Report: Packers Expected to Sign B.J. Raji to One-Year Deal

Raji joins Letroy Guion as two free agent defensive linemen reported to return to Green Bay on Monday.

Defensive lineman B.J. Raji—Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports.

Defensive lineman B.J. Raji—Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports.

Mere hours after is was reported that Letroy Guion has agreed to a one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers, the same is apparently being done with fellow defensive lineman B.J. Raji, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network:

Details of either deal have yet to be released, but it was previously reported that Raji was offered a one year at less than $2 million by the Packers.

The impending signings of Guion and Raji bring stability to the Packers defensive line in 2015, but with both players expected to receive one-year deals, Green Bay will continue its search for a big-bodied defensive tackle that will be around for the long term.

Raji is coming off a season spent on injured reserve after tearing his biceps in training camp. He signed a one-year contract worth $4 million last season with $500,000 in guaranteed money.

As a player whose production has been trending downward ever since the 2010 Super Bowl when he had a career-high 39 tackles and 6.5 sacks in the regular season, Raji will have to prove himself before any team will make a long-term committment to him.

With Raji at 28 years old and Guion at 27, there's still potential for both players to secure one more multi-year deal before they hit 30.

The Packers struggled to stop the run in 2014, particularly the first half of the season. Although improvement was made in the second half after Clay Matthews was moved to inside linebacker, stuffing the run was still a sore spot in the NFC Championship loss to the Seattle Seahawks when running back Marshawn Lynch rumbled for 157 yards.

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Comments (12)

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HankScorpio's picture

March 30, 2015 at 11:43 am

Welcome back, Cletidus...err BJ!

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Bearmeat's picture

March 30, 2015 at 11:55 am

Raji is WAY better than Cletidus ever was. (except for 2013. He sucked in 2013)

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HankScorpio's picture

March 30, 2015 at 01:54 pm

Both have 6 years worth of stats. Hunt played 85 games and started 60. Raji played 76 game and started 63.

Hunt had 17 sacks and 118 tackles. Raji has 10.5 sacks and 91 tackles.

But that stuff aside, the point I was making is both had talent that far outweighed their production. IMO, it is because neither player gives a rip about being a great player. They play because they get a better paycheck from football than they would from another profession. Those kind of guys will break your heart.

BTW...No argument he sucked in 2013. He sucked in 2012, too.

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Idiot Fan's picture

March 30, 2015 at 02:08 pm

My hope is that the lack of interest that he's gotten in the last two years results in a new pissed-off Raji that starts wreaking havoc on the interior of the line.

One can dream, right???

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HankScorpio's picture

March 30, 2015 at 04:03 pm

I sure do hope your "dream" comes true, Idiot Fan. I would be delighted if Raji is a force and my comments about him these days prove foolish with the passage of time.

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Bearmeat's picture

March 30, 2015 at 11:50 am

Perfect. This gives them one more year to see what they have in Pennel and to draft replacements if neither have a HUGE season. But if one does (especially Raji), you've got to think TT does a longer deal with him next year.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 31, 2015 at 03:02 am

Love ya, Bearmeat. I would never give B.J. "the hammock" Raji a long term contract with a bunch of guaranteed money, even if he has a monster season. BTW, I think Raji is enormously talented. In terms of talent, I would put him in the top 5 on the packers. Talent is not the issue. I am with Hank on this one.

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Clay Zombo's picture

March 30, 2015 at 12:24 pm

I hope they get this done, would hate to see the Pats or Bears swoop in a make him a better offer now that is known how much the Packers are offering.

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L's picture

March 30, 2015 at 04:01 pm

Supposedly a done deal. 1 year 3.5M with incentives to bump it up to $4M; plus, there's a decent chance that it's been worked so that if he misses the season again he'd get less than the $3.5M.

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Allan Murphy's picture

March 30, 2015 at 04:12 pm

One year 2 million should do it !

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Handsback's picture

March 30, 2015 at 04:18 pm

Raji should be a close to an All Pro every year. Not sure what his issue is/was but I hope he can re-invent himself and secure a long term contract next year.

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ray nichkee's picture

March 30, 2015 at 08:16 pm

This guy played out of position without complaining one bit about it. Hopefully we can see what he can do at NT again.

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