Super Bowl Opponents Show High Regard for Pending Free Agent Bryan Bulaga

Those taking part in Sunday's big game out in Arizona expressed their respect for the Packers right tackle.

Green Bay Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga—Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports.

Green Bay Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga—Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports.

PHOENIX—The New England Patriots may be competing in the Super Bowl on Sunday, but the Green Bay Packers taught them a few lessons along their journey to Arizona.

One of the players administering those lessons was offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga, who helped the Packers beat the Patriots during their Week 13 meeting, very likely Green Bay's most-impressive win of the season.

"Good young player in this league, big right tackle," said Patriots defensive line coach Brendan Daly, describing Bulaga. "You got a physical nature about the way he plays. I think he fits well into their system."

It isn't just one game Daly is drawing knowledge from either. As an assistant with the Minnesota Vikings in 2012 and 2013, Daly would spend time preparing for the Packers in the offseason as a division opponent they'd see twice a year.

One of the players frequently lined up across the line of scrimmage from Bulaga in the Patriots' regular-season meeting at Lambeau Field was defensive end Rob Ninkovich.

In each of the past three seasons, Ninkovich has tallied eight sacks, but on that particular Sunday back on Nov. 30, Bulaga pitched a shutout against him.

"Very good tackle, very physical guy, and the way that they're able to protect (Aaron) Rodgers is pretty great," said Ninkovich. "He's a guy that can scramble, get out of the pocket, and they do a good job of protecting him."

Although it wasn't intentional, Ninkovich perhaps brings up a point worthy of further attention. When Rodgers is healthy, he's one of the best in the NFL and among the best in league history at pocket awareness and buying time with his legs.

Could it be that Rodgers is making Bulaga and the rest of his blockers better than they are?

If the rating system at ProFootballFocus.com (premium content) is any indication, that probably wouldn't appear to be the case. Bulaga graded out as the 16th highest offensive tackle in the NFL in 2014 among 84 that played at least 25 percent of their team's offensive snaps. In the pass protection category alone, Buaga tied for ninth overall and was at fault for allowing four sacks on the season.

For the first time in three years, Bulaga also stayed largely healthy, contributing to his success. After landing on injured reserve in each of the previous two seasons with a fracture in his hip capsule in 2012 (missing nine games, including playoffs) and a torn ACL in 2013 (missing the entire campaign), the Packers right tackle missed just one full game this season.

When he got knocked out of the season opener in Seattle with a left knee injury, Bulaga sat out the Week 2 game against the New York Jets and then returned to bring stability to a Packers offensive line that started 16 consecutive games with the same lineup to end the season. Without doubt, the continuity was key to the unit's effectiveness.

According to Daly, Bulaga is important piece of the puzzle the Packers are trying to put together.

"I think Green Bay does a good job of identifying guys that are going to help them in their scheme and what they do offensively, and I think that's one of the important things in this league," said Daly. "I think they're a team that's certainly done a good job of that over the years."

General manager Ted Thompson certainly identifies players to use as building blocks, structuring the team around them. It's been exceedingly rare when he allows a good young player to sign with another team in his first opportunity at free agency.

But that's where Bulaga finds himself now, on the cusp of unrestricted free agency, able to sign with any team he chooses so long as he doesn't agree to an extension with the Packers before March 10. One would think other general managers will be curious about the former first round draft pick.

The next question is how much Bulaga is going to command, whether with the Packers or someone else.

During the offseason when the Packers were trying to decide who would be each bookend of the offensive line between Bulaga and David Bakhtiari, the decision to make Bulaga a right tackle may have been a stroke of genius. On average, right tackles have lesser earning power than their counterparts on the left side.

For example, although the distinction between a left and right tackle is sometimes nebulous, the highest average salary by an NFL right tackle is $7 million per year by Gosder Cherilus of the Indianapolis Colts, according to Spotrac.com. At left tackle, however, there's 17 players in professional football that make at least $7 million per season.

As the saying goes, however, all it takes is one. Just one NFL team is all it will take to drive up the asking price on Bulaga.

"He's a really good football player," said Ninkovich. "Anytime you're a good football player, other teams are going to look at you."

 

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

NFL Categories: 
0 points
 

Comments (8)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
cuphound's picture

January 29, 2015 at 03:59 pm

Please pay him, Ted. Pretty please? What are the odds we find another rookie as good as Linsley?

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

January 29, 2015 at 05:28 pm

He will. He always does.

0 points
0
0
TKWorldWide's picture

January 30, 2015 at 04:42 am

Yep.

0 points
0
0
balding_pastor's picture

January 29, 2015 at 04:48 pm

I hope Brian and his agent take into consideration that he's been paid despite not playing 2 of the 4 years. But I doubt that will be the case.

0 points
0
0
4thand1's picture

January 29, 2015 at 05:29 pm

Not a chance in hell. This will be his last chance for a big payday at this point of his career. He has a ring and the next thing he wants to hear is cha ching.

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

January 29, 2015 at 06:44 pm

What Danny said.

While he won't be giving any discount, he will get another shot at a big pay day.

0 points
0
0
Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 30, 2015 at 08:08 am

Agreed Danny. I was thinking 4 yrs., $30 million, with maybe 30% ($9 million) guaranteed. I am figuring a cap hit for 2015 of around $5 million, maybe less. Bulaga would be 29 at the end of the deal, plenty young enough to command another big contract. The concerns about his injury history might be reflected more in the amount guaranteed (and when those guarantees are earned) than in the average per year. It will be interesting. It could easily be $31 or $32 million for 4 years since he is far and away the best FA RT and probably could serve as a back-up LT as well. I know that I am more comfortable with Bulaga around in case of needing a LT for a game or 3: otherwise, GB could really use a swing tackle.

0 points
0
0
Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 30, 2015 at 08:41 am

Agree on Cobb. 4 yrs. 36 million, 40% ($14.4 million) guaranteed, with a cap hit for 2015 of maybe $5 or $5.5 million. The cap hit could well be closer to $4.6 million for 2015.

I don't have a good handle on the market for Tramon and House. I have been thinking 3yrs. and $10/11 million for House with 35% guaranteed. I am not sold on House, so I am not sure GB should sign him. Maybe House wants a prove it deal where he can start for a year and then cash in. He has had injuries and should know the risk in that. The cap hit for 2015 could be as low as $2.2 million on the 3 yr. deal.

As for Tramon, I am guessing the market is $4.5 to $5.0 million per year (could be way off, though) but I am really not sure how many years some needy team might offer. I personally would find 2 yrs. for $9.5 million with 30% guaranteed very tempting. Cap hit could be as low as $3.8 million for 2015.

0 points
0
0