Five Reasons the Packers Should Sign Bryan Bulaga (If the Price Is Right)
Should the Packers re-sign Bryan Bulaga?
By GilMartin
Starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga is set to become an unrestricted free agent next month. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has a tough decision to make as to whether to bring Bulaga back in 2020.
Bulaga is 31, the age at which the Packers have historically not offered offensive linemen another contract. Recent examples include T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton.
But here are five reasons the Packers should strongly consider bringing Bulaga back next season assuming he will accept a reasonable salary and length of his contract.
1. Bulaga Is Still Playing at a High Level
The Iowa alum has been a mainstay at right tackle for the Packers since his rookie season in 2010. Last season, he continued to play at a high level. This past season, he did not allow a sack over the first seven games. In addition, he continued to run block well and did a very good job protecting Aaron Rodgers.
Bulaga’s play will likely decline in the future, but as of right now, he is still playing at a high level for the Packers.
2. He Stayed Healthy for Most of 2019
Bulaga started all 16 games for the Packers in 2019 and played in one of the team’s two postseason contests. He did have to leave two games due to assorted injuries, specifically the losses to the Eagles and 49ers. Note that the Packers lost both games he didn’t finish.
Overall, Bulaga played in 83 percent of the Packers offensive snaps, his highest total since 2016. He is tough and plays through nagging injuries that might sideline other players. Bulaga is a dedicated professional who cares about the team and the way he plays the game.
3. Continuity Is Important on the Offensive Line
No position group on a football team relies more on familiarity with your teammates than the offensive line. The players need to work together and read what their teammates are doing in order to play at a high level.
The Packers were fortunate in 2019 that their starting linemen were healthy most of the season. Four of the team’s starters (Bulaga, left tackle David Bakhtiari, center Corey Linsley and right guard Billy Turner) started all 16 games. Rookie left guard Elgton Jenkins took over the starting role in Week 3 when Lane Taylor was lost for the season due to injury and started the final 14 games of the season.
The Packers line play benefitted from this continuity. “To be able to have those guys healthy has been really important,” Aaron Rodgers said before the Packers playoff game against Seattle. “We’ve been really fortunate to have those guys healthy and practicing all the time. I think the continuity that they have upfront has been a big part of our success.”
https://madison.com/wsj/sports/football/professional/for-packers-offensi...
The Packers can keep this continuity for another season by re-signing Bulaga and giving the unit another season together.
4. Bulaga and Bakhtiari Give the Packers Strong Play at Tackle
Make no mistake about it, the Packers quarterback knows how important having strong offensive tackles is to his success. As Rodgers gets older and his mobility decreases, the importance of having reliable tackles will become even more critical.
Rodgers knows he can trust Bulaga and Bakhtiari and that gives him comfort and confidence. “I think the line has been fantastic. And I think Bryan Bulaga has had a fantastic season,” Rodgers said. “Bryan has been an absolute rock for us at right tackle. He’s an absolute warrior when it comes to playing through injuries. Dave gets a lot of credit and well-deserved. Dave is a generational talent at left tackle, but I think Bryan has been fantastic on the right side.”
https://madison.com/wsj/sports/football/professional/in-mostly-healthy-b...
Head coach Matt LaFleur also knows how reliable Bulaga has been. “He's a true pro. Another guy you just don't have to worry about. You know you're going to get his best each and every week, and I think he's done a great job,” LaFleur said in October. https://www.wsaw.com/content/sports/Bulaga-praised-in-offensive-line-imp...
5. Bulaga Provides Leadership
Bryan Bulaga has seen it all in his 10 seasons with the Packers. He is also a leader on the offensive line for both rookies and even his more experienced teammates.
“For him to battle (through injuries), what he’s done for a decade and still remain at the level of play that he has,” Bakhtiari said in October. “I’m just honored I was able to one, learn from him as a younger player, and then two, grow with him as a teammate, and three, enjoy the time with him and the times to come as a friend.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/robreischel/2019/10/09/green-bay-packers-br...
Even if the Packers draft his potential successor this year, having Bulaga around for another two years would help teach the rookie how to be successful in the NFL and how to be a consummate professional. There is still a lot of value to keeping Bulaga around even if he doesn’t start the entire duration of his contract.
Overall, the Packers would do well to bring Bulaga back and sign him to one more contract next month if the duration and dollar amounts are right.
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Comments (49)
BoHunter
February 13, 2020 at 01:02 pm
Brian Bulaga Iowa, sign the man.
BoHunter
stockholder
February 13, 2020 at 01:22 pm
Get Real! Paying Bulaga big Is; Not going to get you Leadership,Strong Play, A Healthy player, or higher level. It will get you loyalty, and a guy that belongs in a Rest Home. He will become the most penalized player on the line. This is a business and we've made those points with others before Bulaga. And every time we have made out just fine! With Heart. Drive. Desire. Tenacity. All of which justifies, younger, stronger, and value. Thanking Bulaga for his service is one thing. But he's not the million dollar baby we need anymore. Sorry for you and the Packer base for thinking he is.
powell.david1
February 13, 2020 at 01:30 pm
OK HOLDER
CAG123
February 13, 2020 at 05:30 pm
Geez stock the title does say "if the price is right" but no the Packers most certainly did not make out just fine the guard position was a mess after Lang and Sitton left. This is another one of those sticky situations do the Packers move on and trust a rookie to contain Mack and Hunter twice a year or roll the dice on the old dog for two more? I always feel like CB and Olineman are two positions that should get attention every draft whether you need one or not for reasons like this. I'm not a believer in this myth that Turner can play RT because he would still be in Denver if he could.
stockholder
February 13, 2020 at 06:06 pm
I just don't feel your going to Contain Mack or Hunter with Bulaga. Bulaga Refused to Take a Pay Cut! That said it all. Also How much Rest is Enough? Bulaga is only 1/2 the player he once was. Wolf said you build a team with Ots and Cbs. My response to free Agency this year is, KEEP THE "$GREEN$" in Green Bay. Pay the Defense. Draft Offense.
CAG123
February 13, 2020 at 07:23 pm
Well Bulaga did just that this year against Mack twice, Hunter twice, Dlaw and Von Miller and I don't think he gave up a single sack against Mack and Hunter in fact Mack had one of his lowest graded games in week 1. Im a bit torn I would like for the Packers to have a day one replacement and use that cap space else where but I would hate to see the RT position fall off a cliff. I hate when a player plays lights out in a contract year not to say he was bad before but he did great with the slate of guys he had to face. I wish Packers would take a more BB approach in situations like these they could have flipped Bulaga to another team for a nice 3rd or 4th maybe to the Browns or Rams.
jannesbjornson
February 13, 2020 at 08:48 pm
The Pay Cut issue was a definite clue regarding Gutedkunst's plan for 2020. Bulaga would have to settle in at 8-9M per year on a front-end loaded contract, or he gets the RT from the draft.
stockholder
February 13, 2020 at 06:14 pm
I would have Kept Sitton. I felt that was a terrible move by TT.
JonathanSpader
February 13, 2020 at 10:55 pm
Sitton and Lang weren't the answers. Lane Talor filled in just fine for Sitton who wound up having back problems and going from Miami to Chicago before retiring. Jahari Evans filled in just fine for Lang who was overpaid by Detroit, had health problems and then retired.
Thinking Bell could be a starter was Gute's screw up. Bell was awful at RG ehen Evans could have been resigned. Jenkins has been great at LG and Turner isn't as bad as Bell at RG. Even if you resign BB do it short term and draft his replacement.
flackcatcher
February 14, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Only add that Bell was a last second signing by Gute that year. I wonder if the medical staff underestimated the depth of the injuries suffered by the offensive line or did Gute, as a first time GM misread the situation. On the other hand, having every starter playing with major injuries from the previous season only at best partly healed must have been an unusual situation.
jannesbjornson
February 14, 2020 at 01:09 pm
He was trained by Ted. The mis-fires are expected. His buddy from the Ravens came over and has a better grasp on talent than the rest of the group combined. He pushed for Jenkins. The issue is how do you treat your ALL PRO , left tackle who is up for a new contract after 2020? Can't keep both.
flackcatcher
February 14, 2020 at 06:17 pm
And by Ron as he reminded the reporters in his presser. As Gute himself stated, resigning Bulaga is no.1 for this team. Packers have NO replacement for him. From his presser it seemed Gute had already done the numbers and thought Bulaga was the best option moving forward. As for Bahk, get serious. Packers have always paid top dollar resigning their own. He's already outplay his contract, and unless he falls of the planet, he'll get paid...
Savage57
February 14, 2020 at 07:04 am
"Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, what did you think of the play?"
lleibo
February 13, 2020 at 01:35 pm
Great read, thank you
mnbadger
February 13, 2020 at 01:51 pm
I leave this one up to the coaching staff. Only they know the true value of a guy like Bulaga. When the day comes, I'll truly miss hearing him say "Iwa"
Guam
February 13, 2020 at 01:58 pm
The Packers have a QB1 who is not as mobile as he used to be, nor as able to take hits. If you don't resign Bulaga, you'd better sign Veldheer and draft an OT at #1 or #2. The Packers played 2018 with problems at both guard spots and Rodgers was injured for several game and the Packers missed the playoffs. You don't want Rodgers injured again because Boyle will not get the Packers to the playoffs much less the Super Bowl.
Protect Rodgers and you keep the Super Bowl aspirations alive. No half measures at RT (i.e. no Turner or Veldheer full time at RT).
dobber
February 14, 2020 at 09:08 pm
Even if the Packers sign Bulaga, it will only be a couple years and Bakhtiari comes up next year. They'd better draft a tackle either way.
Dzehren
February 13, 2020 at 02:49 pm
This is one of the best drafts in years for OL & WR. Draft 2 OL & 2 WR’s. Use free agency for ILB and DT.
Leatherhead
February 13, 2020 at 02:54 pm
I think we should not resign Bulaga because he’s an older, expensive player with an injury history whose best football is almost certainly behind him. Better to spend that money fixing the TE situation and draft a tackle.
Michael Hughes
February 13, 2020 at 04:03 pm
For me, the 4 biggest concerns about giving someone a big multi year contract. In order.
1. Third contracts - let other people spend their money on older guys who are more prone to injury, are likely to regress and will see their contract be a problem. If spending, do it on players on a 2nd contract.
2. Injury history - along with age, injury history is the best predictor of future health. Not worth signing guys with a succession of injuries.
3. Character concerns - speaks for itself.
4. Career year in a contract year. Someway down the list but still a worry if a player turns it on for the first time in contract year.
So basically Bulaga hits three of the four possible Red flags. Obviously his character is fine. I get why people want to sign him but it's about as high risk as you can get. Last summer we asked him to take a pay cut. Now a year later after a career year with another year wear on what is left of his knees, we want to give him a multi year contract with a big rise.
No.
Swisch
February 13, 2020 at 04:07 pm
I've read elsewhere that Jenkins may be suitable for tackle. Is that possible, and desirable?
Also, is it possible that Turner is actually more suited to tackle than the physicality of guard?
Plus, as one commenter has said, Cole Madison blocked in a pass-oriented offense in college? Could he be ready?
As much as I'd like to keep Bulaga, I'm not so sure he's going to be on the field anyway due to age and proneness to injury -- and the price seems so high.
Instead of Bulaga, I'm inclined to draft an offensive tackle in the first three rounds; re-sign Veldheer; and go with our current blockers to do the job well at least temporarily until the drafted rookie is ready to go.
flackcatcher
February 13, 2020 at 07:56 pm
Short answer to all, no. Right now the Packers have no replacement for Bulaga period. Gute has made it clear in his end season presser that resigning Bulaga was priority no. 1 for the Packers. For the rest, Madison is still a project with his knee injury a setback for now. Tuner failed in Denver at RT and is too small to play out on the edge. Jenkins is your center of the future if the Packers do not resign Lindsey, maybe in a pinch or spot starter as a last resort. Taylor can in short starts, but is not the long tern answer at starter either. While it might not look it, the entire OL is unclear with Tuner being a Cap causality if the Packers go in a different direction. If the Packers sign Bulaga, then outside of Tuner or Taylor not much should change. But, if Bulaga is not signed, well it's like pushing a roll of dominoes down...
Swisch
February 13, 2020 at 09:10 pm
Thanks for your take, flackcatcher.
I'm not really sure what to think about the Bulaga question.
I may be way wrong, but I have this impression that he's been brittle in the past and is on the verge of breaking down.
If the Packers are confident he'll be healthy for the next few years, or even the next couple, maybe you sign him.
Then again, there's the draft -- I've been reading here in the comments that a good number of rookie tackles have been starting in the NFL over the past season or two.
I hope the Packers make the right call; and wish Bulaga all the best in any case.
GilMartin
February 14, 2020 at 06:08 am
Possible but not sure if it’s desirable, at least not yet. A lot may depend on what happens with Bulaga but to me it would be a second choice
Hematite
February 13, 2020 at 04:58 pm
I would be glad to bring him back in a backup role if the main qualifier wasn't size and length of contract.
As things stand right now I'd rather draft his replacement and move on.
Thegreatreynoldo
February 13, 2020 at 06:00 pm
Three year deal with an easy out after two years.
$10.5 AAV.
The four best free agent Left Tackles:
Andrew Whitworth, age 38
Jason Peters, age 38
Anthony Castonzo, age 32
DJ Humphries, age 26, $14.5M prediction, not very good.
OTs
5th: Jack Conklin, good age 26, $15M AAV
6th: Bryan Bulaga, good, age 31 $10.1M AAV
7th: Kelvin Beachum, not as good, but above ave, age 30.
Someone signed Whitworth and Peters when they were 30, 33, 35, and it paid huge dividends for those teams. No doubt teams have signed older tackles that didn't work out, but then, I can think of teams that signed younger tackles that turned out to be poor signings.
IDK. I think GB still has enough holes that creating another is a poor idea. I'd roll the die on Bulaga.
Swisch
February 13, 2020 at 09:43 pm
TGR, am I wrong in thinking that Bulaga is being held together with duct tape and chicken wire?
If one is really confident Bulaga is going to hold up physically for the next couple of seasons, then I'd sign him on the terms you put forth.
I'm wondering, though, if he's going to be on the field for us consistently.
At $21 million for two seasons, we have to consider whether it'd be better to spend that money to fill another hole or two -- especially if the draft is abundant at offensive tackle, and rookies at that position have had a good record recently of starting right away.
dobber
February 14, 2020 at 10:12 am
I don't think Bulaga is any less of a risk healthwise than Veldheer. Bulaga costs significantly more, but he's the better player at this point.
Thegreatreynoldo
February 14, 2020 at 09:58 pm
If teams knew that Bulaga would play at least 80% of snaps in 2020 and 2021, he'd be worth $15M AAV. I certainly don't know. He has been a warrior and a quick healer, but I suppose everyone has a limit.
If I knew that Becton or someone like him would be there at #30 and would be a pretty good year one starter, I wouldn't give Bulaga a second thought.
How about giving Dennis kelly of Tennessee some love? Guy is stuck behind Taylor Lewan and Conklin, but has played well in 350 snaps in 2019 and about the same in 2018. 71 and 75 PFF grades over the last two years. Probably a lot cheaper than Bulaga. Kelly is 30. Good chance that TN re-signs Conklin and Kelly will be looking for full time work and a bigger paycheck. Probably a $6M per year guy?
Swisch
February 15, 2020 at 08:50 am
Thanks, TGR.
A healthier player at half the cost who approximates Bulaga's talent for a year or two seems like a good way to go -- plus an early draft pick at OT, and perhaps Veldheer in reserve.
I don't want to skimp on the offensive line, but also don't want to pay big for an aging player if he has past injury issues.
flackcatcher
February 15, 2020 at 03:36 pm
The big driver is lack of depth at positions on the offensive line. (Outside of Patrick, no replacements for any of the starters once Taylor went down.) Packers had three developmental players on the active roster at the start of the season. Giving Jenkins all those snaps preseason was a necessary as things played out. Outside of Taylor, assuming he comes back the Packers have no quality backups on the offensive line. So when we are looking at Bulaga, we need to keep that in mind. The Packer cup board is a mite empty these days...
Turophile
February 13, 2020 at 06:33 pm
C'mon Gil. If you put "if the price is right" in the title, at least put a number out there, even if it is a guesstimate. TGR has put a number on it, so have I.
I'd say a max of $10m pa over three years, how about you ?
GilMartin
February 14, 2020 at 06:10 am
Thanks for commenting. I’d go $10 million over two years but with bonuses for snap counts or games played included.
Turophile
February 14, 2020 at 04:46 pm
..............and thanks for the reply.
That's a fair price if Bulaga goes with a 2 year extension. He/his agent might demand a 3 year contract but at $10m, which is a hefty wage, he might be fine with a 2 yr deal.
I also agree with 'Stay-on-the-field' bonuses however they are set up, it's sensible insurance if he has a largely injured year.
As a sidenote, I'd work hard to get Veldheer back as insurance on Bulaga's health.
stockholder
February 13, 2020 at 07:05 pm
The packers released Josh Sitton when there was No Back-up plan. Bryan Bulaga has never been named an All-pro OT. Yet you want to pay him like one. We know he got more rest then any other packer this year. The playoff game showed he could be replaced. Judging Bulaga isn't the point here. It's spending the money on a player that has a poor attendance record. So whats more important. Paying a position of Need, or paying a guy wasting are time. The Time is right, to replace him.
jannesbjornson
February 13, 2020 at 08:56 pm
Bhaktiari is their priority re-sign at the OT position. He is one of their blue chips. lot of the older OTs signed to third deals were LTs,
Turophile
February 14, 2020 at 05:42 am
I disagree with your takes on almost everything on this site, stockholder, and this is no different.
Bulaga played at a very high level in 2019 and was listed as the starter in every single game. He missed one game, though he came out on the field, not with injury, but with the illness that was sweeping the Packers locker room at the time.
Don't worry about him being all-pro, worry about what you see on the field, and if you don't feel competent to judge yourself, look at the PFF ratings.
Bulaga is still playing at a high level, a very valuable thing when you have an ageing Rodgers behind him. More than that, keeping Bulaga (and Veldheer as backup again) allows you to use the higher 2020 draft slots for other positions of real need, like a starting-level DL, a no.2 WR and a coverage type ILB (and another run-stopping ILB to cover the Martinez loss). That covers the first four rounds of the Packers draft right there.
I get the release of Jimmy Graham for cap savings, Taylor too, and as mentioned, the loss of Martinez being highly likely. Bulaga should stay for continuity on the o line, for the quality of his play, and for the relief he gives in saving a high pick in this years draft.
stockholder
February 14, 2020 at 07:45 am
Turo- Am I always wrong? No. Bulaga got more rest between games then ever before in his career. Much Like Peppers. Peppers still went on to play well. I hope Bulaga can to. But the success of the packers depends on change now. We will end up LIke the panthers. So my points are to use the money to fix what is broken. And what has been broken for 10 years. ILB and DL. If Rodgers gets hurt, players will give up. The rumors of getting a Back-up QB at #1 have merit. I'd much rather draft a player rated at 7.5 then 6.3. ( That is the ratings on most Defensive positions @#30 and below normally.) So taking a player of Need is positive thinking now. But the draft this year favors Offense. And we have not given that a priority for ten years. Watching Bulaga tells me he is used up. Much like most thought Peppers was. Your afraid of change and have little faith until it's TO LATE! I'm saying they can get Bulaga's equal. Gute must act with fiscal responsibility.
Turophile
February 14, 2020 at 05:07 pm
Bulaga, like several older vets, got time off in camp throughout the season, but that was because he was pretty experienced and needed less work than the younger guys.
I'm certainly not afraid of change. Before this season I was on the 'let Bulaga walk' bandwagon. It's the quality of his play that changed my mind, along with an appreciation of the value to Rodgers of O line continuity.............. that and the high level of Bulaga's play throughout 2019, one of his best years - he did not look used up at all.
While there must be an eventual replacement for Bulaga, it can be deferred a year to allow other serious positions of need to be filled first (DL, WR, ILB, another ILB). While this IS a pretty good year for O linemen, I'd still look to next year (2021) to acquire one, with one of the first two draft picks. Then, if Bulaga was on a 3 yr contract (2020-2022), the new guy could have his rookie year mostly behind Bulaga. He could even start elsewhere on the line in his first year, if he was good enough, maybe in Turner's place, and then be ready for a permanent starting RT spot in his 2nd year.
stockholder
February 14, 2020 at 09:47 pm
He got time off between games. Practices! I would never draft a OT @#1 to sit behind any lineman. And I'm happy with Turner. He still is very good at pulling. Without him, Bulaga would have been walking. I don't believe you need a Ot #1, unless you plan on putting him at LT. Your DL, WR, ILB is hitting the nail on the head. But you won't draft a good DL @ 30, this year. FA is stacked at that position. And I'd sign a DL before signing Bulaga anyway. BPA #1, Then Need.
AgrippaLII
February 13, 2020 at 07:44 pm
It's Bulaga's last contract.He's going to the highest bidder...it won't be the Packers!
dobber
February 14, 2020 at 09:14 am
True...if he gets to the open market, he's gone. Someone will pay him more (both in years and $$$) than the Packers reasonably can.
croatpackfan
February 14, 2020 at 02:04 am
"Should the Packers re-sign Bryan Bulaga?"
No.
TXCHEESE
February 14, 2020 at 08:55 am
If he's healthy, sign to a reasonable contract. I believe Bulaga will see what happened to Lang and be happy to take a little bit smaller contract and stay in GB. The Packers were very lucky with the health last year. No need to push their luck and wind up thin at a very important position, especially with the offense still trying to find itself in ML's second season.
Bure9620
February 14, 2020 at 08:59 am
I really think signing Bulaga to anything more than a 2 year deal with performance incentives is a mistake. He Will want guaranteed money. I would almost prefer they draft a tackle higher and resign Veldheer to be the 1 year stop gap.
PatrickGB
February 14, 2020 at 11:07 am
To those assuming that Veldheer is willing to still play and take a cheep contract I say wait and see. I think that the Packers might be outbid by another OT needy team. And that assumes that he even wants to continue to play.
I am on the fence with resigning BB. I think it comes down to price. Besides, the days of blocking for ten seconds while Rodgers waits and scrambles is probably over. MLF has the offense going in a different direction.
Turophile
February 14, 2020 at 05:09 pm
'Cheep' contracts are for the birds..........
ILPackerBacker
February 14, 2020 at 12:32 pm
If the price is right......
lets go sign Brady as back up qb!
and throw Drew in there as well
Turophile
February 14, 2020 at 05:09 pm
Hey ! Did you forget Rivers ?