Will Green Bay Packers let Bryan Bulaga walk?

By Keegan Matheson | Mar 9, 2015

The Green Bay Packers got an early jump on their free agent priorities Saturday night, locking up wide receiver Randall Cobb to a 4 year, $40 million contract that sits below his projected market value. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga now becomes the Green Bay Packers’ primary order of business, but his market could be pricing him out of Green Bay.

According to a report from Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, the 25 year old Bulaga is seeking a contract in the neighbourhood of $7-8 million annually, with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers showing the most interest early on. I’d include the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills on this preliminary list, as well.

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Heavy interest in Bulaga from these organizations makes sense, as all three hold top five selections in the 2015 NFL Draft that may not feature a clear-cut, elite tackle prospect. The addition of Bulaga would allow these teams to solidify a present need, protect a current or incoming young quarterback, and focus more singularly on other areas come draft day. These teams have the financial flexibility to push Green Bay in bidding, as well.

The tackle market has already set the bar quite high this offseason, with 31 year old Doug Free signing a 3 year, $15 million contract and 27 year old Derek Newton signing for 5 years,

Silverstein goes on to mention that one of his sources tells him the Packers have “no intention” of paying Bulaga a $7 million annual salary. Hometown “discounts” such as Randall Cobb’s don’t come around often, so the reality that Bryan Bulaga may don another uniform in 2015 is become a very real possibility.

Jan 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Green Bay Packers tackle Bryan Bulaga (75) defends against Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril (56) in the NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Packers 28-22 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

While Green Bay did encounter some level of luck, perhaps you prefer to call it well-earned fate, with the Randall Cobb contract, I doubt that it impacts their negotiations with Bulaga significantly. Ted Thompson sets clear values and sticks to them, and with T.J. Lang, David Bakhtiari and Josh Sitton‘s contracts all set to expire over the next two seasons, the Packers may need to lose a battle to win the war.

In the situation that Bulaga does leave, the Packers are put in a questionable position at tackle. Don Barclay would seem to be next in line for the position, but the undrafted West Virginia product missed all of 2014 with a knee injury, and his greatest value may be as the sixth lineman due to his ability to play multiple positions.

The inflation of the tackle market will likely keep Ted Thompson out of that business, so that will turn his eyes to his comfort zone of the draft. Outside of Bulaga, who was the team’s first round pick in 2010, the other four starters along the Packers’ offensive line were either 4th or 5th round picks. Every general manager has their niche, and Tompson’s appear to be second round receivers and mid-round linemen.

Competition could be the name of the game come training camp, because Green Bay will need to add depth linemen regardless of the incumbent starter. Bryan Bulaga remains the clearcut and ideal option, but he chose the perfect time to put up a career season, which may prove to be his last with the Packers.

Next: Packers cement elite offensive core by re-signing Cobb

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