay Packers

By Keegan Matheson

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The Green Bay Packers face a difficult decision with the once-dominant nose tackle B.J. Raji, who is set to become a free agent after spending the 2014 season on injured reserve with a torn biceps tendon. According to Bill Huber of Packer Report, Raji and the Packers are likely to renew their relationship for at least one more season.

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This move makes sense for the Green Bay Packers because the needs of their roster and the value of Raji line up comfortably. Dom Capers’ 3-4 defensive scheme calls for a strong nose tackle to plug up the middle, eating blockers so that Clay Matthews, Mike Daniels, Julius Peppers and others can spill through the line and towards the opposing quarterback.

Nose tackles are a rare commodity in the NFL, and while it is relatively simple to plug-and-play an oversized veteran, finding an impact player at the position can be difficult. With the certainty of a hole at inside linebacker entering the draft, and the potential needs that will arise based on the Packers’ handling of their own internal free agents, it would be wise for Ted Thompson to eliminate the nose tackle position from his list of pure “needs”. Thompson traditionally prefers to choose the best player available, so ridding his roster of craters will allow him the flexibility he desires come draft day.

Despite his stout 6’1”, 335-pound frame, Raji also flashed the ability to create backfield disruption earlier in his career. He appeared to be destined for stardom following his second season in 2010, where he posted 39 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Raji would reach the quarterback three more times in 2011, but did not record a sack in 30 games between 2012 and 2013. Packers fans, however, will never forget this pick-six in the NFC Championship game at Soldier Field en route to a Super Bowl Championship.

Raji was brought back to the Packers on a 1-year, $4 million contract for 2014, and clearly did nothing to raise his value. This suggests to me that Ted Thompson will be able to ink The Freezer to another one year deal, but more in the neighbourhood of $2.5 million. If a nose tackle falls to the Packers in April that they can’t pass up, fantastic, but having Raji in the fold with an easily digestible cap hit cannot hurt this roster.

Much of the blame for his dip in production can be placed on the fact that he was moved to defensive end for parts of 2012 and much of 2013. A player like Raji is difficult to judge by statistics alone, as their truest value often comes in their ability to create opportunity for others, but Raji disappeared for long stretches of games over those two seasons. Now back at nose tackle, where he was looking very strong throughout camp in 2014, Raji will open the season at 29-years old and with the motivation of earning one more large contract towards the end of his career.

Following his injury this past year, the position was manned primarily by Josh Boyd and Letroy Guion, with Mike Pennel providing depth. Guion was the only player to factor positively at the nose, and given his recent arrest involving marijuana, a firearm and large amounts of cash, the Packers may exercise caution in bringing him back. It’s important to note, as well, that Raji continued to travel with the team throughout the season despite his injury.

Assuming that the salary does fall somewhere near the $2.5 million that I’m envisioning, I see it being unlikely that a healthy Raji does not offer a positive return on the investment. A fellow top-10 Packers’ draft pick was just released in A.J. Hawk, who like Raji, has been viewed as underwhelming over the past few seasons. If Raji can stay on the field, however, he could finally do enough to push the Packers’ nose tackle position back above water.

Next: Green Bay Packers top-5 draft needs

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