Under contract (10): David Bakhtiari, Billy Turner, Rick Wagner, Elgton Jenkins, Lucas Patrick, Jon Runyan, Simon Stepaniak, Ben Braden, Jake Hanson, Zack Johnson
Free agents (4): Corey Linsley (unrestricted), Lane Taylor (unrestricted), Jared Veldheer (unrestricted), Yosh Nijman (exclusive rights)
Early thoughts: It will be tough to lose Linsley after an All-Pro season, but he’ll likely have a strong market and the Packers will be hard-pressed to keep him. Jenkins or Patrick are good bets to move to center if Linsley departs. Maybe bringing back Taylor on a cheap, one-year deal could help maintain some of the impressive depth along the offensive line. Re-doing Turner’s deal could create some cap space, while Wagner is a likely cap casualty. The Packers prepared for losing depth when they drafted three offensive linemen in the sixth round last year, but there looks to be a real need at offensive tackle entering 2021.
Ken’s cap perspective: David Bakhtiari got paid a truckload of money with his record-breaking extension in 2020 and carries a $19.3 million salary cap hit for the 2021 season, the third-highest on the team. The Packers will convert part of his $11 million roster bonus into signing bonus, freeing up to $8.3-8.9 million of cap space. Billy Turner brings the seventh-highest cap hit on the roster at $8.4 million – a restructure could create up to $2.2-3.6 million. Rick Wagner played well for the Packers but is very venerable to be cut freeing up $4.25 million. Lucas Patrick being cut could save almost $2 million, but I see him sticking around. The rest of the guys along the line are on cheap rookie deals without much cap savings to be had. Yosh Nijman could come back on a cheap $850K exclusive rights free agent deal. Corey Linsley was excellent, but I don’t see him returning with three potential replacements at center already on the roster in Elgton Jenkins, Lucas Patrick, and Jake Hanson. Lane Taylor could perhaps come back on new veteran salary benefit rules in the recent CBA to be paid up to $2.24 million cash but count only $990K on the salary cap. Bakhtiari’s injury and the likely departure of Wagner make tackle a top need for this team and could see multiple draft picks used here.
