BJ Raji: 2015 Packers Player Report Card

BJ Raji

  • Age: 29
  • Ht./Wt: 6'2", 327 lbs
  • College: Boston College
  • NFL Experience: 7 years

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Expectations coming into the season:  Mediocre.  Raji was not a very good player in 2012 or 2013 and was lost for the 2014 season with a torn Biceps.  People (like myself) cling to Raji's dominating 2010 season and flashes of Raji re-gaining that form.  Before Raji hurt his arm in 2014, he was having a very good camp.

Player’s highlights/low-lights: Raji parlayed a strong camp and strong preseason by playing very well in Green Bay's first two games.  Raji had seven QB pressures in the first two games, added a half-sack against the bears and tallied three run stops (tackles for no gain or a loss) against Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks in week two's victory.  Raji would fizzle out toward the end of the season, earning a positive game grade from Pro Football Focus just once in the final eight games and failling to record a sack.

Level of Expectations met: I'd say Raji about nailed it.  He was prettty mediocre after giving Raji fans (again, like myself) a lot of hope after the first two games of the season.  Raji failed to find the pass rush ability that produced 6.5 sacks in 2010 and made Packers fans believe he had potential as a double digit sack guy, which would have been elite for an interior rusher.  He was "okay" defending the run.

Grade: C-

Player’s contributions to team success: According to Pro Football Focus, Raji Graded out as the Packers weakest interior defensive lineman, and I have to say I agree with their assessment.  Raji disappeared too often, especially considering he faced more single-teams than ever playing alongside Mike Daniels for much of the season.  Nevertheless, the Packers were an improved run defense, especially in the playoffs, and Raji did play a part in that.  Raji's lack of pass rush production limited his playing time, only pitching in 510 snaps despite playing in 15 of the team's 16 games.  He was often replaced as an interior pass rusher by Datone Jones, Julius Peppers and occasionally Mike Neal.

Grade: C-

Player’s contributions in the playoffs: they were fine.  Raji had two tackles in each playoff game.  His efforts in the run game helped corral both Alfred Morris of Washington and David Johnson of the Cardinals.  He had an impressive tackle for loss against the Cardinals in a big spot, but got blown off the ball by Cardinals center Lyle Sendlein to allow an early fourth down conversion.  Because of the way Raji and his cohorts played in run defense, both Washington and Arizona had pass-heavy attacks, limiting Rajis' importance.

Grade: C-

Intangibles/misc: Raji is a fan favorite, and as far as I can tell has a fine attitude.  The problem is that he isn't getting any better, so I'm not sure just how motivated he is.  This was a contract year and Raji did not step up.

Grade: B-

 

Overall Grade:  C-

 

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Ross Uglem is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter @RossUglem 

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Comments (29)

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 03, 2016 at 07:36 am

Mr. Uglem, imo, you're on fire with these evaluations. I've always thought that Raji has a ton of talent and can play NT at a high level. The problem is that Raji doesn't play with consistency and the production, even in contract years, just isn't there. I'm very wary of giving Raji a lot of guaranteed money should TT attempt to re-sign him. I suppose we should sign either Raji or Guion, but the structure of the contract is more important to me. I'd say an AAV of less than $3.5 million per year might be fine.

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Evan's picture

February 03, 2016 at 07:51 am

I don't think Raji will break the bank, either in GB or elsewhere. I think he's looking at modest, 1 and 2 year deals for the rest of his career. I think he's back.

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dobber's picture

February 03, 2016 at 09:35 am

Someone--either Raji or Guion or both--needs to come back next year. If both those guys walk, a defense that took a sizeable step forward this year gets knocked back a step or two. There are only so many holes you can fix by the draft.

These are guys who will get only so-so money on the market and may come with zero obligations on a second year (low-to-zero guaranteed). I prefer Guion if only because he seems to play harder and value his place on this team and in the league.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

February 03, 2016 at 02:13 pm

I'd take Raji over Guion any day

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zoellner25's picture

February 03, 2016 at 07:51 am

Raji = just a guy. Not worth the price.

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Evan's picture

February 03, 2016 at 07:52 am

What price?

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zoellner25's picture

February 03, 2016 at 09:18 am

The price he's going to ask, which is too much. You are correct above, he won't get anyting more than 1-2 deals for modest money, at best.

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Packer_Pete's picture

February 03, 2016 at 11:58 am

yeah, but if he'll only get that and is also only asking for that, why not. He is better than Guion...

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hobbes's picture

February 03, 2016 at 03:31 pm

Raji took a 1 year $3 million deal 2 years ago and a $1.75 million deal last year after losing the entire season to IR. I would guess he gets somewhere in between the two $2-2.5 million/year for 2-3 years, which honestly is a pretty good deal.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 05, 2016 at 01:17 pm

Dear Mr. Hobbes,

Just here to nitpick (imagine smiley face since I don't know how to insert one). Yes, Raji signed for $1.75 million ($1.15 base and $500K signing bonus). But there were roster bonuses/incentives as well of about $1 million. He earned almost all of them, I think, so he will take home: see OTC's updated caps for 2015 - Raji is listed at $2.687 million. I don't think Raji will take much less than last year, but I could be wrong. I don't see many FA NTs out there (see link, and many of these FAs are 4-3 DTs). I hope your estimation is right rather than mine, and I'd sign Raji to a 2 yr $4.5 million contract if the guaranteed money is under 30% and the guaranteed money is front loaded - i.e. Raji can be cut w/o too much pain.

As a note to Ross, I'd say Raji's playoff grade was low. 4 tackles in 54 snaps is quite decent 1 tackle/13.5 snaps). 4 solo tackles in 54 snaps is good. 3 tackles for loss in 54 snaps is darn good, even if he got pushed back a time or two. B for the playoffs.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/defensive-tackle/
http://overthecap.com/salary-cap/green-bay-packers

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Evan's picture

February 03, 2016 at 07:54 am

"...and made Packers fans believe he had potential as a double digit sack guy."

What Packer fans thought Raji was a double-digit sack guy??? You mean for his career? Or a single season?

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Packer_Pete's picture

February 03, 2016 at 12:02 pm

yes that is baffling... I want to see a NT in a 3-4 with double-digit sack number in a single season... doesn't exist. NT in a 3-4 is supposed to keep the int OL from getting to the LBs and control the A gaps for the run game. The task is not to be an interior rusher and sack the QB. If he can do that also great. But I don't think a NT in a 3-4 D will ever be asked to be a double-digit sack guy...

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hobbes's picture

February 03, 2016 at 03:27 pm

BJ Raji had 6.5 sacks in 2010 and was slated to play some DE so it was within the realm of reason that he could hit 10 sacks. Obviously that was unreasonably unrealistic but I can see where fans were coming from back then.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 03, 2016 at 09:27 am

Capers did say it was undeniable that Raji made the run D much better. He was hard to move at the point of attack. I am 99% fan and 1% analyst, so I don't watch enough of the All-22 tape (nor would I know what I'm seeing without explanation from pros), to see whether or not this is just coach-speak or genuinely true.

Any thoughts?

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 03, 2016 at 12:28 pm

My thought is resign him if he comes in at a reasonable price. If you have to pick between Raji and Guion sign the inexpensive guy.

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croatpackfan's picture

February 03, 2016 at 01:11 pm

And next season you'll be the first who will spit on TT and MM because they signed inexpensive guy... Very clever...

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DrealynWilliams's picture

February 03, 2016 at 02:15 pm

@Croat

Some people just can't be pleased. Especially here. TT & MM can't do anything right.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 03, 2016 at 08:26 pm

What the hell are you talking about?

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Bearmeat's picture

February 03, 2016 at 08:50 pm

Not necessary Croat. Why take a shot at me when I'm giving my honest opinion? If you have a question, ask. Let's not pull the "Ready Fire Aim" thing between fellow fans please.

That said, "Spitting" on TT for not doing all he can to improve the roster and saying that I am not a professional scout are two very different things.

I will say that I was overall very impressed with the run defense this year. Obviously, the nose tackle has a large part in that. So when Capers said how valuable Raji was to the run defense, I am liable to take him at his word. And yet, people with much more football knowledge like Thomas or Robert or Aaron... have said that Raji isn't a must resign.

It was a question. Chill.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 04, 2016 at 12:28 am

Bearmeat, I think Croat was taking a shot at Jeremy, not you. He is off base in either case. We do have the posters who come on and write about tightwad Ted, so I think Croat was reacting to Jeremy's comment advocating signing the cheaper of Raji/Guion. I don't think Jeremy is part of the tightwad Ted crowd, IIRC, so Croat's comment was misplaced. Croat is entirely correct, though: if TT does sign the cheaper of the two and it does not work out, there will be posters blasting TT for being "tightwad Ted."

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NickPerry's picture

February 04, 2016 at 05:14 am

I'd say if TT signed neither I'd break out in my "Tightwad Ted" chant. I'm not a huge fan of TT and I'll be the first to admit it, but I also give him Props when deserved. He's a great "Cap Manager" but then he would be when you hardly ever sign a FA and use the UDFA pile to try and fill every need. After the 2011 and 2012 drafts I was more than ready to see him put to pasture. 2013, 14, and 2015 drafts have been much better but can't help but wonder what might have been had he signed a mid level guy or three. When you've had nothing but Favre and Rodgers as your QB's, the Packers should have gone on more than one playoff run and had more than one SB appearance IMO. 2016 is a very important year for TT and MM. More and more will turn on Thompson and McCarthy if Rodgers prime time years continue to tick away, especially if glaring holes remain or go one and done.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 04, 2016 at 07:45 am

I think Ted deserves credit for both his successes and failures.

I think it is obvious that in spite of his many successes, Ted has stubbornly failed to bring in reasonable talent at ILB, and was also way to slow to find a passable replacement for Nick Collins. Both of these issues made a significant impact on the teams ability to beat good teams.

I agree with his preference to draft that missing talent. I disagree with his approach of rolling Nate Palmer, MD Jennings, et al out there when he has clearly failed to draft that talent.

The results of Ted's philosophy in that case are public record. No spitting or name calling required.

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EdsLaces's picture

February 03, 2016 at 10:24 am

Keep em both that way we get Brothers or even better Scooby to run around and make plays behind them. This defense is gonna be damn good this year.

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egbertsouse's picture

February 03, 2016 at 11:33 am

TT should let him go. Or keep him around at veteran minimum as a sub.

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Since'61's picture

February 03, 2016 at 12:21 pm

If this is the best that Raji has in a show me year then I am not sure what the point is of keeping him. He seems to hold the point of attack better than either Guion or Pennel but that's not saying much either. We can be 10 - 6 and lose in the playoffs with him or without him. It may be best to move on. Of course, that would be much easier if TT would actually sign an NT in FA, but not likely.
Keep the young guys and maybe the right draft player is available and go from there. I think that we've seen the best of Raji in 2010. Thanks, Since '61

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Thom Tedson's picture

February 03, 2016 at 04:12 pm

You said it all in the last sentence Ross. If he can't produce significantly in a contract year it may be that he simply is not capable of a high level of play anymore.

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Rossonero's picture

February 03, 2016 at 09:04 pm

For the sake of the rotation, even a mediocre Raji is worth keeping. He may not ever be a dominating NT, but he's certainly experienced and worthy of a roster spot for the right price. All it takes is an injury to Daniels or Pennel and then we're in trouble. Gotta keep some depth.

Yes, this draft is rich with D-linemen, but as we've learned from other first round picks, we can't assume there will be instant dividends. There always will be that learning curve, which can last years. Years is something we do not want to waste when trying to win Super Bowls either.

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hobbes's picture

February 04, 2016 at 06:18 pm

I'm pretty sure everyone is; winning a super bowl builds the Packers brand and gives them more popularity, which drives gate sales, pro shop purchases, endorsement deals etc. While it doesn't seem like you have to do anything right to make money in the NFL (see: Cleveland Browns), the Packers run a surplus every year because they are good at doing what they do.

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Oppy's picture

February 03, 2016 at 09:35 pm

What surprises me is I came into the season extremely skeptical of BJ Raji, but I felt coming out of the season he played beyond my expectations at at a fairly acceptable level.

He definitely started stronger than he finished, however, and still gets blown off the ball too frequently.

Surprisingly, I'd keep him if he agreed to an incentive laden deal for 2 or 3 years. However, I do believe Pennel is the future.. even at the present.

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