Green Bay Packers: Grading the team’s free agency moves so far
By Joe Kipp
The Packers capped off their busy Tuesday by finalizing a four-year, $28 million deal with former Broncos offensive lineman Billy Turner, per Adam Schefter. He gets up to $29.5 million with incentives and receives a $9 million signing bonus.
Turner, who was drafted in the third round in 2014 by the Miami Dolphins, has spent the last two seasons with Denver. He started 11 games in 2018, with four starts at right tackle and seven starts at left guard. Turner appears to have been a coveted target by the Packers in free agency, especially with his extensive experience on the offensive line.
Turner has started games at every position on the O-line (excluding center), which gives Green Bay flexibility in where they may want to play him. Still, with a glaring need at right guard, Turner figures to slide in as the starter there for 2019.
Still only 27 years old, Turner gives the Packers a nice foundation for the coming years as a high-value backup/fringe starter. Every NFL team needs a versatile lineman, and Green Bay appears to have found their guy.
The main concerns with this signing include: How much money was Turner really worth? And was he really the best option at right guard? Because of that, this move gets a ‘C+’, even though it fills a position of need.