Recent Departures Leave Packers Needing More Depth on the Offensive Line
By GilMartin
The Green Bay Packers managed to get under the salary cap by the start of the new league year by signing Aaron Rodgers to a new extension and releasing Za’Darius Smith among other moves. But the Packers also lost two players who were keys to the success of their offensive line in Billy Turner, who the team released for cap purposes, and Lucas Patrick who signed as a free agent with the Bears.
Both Turner and Patrick have started for the Packers over the last few years. Both have another thing in common: they are among the more versatile players on the Packers offensive line.
Turner was signed by the Packers as a free agent before the 2019 season. He started for the team at right guard in 2019 and then shifted to right tackle in 2020 and 2021. Turner can play either guard or tackle position although he is by far better suited to right tackle than left as we found out in the last two Packers playoff losses.
During his tenure in Green Bay, Turner supplied the Packers with steady, consistent play along the right side of the offensive line and experienced leadership in the locker room. He was seemingly always there and reliably held down his side of the line.
Now, the Packers have released the former North Dakota State star to get under the cap before the start of the league year.
Patrick was an undrafted free agent out of Duke who made the Packers roster in 2017. He was a valuable backup and special teams player before becoming a starter in 2020 and 2021 in part due to injuries along the offensive line. While Patrick had his athletic limitations, he was a high quality reserve and a capable starter.
Like Turner, Patrick’s versatility makes him valuable especially when the inevitable injuries strike along the offensive line. Patrick could fill in or start at left guard, right guard or center and give the team a reliable performance in any of those positions.
Now both these valuable players have departed Green Bay. The Packers have a definite need to add more depth along the offensive line. As of now, the tentative first string offensive line for the team would be David Bakhtiari at left tackle, Jon Runyan, Jr. at left guard, Josh Myers at center, Royce Newman at right guard and Yosh Nijman at right tackle.
Elgton Jenkins will hopefully be back at some point during the season as he recovers from his season-ending knee injury although he quickly he will available is still unclear. The Packers were hoping to get Bakhtiari back last season but he played only two quarters in the season finale and was unable to play in the playoff game against San Francisco two weeks later.
Depth is still a question along the offensive line. Cole Van Lanen is still on the roster although the former Wisconsin star played exactly one snap on offense as a rookie in 2021. Michal Menet and Jake Hanson are the backup centers on the present roster. Menet has spent all his rookie season on the practice squad while Hanson took six snaps on offense and 13 on special teams in five games last year.
Last season, injuries were a big issue along the offensive line. Bakhtiari missed nearly the entire campaign due to a knee injury. Jenkins played eight games, missing three early-season contests due to an ankle injury before a knee injury ended his year in November. Myers played in only six games due to injuries, Turner missed three contests late in the season and backup tackle Dennis Kelly, who is an unrestricted free agent now, also missed time early in the season due to injuries.
There certainly could be fewer injuries along the offensive line in 2022, but the Packers can’t take that chance. They certainly need to enhance their depth at the position before the start of the new season.
There are many ways to get this done. Green Bay will almost certainly select a tackle on the first two days of the draft this season and at least one interior lineman on day three. They may also re-sign Kelly or add another experienced veteran backup who they feel comfortable being the swing tackle or guard.
Because of their cap situation, the Packers are unlikely to spend significant money on a free agent offensive lineman. To do that, they would have to clear up more cap space which is still possible if they sign Davante Adams to a multi-year deal or extend Jaire Alexander or make some other move to make room for a addition.
There is no need to panic, but clearly the Packers offensive line needs reinforcements before the start of the 2022 season as without Turner and Patrick, depth is clearly lacking.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
__________________________
Comments (17)
LambeauPlain
March 17, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Gil, both JC Trettor and Bulaga are currently free agents.
Trettor was a cap casualty. He had a good run in Cleveland. Still has gas in the tank and can play T, G and C. But his price sticker will likely be too high at 31 years old and probably wanting one more multiyear deal.
Bulaga missed 16 games last year with the Chargers due to back and groin injuries. Also missed time due to injuries in 2020. Sadly, he is breaking down. Happens fast to many NFL lineman...TJ Lang and Josh Sitton for example.
I expect Gutey is checking on Trettor. Depending on the cost, would be great to get him back. But he will want starter's money and probably unaffordable.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
March 17, 2022 at 02:03 pm
How are they going to pay any of these guys? They'll be lucky if they can sign any of their draft picks at this point.
ImaPayne2
March 17, 2022 at 06:36 pm
Beluga fell apart while we had him all from tripping over the chalk line at family night. And I liked the guy a lot but it was over after that.
He gave it his all but the knee said no.
Coldworld
March 17, 2022 at 01:33 pm
Hanson looks like the new Patrick, a C/G swing. Nijman is the new RT. We will eventually get Jenkins back and then it depends on where Van Lannen is. They’ve got Micael Menet whom they picked up on a futures. He is a C who needed weight room time apparently. No idea if he could play G.
I see a later round G and a developmental T for current depth and the future. We could well pick up another Kelly type later (or Kelly) at low cost. I don’t see much more than that. Our needs are greater elsewhere.
LambeauPlain
March 17, 2022 at 01:34 pm
Patrick and Turner were two versatile OL players and their departure leaves holes. I would not be surprised if we draft the best G/T prospect (hopefully a guy who can play both) on the board on day one or early on day two. And add depth to the OL room on day 3 with one of their 5 picks.
Agree we have greater needs...WR, DL, Edge, and DB (keeping Amos is very good and signing Douglas will greatly help) The draft is loaded at WR and Edge. Some really good DL players ready to start at the top, but it thins out quickly.
But the draft is also loaded with a solid OL class. Now that Rodgers is behind center, need quality talent protecting the 38 year old this year (we do) and next year (could Bakht be a cap casualty in 2023?).
Coldworld
March 17, 2022 at 01:38 pm
Which is why we might find a Kelly type cheap and can afford to wait for later in the draft in my view. It’s deep and, while we need depth, we have many more pressing needs and no free cap to speak of. Just my take.
Leatherhead
March 17, 2022 at 02:59 pm
"Needs are greater elsewhere" ???? Where?
Nothing works on offense unless guys get blocked. No QB looks very good without protection. No superduper WR catches passes if he doesn't have time to get open. No RB looks very good without blockers .
Worse, there are certain things that end your season and take away your shot at making the playoffs, like getting your QB hurt. So keeping this guy protected is like Team Job #1, from the design of the offense to the play calling , to the QB himself, and the people in charge of protecting him. You need a bunch of big, tough, smart guys that don't get fooled by stunts and can get people blocked in the run game.
17 games x 66 snaps. Or maybe just the dropbacks, whatever. That's an awful lot of opportunity to get your QB hit, and they do add up, and it only takes one. There's your season, just like 2017. We were looking like a Super Bowl contender until the Viking game and the backup couldn't get it done and we missed the playoffs.
Yes, I want studs at every spot on defense, no doubt. And guys who can score TDs. But I know in my heart that none of this happens unless we get guys blocked, all of them, on every play, and we need some people to help us get that done, IMO. I think it's a bad idea to gamble your season on relatively inexperienced guys who are second and third tier talents. A stud roadgrader/dancing bear would help this offense more than any other player.
jannesbjornson
March 17, 2022 at 04:17 pm
Yes ,that's why one of the O linemen from this draft may be starting on Day One. They picked up Milt Hendrickson for a reason--he knows linemen. I would expect a guy to be drafted by round two to fill one of the Guard spots. Let Newman and Nijman fight for the RT position. I don't believe Jenkins will be ready until early December, at best. Maybe Runyan will be part of the RT competition?
gpt999
March 17, 2022 at 01:07 pm
Frankly, I do not have much faith that the Pack can do much to add veteran Oline help given the cap numbers? Remember that they still have to appease Adams insistence on being the highest paid WR or he sits. They have no real TE threat without Tonyan. They'd like to have Douglas back. No money for a speedy WR threat like MVS. So veteran Oline help does not seem plausible. Looks like the draft and waiver wire for the Oline.
Worst yet, can anyone say for sure that Bak is really going to be ready to go at the start of this season? He was a non-factor last year that cost the Pack a lot of salary cap space and required additional bodies to fill in his spot. And will Jenkins be ready for the start of the season given his ACL? Unlikely I would think given other ACL timeframes and that it happened late last season.
Leatherhead
March 17, 2022 at 03:12 pm
I may have some good news, 999. According to Spotrac, our Top 51 salaries are projected to be $2.6 million UNDER the cap.
That includes $20 for Adams, who has said he won't play for that. Fine, perhaps some other FA will. Or perhaps we'll draft a guy and just use the $20 million elsewhere, like bolstering the offensive line so Rodgers has time and Jones/Dillon have holes. That will keep the offense on the field and put points on the board.
The point is, we might be able to make a play for a mid-price veteran, and we could end up with a Day 2 guy or something. We could make this group better, stronger. And we should.
packer132
March 17, 2022 at 01:39 pm
Packers find a way to work through injuries and departures on the offensive line. I didn't want to see Linsley or Lane Taylor leave last year, though Myers and Newman came up big as rookies. I think Kelly is re-signed and a cheaper free agent is brought in to compete. Tackle will be an early draft pick, and Bakhtiari has 5 months to get stronger.
Leatherhead
March 17, 2022 at 02:10 pm
I'm at DEFCON 4 on the offensive line right now, because we've lost several and added none so far. Nothing happens on offense unless people get blocked and we're about one injury away from putting together a very shaky line of relatively inexperienced Day 3 guys to protect a 39 year old QB.
Our offensive line could look like this in a hurry:
LT: Nijman, Day 3 rookie contract.
LG: Runyan, Day 3 rookie contract.
C: Myers, Day 2 rookie contract.
RG Newman, Day 3 rookie contract
RT: Somebody who has never played a snap in the NFL at RT.
Some of you might think this is "good enough". I think we're setting ourselves up for a disaster, hoping that Bakhtiari doesn't get hurt and Jenkins returns quickly. Those are our two best offensive linemen, and they'll help, but we need more quality added to this line.
Guam
March 17, 2022 at 03:47 pm
We disagree Leatherhead. The Packers would not have cut Turner if they had any concerns about the recoveries of Bahk and Jenkins. I am certain the FO checked with their medical team and got clean bills of health on both guys. Given that the Packers also made no effort to retain Patrick, I would also take that as an endorsement of both Hansen and Van Lanen.
Given an assumption of Bahk at LT to start the season and Jenkins returning around mid-season, as well as depth from Hansen and Van Lanen, there is no reason to go to DEFCON4 on the OL. Do the Packers need to add depth, yes they do, and I fully expect them to add at least one if not two guys on day three, but the Packers have other, greater needs for their day one and day two picks.
HankScorpio
March 17, 2022 at 03:54 pm
Yeah, when you get yourself into cap hell, depth suffers. That's pretty obvious. They show no concerns because they keep pouring gasoline on the fire. It's going to continue on for at least as long as they keep Rodgers. And then, maybe, they will take their lumps for a year or just keep on spending like the government does...always pushing debt into the future that there is no intention of ever getting back to "balanced".
And really, maybe they are right. They paid Billy Turner a boatload and Dennis Kelly peanuts last year, I couldn't tell the difference when Turner played vs when Kelly played. A few years back they got some decent play for peanuts out of that Guard that played in New Orleans for all those years. His name escapes me at the moment but I expect most people involved enough to visit this site will remember who I am referring to. Runyan is a 6th that is fine. I think Lucas Patrick was a UDFA. None of them are going to be confused with Pro Bowlers. But they filled spots on teams that had way more ups than downs.
ImaPayne2
March 17, 2022 at 06:26 pm
You got it right. Hey Beluga should have showed Russ Ball and company, you get a key player with a major leg injury and that player may never come back and yet you give Bahk the kitchen sink? No one year show me deal? COuld have tendered him for a one and let his leg issues be someone elses. Jenkins, was a third pick and that may be because he already had this injury?????
The Vikes under Zimmer blew up the O line completely one year and got almost all new guys via draft and free agency to give Cousins the protection he wasnt getting.
ImaPayne2
March 17, 2022 at 06:23 pm
Scary to be relying on two stalwarts on O line coming back from serious leg injuries. hey both could go down in game one for all we know. Then Rodgers is on his own. I say going forward will not be pretty. This team is in need of more then the draft can deliver and they have no money.
ImaPayne2
March 17, 2022 at 07:57 pm
I just read on another site St Brown signed with the bears. Apparently this web page is a day late and missing out on things happening