Green Bay Packers retain core with Bryan Bulaga

The Green Bay Packers appear to be keeping another one of their own. According to a report from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Bulaga is closing in on a deal with the Green Bay Packers that would keep the entire core of their 2014 offense together. Despite losing Davon House on a rich deal to the Jaguars earlier today, the Packers can consider their free agent period an initial success if Bulaga’s reported deal comes to fruition. Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports reports the annual salary will sit around $7 million.

The #Packers are expected to keep OT Bryan Bulaga, source says. They are closing in on a deal. High priority for them.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2015

Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel reported earlier this week that Bulaga would be seeking a contract in the neighbourhood of $7-8 million annually, with the Jaguars, Buccaneers and Redskins all showing early interest. Jacksonville took a different route by signing Jermey Parnell, but the $6.4 million annual salary given to him despite starting just five games in 2014 was expected to inflate Bulaga’s value even higher, putting him well past Green Bay’s comfort zone.

Bulaga originally joined the Packers in round one of the 2010 NFL draft out of Iowa, and the 6’5″, 315 pound tackle saw time protecting the blind side of Aaron Rodgers before sliding to right tackle where he excelled in 2014. This signing solidifies the return of the entire Green Bay Packers offensive line, which is encouraging for a unit that was growing rapidly as the season came to a close.

More from Green Bay Packers

Outside of Bulaga, young left tackle David Bakhtiari is an encouraging bookend himself, albeit rough around the edges, and is just 23 years old. T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton form one of the league’s top guard duo’s, while center Corey Linsley was one of the best value picks of the 2014 draft, where he was scooped up by Ted Thompson in the 5th round.

The talent and potential have always been there for Bulaga, but injuries in both 2012 and 2013 held him back from launching into the conversation of franchise tackles. His 2012 season ended prematurely with a hip injury, while a torn ACL in August would wipe out his entire 2013. Playing at full health this past year, however, Bulaga was a dominant force against the run and was the quiet leader of a strong pass-blocking unit.

With the Packers’ offensive depth chart close to completion already, their full attention can shift to defense where help is needed. Davon House’s contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier today that will pay him $6.25 million annually over the next two seasons, so the Tramon Williams talks could become even more critical. Without Williams, the Packers are left with Sam Shields and Casey Hayward atop their cornerback group. While that is hardly a damning duo, both are smaller corners and Hayward does his best work in the slot.

Added to this are the positions of nose tackle and inside linebacker, both of which could use a serious upgrade. Given Green Bay’s expiring contracts over the coming two seasons, one or both of these positions may need to be addressed through the draft, but neither will survive in their current state.

Both Letroy Guion or B.J. Raji could return at the nose on manageable contracts, while the Packers may look to grab Eric Kendricks, Bernardrick McKinney, Denzel Perryman or Stephone Anthony in the early rounds to replace A.J. Hawk. There is serious work to be done on defense, but the return of stability to the offensive unit allows Green Bay to focus their resources properly.

Green Bay continues to produce homegrown talent, and time and again, the Packers find a way to keep their top players off the open market.

Update: Bulaga will make just under $7 million per year in what it is a five-year deal overall, as per the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Next: Green Bay Packers free agent target: Curtis Lofton

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Green Bay Packers