Why is it a huge gamble? We will get Vlad for less. We can develop the future, if we break now. The savings is 10 mil.!! Why would we need to draft a OT? The history says otherwise. Try IOL instead. (Late) The packers move players around. They like versatility. MM still made a go of it when Bulaga was out. Bulaga got paid well. But he's just not the investment needed to get to the next level. The packers have been only as good as their next game with Bulaga. He doesn't pertect Rodgers blind side. Doing whats right is why you want Bulaga back. But this is a young mans game now. Bulaga is expendable.

Corey: This is dead wrong.

"Most importantly, it’s going to be inexpensive. Bulaga isn’t going to be asking for a lot of money. He will likely be fine with a two-year incentive-laden deal. That is fine for a guy that was snakebitten with awful injuries to start his career."

Bulaga will probably get a 2 or 3 year deal at 10m AAV with 2/3 of it guaranteed. Signing him is every bit the big risk that moving on is - but it's a risk to the cap and having to play a backup with less money, instead of a risk of a lower quality starter.

I'd personally sign Veldheer for 2 years at much cheaper and prioritize drafting and OT.

Like Bearmeat I am not at all sold on Corey's assertion that Bulaga will be inexpensive and only want a two year deal. If Bulaga is inexpensive, I would sign him in a heartbeat, not resign Veldheer and still draft an OT high because both Bulaga and Bahk are in their 30's. If Bulaga turns out to be expensive, then you let him go, resign Veldheer and draft an OT high and hope you don't miss because Veldheer has less chance of holding up for a full season than Bulaga.

For me the breakpoint is $10 million AAV. If Bulaga wants more than that, let him walk as the Packers have other needs that free agency can help fill. If it is $10 million or less per year, sign Bulaga and don't resign Veldheer.

Looking around the league and seeing what other OTs are getting paid I don’t think BB will be cheap. However, he just might just end up affordable. Right now, I think that Clark is the priority. But as a fan, I would love to keep Brian.

No. Gutekunst is in the middle of an offensive line rebuild that included adding Taylor and Jenkins last year. We’ll replace Bulaga this year and next year it’ll be Bakhtiari and Linsley.

We have a $25 million a year QB, and a WR making nearly $15 million. We don’t have as much cap space as most other teams. We have no starter at TE. We have no starters at ILB. We have the league’s oldest DB.

Draft a tackle and buy a TE. Continue with the rebuilding of the line. Don’t spend money on an older, expensive tackle with an injury history.

Jace Sternberger is the starting tight end no need to sign one but can draft one late in the draft for special teams , re sign Lewis for blocking , we are fine at tight end , the Packers will sign a veteran linebacker and draft another , Bulaga will get a team friendly offer and Gute will draft his replacement who will have time to learn, don’t forget Cole Madison I don’t know where he fits in but the Packers have plans for him.

Cory, this is very well written and concise, marking some very big points. I felt much the same prior to last season, but, man, did Brian prove himself. He literally turned Khalil Mack into a eunuch. There is a lot left in the tank for Brian Bulaga.

Let's talk about chemistry & continuity. Those are two major positive aspects to re-signing Brian Bulaga, along with many others, such as his acumen, experience, his proven worth at RT for the past 10 years. The chemistry of an OL, knowing what each person is doing without thinking is HUGE, especially when it comes to protecting the #1 player on this Packers team. As you mentioned, Aaron Rodgers is 35 and not getting younger, nor faster. Rodgers & Bulaga, from what I've read are best friends. That kind of stuff goes a LONG way. They won a SB together when Bulaga was a rookie. Aaron knows what Brian is going to do, and where he is going to move his opponent. When shit hits the fan and he has to release out of the pocket, Aaron knows what he has in front of him. That is HUGE as well, especially when a good part of LaFleur's scheme involves working the QB outside the pocket.

Being year 2 of LaFleur's tenure, and having had one solid year working alongside Billy Turner, a sound working relationship was established in a new system for both. Year two of any new system can pay. BIG dividends. Maintaining that chemistry and building on the continuity will be a major plus moving forward in the Packers' quest to win the SB this year. Matt Ryan won the MVP and went to the SB with LaFleur as his QB Coach. LaFleur knows how to guide a top talent. I do think LaFleur has a ton more up his sleeve regarding the expansion of his playbook, and this is another reason why continuity with re-signing Bulaga makes a lot of sense.

Add to that, the Packers are looking to give Aaron Rodgers some of the best WRs he can work with this offseason. He's never had a talent dump at such a key position. I suspect GB will do just that in the April draft, and deliver the goods. How effective will Rodgers be throwing to those new targets with Brian Bulaga up front vs. a rookie replacement or a 1st year starter? There is risk involved in NOT re-signing Bulaga, a player who still has at least 1-2 years of top play left in the tank.

Our cupboards aren't as bare at OT as many might think. There is the possibility Gutekunst and LaFleur have decided to upgrade the position or move on from Bulaga for 2020. It is entirely understandable given the cap ramifications. Personally, I believe that would be an unnecessary risk to assume given the goal is to win the Super Bowl. I firmly believe the Packers struck pure gold in the UDFA signing of Yosh Nijman. Their willingness to protect him by putting him on the roster and then IR speaks to their confidence in his development. Held every top pass rusher in the 1st Round 2019 draft to ZERO sacks during his career at VT, seeing many multiple times in the ACC. He's a big dude too, one who just needs the development. Sounds like GB struck gold with yet another signing in Leglue as well.

Sure, there is a possibility the Packers could spend their #30 pick on a pure RT this year and not re-sign Bulaga, hoping to get the same level of play there that 2nd Round pick Elgton Jenkins provided at LG. Elgon was a steal with the 44th pick in 2019. There would be a lot riding on that though, handing the starting reigns to a rookie or 1st year starter, especially given the pass rushers that player will have to keep off Rodgers' back.

Biggest point, investing in top WR talent will be meaningless if Rodgers is not protected. Further, Rodgers must be kept healthy for at least 19 games to reach our goal of bringing home another Lombardi Trophy. THAT IS THE GOAL.

There are no awards handed out for having the most cap space... as many Packers fans well know. Re-sign Brian Bulaga.

"Bryan Bulaga must come back"

No... what the Packers MUST do is have a clear plan going forward for how to address RT. It must have multiple contingencies and be flexible based on what they can get done during free agency. Maybe some of those include Bulaga, but my guess is that most do not.

If you lock yourself into a single path, you're asking for trouble.

Most of the pass protection failure are due more to Rodgers than the OL so moving on from Bulaga isn't a catastrophe as Cory makes it sound without actually calling it such.

If we have a receiving corps that can play to any level consistently at or above average the ball may come out faster than 3+ seconds on nearly every pass play.It may even instill in Rodgers the confidence to throw those tighter windows as previous seasons instead of throwing them away to prevent INT's due to receiver inability.

Bulaga played well last season and likely fought through pains to make the best of a contract year. However, the writing is on the wall with Bulaga has it has been more many a player in this scenario. Pay them based on that and not the previous injury riddled seasons and watch them crumble before your eyes after signing them.

The best fix for the OL isn't keeping an injured Bulaga, it's getting Rodgers to throw the damn ball quicker to better receivers and that can be done without Bulaga.

Lastly, let's stop thinking this team was as good as their record regardless of that old saying that states that's how good you are. It's a cop out to accepting reality...we really weren't that good.

GB has limited options at RT. One option is signing Conklin from TN for 12M. GB could also draft a center and cut lane Taylor and Linsley adding cap space.
Or just draft a tackle in first 2 rounds and bring back Valdeheer as insurance policy.

Let's add another point in favor of re-signing Brian Bulaga: Why create another hole in your roster as big or bigger than the two giant chasms calling out for talent in stopping the run and WR?

Adding top talents, the best the draft can offer at our draft slots in R1-3 will be vital. Failing to re-sign Bulaga automatically vaults RT into the top need area of this Packers team, given whoever starts 2020 will have to keep Rodgers clean through 19-20 games if we are to win a Super Bowl. By not re-signing him, you possibly miss out on a top Flanker, top Slot WR, top ILB, top DE, top NT, top RB, top S... because you need to add a top RT at 30.

First choice in that scenario to address WR/ILB is 62. Second selection is 94? Ho-ly shit....! That's a ton of premiere talent being gobbled up by other teams at dire positions of need for this Packers team before pick #62, pick #94... wow.

That is another big plus to re-signing Bulaga this offseason: Being able to use your top draft capital at positions of real need. The Packers will not be a better team without adding at least one top ILB, one top DE, a quality backup NT behind Clark and 1-2 WRs who can start immediately. A solid, sizable Flanker opposite Davante Adams and a true, gifted Slot WR, one who hopefully has speed and PR/KR abilities.

Re-sign Bulaga, and reap the benefits of this rare draft rich in talent at WR. Aaron Rodgers deserves more talent to take us over the top, and we do not have a middle D. Sign Littleton too, or Schobert and Brockers or Suh if at all possible. We need that much talent in the middle D.

Each wasted/unnecessary pick is another 32 opportunities lost, or more. This offseason FA period is very important.

Now, if the Packers take that $10M and spend it on Littleton and Brockers or Suh... well, then GB has lessened those draft needs, and have decided to draft a top RT instead of WR at 30.That is my guess. Speed is a premium at the position. Gotta get while the gettin's good. I'd take that whole RT problem out of the equation and re-sign the reliable veteran who we all know can get the job done, and focus on adding team speed at both WR and ILB, where we've needed it for years.

I'm going to disagree with Cory on this one. Although Bulaga has stated he wants to retire in Green Bay, his refusal to restructure his contract previously indicates to me that he isn't going to give the Packers a home town discount. Instead of spending over $10 million per year on Bulaga, I'd much rather see them get someone that is younger and can be part of the future. IMO, Green Bay needs to improve their speed and athleticism, not re-sign older players.

Bakhtiari, Linsley & Jenkins (and even Bulaga for that matter) all did pretty good as rookie starters.

Love Bulaga’s skill set and toughness and am not against bringing him back if it’s team friendly. Bringing back Veldheer sounds like a good option but if he played so well why would he come back cheap? Good OTs are very valuable and someone with a lot of cap space could easily outbid us for his services. We have to address both the DL and OT positions in this draft. As for all the hype about the WR talent in this draft, there is no guarantee that whatever big talent WR we bring in will transition well to the NFL. In the past many, highly skilled, WRs did not pan out. I’m not against drafting one but I feel our lines are a higher priority either by draft/FA/ or trade.

I've generally thought people have been a bit harsh on Cory, but man, if Bulaga comes in at less than $10M for 3 years I'll be surprised, and there is no way he comes in at less than $8M for 2 years. In my book, that is not inexpensive. It makes me wonder if Cory is serious or if he is just writing stuff to get a rise out of people.

"That is fine for a guy that was snakebitten with awful injuries to start his career."

Games played by Bulaga (regular season) by year:
2010--16 (10-6, won SB)
2011--12 (15-1, lost division round)
2012--9 (11-5, lost division round)
2013--0 (8-7-1, lost WC round)
2014--15 (12-4, lost NFCCG)
2015--12 (10-6, lost division round)
2016--16 (10-6, lost NFCCG)
2017--5 (7-9...blocked from memory)
2018--14 (6-9-1...forgotten in PBR induced amnesia)
2019--16 (13-3, lost NFCCG)
I wouldn't say that durability, early or late, is a strength of Bulaga's resume. He's less than 3 years removed from his 3rd ACL. I give him tremendous credit for bouncing back quickly and being ready to play in 2018. He doesn't get derailed by minor injuries, but he's had his tires patched many times. His reputation for injury is justly deserved.

Added playoff results in edit. It's interesting to note that in years where Bulaga started at least 15 games--that's 4 times--the Packers advanced to the NFCCG each time and won the SB once. Make of that what you will...

Why expose your franchise player to maybes and has been's ? No Rodgers is a lost season, lost investment therefore, a no brainer. Sign Bulaga, get that hometown discount and with that discount outbid everyone else and get Littleton then draft the best wide receivers the draft has to offer in a deep WR class.
Provide the franchise player with young weapons, proven protection and a better defense. Win now baby, there's only so much sand in the hour glass.

I am so used to Bulaga's injury history, Idid not realize he'd been that Healthy:30 of 32 games.Man, he isSneaky Good.
The tagteam of Bulaga & Jared V makes it a no brainer.
i do not know about the CBA and how it'll effect the cap and i do not care to scrutinize such capology. But
the season practice schedule designed by the Packer coaching staff has helped veteran players like Bulaga.
Brian B made not be ideally suited for LaFleurs scheme but he keeps Aaron Rodgers upright.
Bulaga is especially good defending some of the top notch edge rusher in the North Division and that alone is why he is worthy of a 3rd precedent contract, hopefully friendly$ enough to afford Hooper and Corey Littleton

Right now the Packers have no replacement for Bulaga. Period. Stop. End of story. That too is on Gute's todo list. The Packers will wait on the market before they make an offer. In reality, they will have to overpay him to get him back. By how much won't be known until free agency opens. But it will be less than he and his agent wants, but more than the Packers want to pay. No matter the public stance the Packers take, Bulaga is in the drivers seat and Gute knows it. Right now the Packers have only one real backup lineman and that is Patrick. That's how thin they are in that position group. Taylor is coming off a shoulder injury that forced him out of the starting lineup, neither backup tackle is ready to play at the pro level. And Madison's knee injury set him back a full year, and even healthy he was not game ready at the pro level. Rebuilding teams carry players on their active 53 for their potential. It is a gamble, but one that is necessary. The cost is QB 1 becomes one with the grass as what happened on the Packers west coast swing last season. So yes, the Packers bite the big one and resign Bulaga and hope that the draft picks and returning players will net them some future quality starters.

I would say the assessment that Bulaga will come back on a 2 yr incentive laden deal is complete BS. If he hits FA, he's going to get a 4 yr deal with plenty of guaranteed money. My guess is he could get a 4 ys deal over 32M and probably approaching 40M, with close to 20M guaranteed. As mentioned he's playing at a very high level and while he has an injury history, he's started 30 of 32 games. Bulaga isnt going to shortchange himself in his last contract.

That said, I absolutely want him back for a few more years. Let's just hope they can get a deal done. The other alternative is Veldheer on a one or two yr deal for 4 or 5M AND drafting a RT to take over soon, but that's not really a risk I'm interested in.

Breaking Points for Bulaga:

$11M AAV. I'd prefer less.
$6M signing bonus on a 3 year deal.
< $4M + Dead Money guaranteed in year two.

Looking at Donnick's draftnetwork mock, it had Mims and Murray, plus some others with less star power available at 30. If I believe Donnick, best OT left would be Austin Jackson at 41, bypassing Gallimore, Epenesa, Jonathan Taylor, and Blacklock. Jackson is raw but is a good prospect, I gather, but do I really want to have to take the best OT left? Can GB wait for 62?

Donnick had OT Matt Pearl available at 62. Pearl isn't plug and play, I gather. JK Dobbins went 63 in the mock. He didn't work out much at the combine, so no forty or 3-cone and the like. Hard to pass on him at 62.

IDK. I think Gute should sign the best values he can find in free agency. Not a WR. Every other combo is on the table.

No matter the public stance the Packers take, Bulaga is in the driver's seat and Gute knows it. Right now the Packers have only one real backup lineman and that is Patrick.
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