Lane Taylor takes a paycut

The move will free up nearly 3 million in cap space.

From Tom Pelissero:

Taylor was undoubtedly a candidate to be cut had he not taken a pay cut.

This new deal reduced his salary from $4.55 to $1.5 million. The move freed up $2.96 million in cap space for the Packers.

Taylor entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Packers in 2013. He worked his way up to become a solid interior option along the offensive line.

Last season, Taylor beat out Elgton Jenkins for the starting left guard job before suffering a torn biceps.

 

 

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6 points
 

Comments (34)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Roadrunner23's picture

May 30, 2020 at 07:46 am

Smart move by Taylor and the Packers, it never hurts to have a guy like Taylor around on a 1 year prove it deal.

12 points
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dblbogey's picture

May 30, 2020 at 09:54 pm

Taylor played well in 2016, and 17 but played poorly in 2018 and wasn't playing well before his latest injury. So, we really don't know what we'll see from Lane Taylor.

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jannes bjornson's picture

May 31, 2020 at 04:27 am

A solid move to retain veteran depth, given Madison will start on the PUP.

0 points
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gkarl's picture

May 31, 2020 at 06:05 pm

Retaining Taylor is a good move especially for the pack. As for Madison I think the FO cuts bait on him, especially if he needs to start the year on PUP. Its been 2 years of no play already, they really don't have any idea what he can do. They'll keep the recent draftee's before him.

0 points
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PatrickGB's picture

May 30, 2020 at 08:50 am

I think that Taylor is better than Jenkins. Jenkins signing was a mistake. Like others, and I was sure that Taylor would be cut. We also drafted and picked up a lot of guards. I saw that as preview of some serious battles in camp. May the best player win.

-16 points
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Hooty_Post's picture

May 30, 2020 at 09:17 am

Jenkins was a 2nd round draft pick that played very well, especially for a rookie. I am looking forward to big things from him. I like the depth that Taylor will provide. Great move to re-do his contract to provide some salary cap flexibility.

5 points
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Bearmeat's picture

May 30, 2020 at 09:47 am

Do you mean the Turner signing??

7 points
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PackerAaron's picture

May 30, 2020 at 10:02 am

I think you mean Turner, Patrick.

3 points
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mrtundra's picture

May 30, 2020 at 10:41 am

Jenkins is a great player at LG. I like Taylor better than I like Turner. Can Taylor play RG? If one was to be cut, I'd rather see Turner go.

1 points
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dobber's picture

May 30, 2020 at 10:48 am

He's played on both sides, but almost exclusively LG over the last few years. By reports, Turner might be a better fit on the left side and Taylor really profiles as more of a RG (IMO). That swap could happen, but Turner's contract makes him almost uncuttable (his accelerated cap hit would cost the Packers almost $2M more against the 2020 cap) which means there would have to be an adjustment to keep Jenkins on the field (see below).

1 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

May 31, 2020 at 04:30 am

He looked fluid playing on the left side for Denver. He is definitely better in space than Taylor.

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murf7777's picture

May 30, 2020 at 05:12 pm

Turner deal won’t make sense to cut till after 2 years and even after the 3rd its not great but would make sense. They were 4 big contracts and fortunately 3 have worked out!

1 points
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Bearmeat's picture

May 30, 2020 at 09:46 am

So, a Taylor/Runyan RG competition and Turner/Wagner RT competition? Turner's deal last year suggested he could be the replacement for Bulaga in 2020, but he did not play up to expectation. It seems Gute is throwing numbers at the right side of the OL instead of sure quality. The same thing he is doing at WR 2-5. It's not as likely to work as a surer vet starter, but you have to do that at some places in the starting 22 with the hard cap. Ce la vie.

I wonder if Linsley has been asked to take a pay cut and just refused and dared Gute to cut or trade him? His cap number is really high for a C and they have his replacement next year already on the roster.

1 points
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PackerAaron's picture

May 30, 2020 at 10:03 am

Linsley has not been asked to take a paycut.

4 points
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Bearmeat's picture

May 30, 2020 at 10:48 am

Thanks.

0 points
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flackcatcher's picture

May 30, 2020 at 06:10 pm

If Gute follows past Packer practice, I expect Linsley will play out his contract this year and sign with another team next. Packers rarely sign their O linemen to third contracts. (Clifton? doing this off top of my head) Bahk maybe an exception to the rule. (This goes all the way back to Wolf when he didn't resign both guards from the 96 super bowl team. And then there is the resigning of Mark Tauscher...)

0 points
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Bear's picture

May 30, 2020 at 04:11 pm

Turner was a turnstile at RT for the Broncos.

1 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

May 31, 2020 at 04:32 am

Runyan will be in the RT competition when all is said and done.

1 points
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frankthefork's picture

May 30, 2020 at 10:00 am

Lane, Thanks for being a team player. Wish we had more in GB who are willing to make the Packers a stronger unit.
Excited for this year, as our starters are all set up with young , fresh backups.
Still have issues with Gute refusing to draft day 1 starters...but, he is building a team.
This offense is looking great...Funches and Begelton (sic) are better than most think. My only concern is D and run stopping.
GPG.

0 points
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murf7777's picture

May 30, 2020 at 05:15 pm

I’m not so sure I would call it a team discount. My guess it was take it or be cut.

5 points
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dobber's picture

May 30, 2020 at 10:43 am

I think this is probably one of the first steps toward a Bakhtiari or Clark extension. It could be what allows the Packers to bring in a little more DL help, too, or to make a trade for an established vet at a position of perceived need. With Stepaniak a potential PUP candidate and Runyan having not played G, this is very much a 'covering your bases' move until the Packers can figure out what they've got.

Bearmeat poses an interesting question, though, in that Jenkins could easily slide over to C, and Taylor steps in as an established NFL starter at one of the two G positions if they let Linsley go to get his $8.5M in cap savings.

Whatever the case, this is a pay cut and it doesn't make Taylor any less cuttable if he slides down the depth chart. I don't see Taylor as having much of a future in GB.

7 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

May 31, 2020 at 02:38 am

Taylor has to be better than Patrick (he should do that easily) and two or three of the OL draft picks. If Stepaniak starts off and stays on PUP, Taylor only has to beat out one or two of the rookies.

Serviceable starting guards for $2.4M (to $2.75M) aren't so easy to find. I think it is quite possible that Taylor's biceps was giving him hell during TC and the first two games last year and he tried to play through it due to feeling the heat from Jenkins.

Unless there is a TC and preseason during which Runyan, Stepaniak or someone else wows us, I think it would be a bad sign if GB were to cut Taylor. GB could gain another $1.05M in cap saving by cutting or trading Taylor, but that sounds to me like Gute would be thinking about 2021 and not 2020.

2 points
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Spock's picture

May 31, 2020 at 05:34 am

TGR, I agree with your (always bow to your cap knowledge) analysis of Taylor's (now) inexpensive contract. I suffered a torn biceps (left arm, completely off the bone) and know from experience that, once fixed, a torn biceps is "as good as new". It will be interesting to see how Taylor plays when/if training camp begins.

0 points
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gkarl's picture

May 31, 2020 at 06:28 pm

Dobber,

I would be worried by this Taylor move if I was Linsley. You and Bear are both correct they could be looking for cap money for Clark or Bak and Jenkins would be a fit at center, Patrick also has C experience.

I think Linsley is the best center we have but if its about SC the FO has the most to gain from our OL by cutting or trading him. I hope none of this happens but its certainly a possibility now.

0 points
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cheesehead1's picture

May 30, 2020 at 10:44 am

Hope Gute will now add a run stuffer.

1 points
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Leatherhead's picture

May 30, 2020 at 10:54 am

Lane Taylor is our biggest offensive lineman.

With the pay cut, he’s easier to trade. I’ve been saying for a while that the GM might have to trade for some help on the defensive line, and Taylor is one of the guys that could be used.

2 points
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dobber's picture

May 30, 2020 at 11:30 am

"Lane Taylor is our biggest offensive lineman."

But heavy-footed and not a great fit if the Packers want to continue running outside zone. If they're thinking more power or gap/inside zone concepts to favor Dillon's running style, then Taylor makes more sense.

I would argue that Lane Taylor--coming off injury--is no easier or harder to deal now than he was before. Any leftover bonus money remaining on his contract stays with the Packers, so the acquiring team doesn't realize his full cap hit, and any team acquiring him could easily redo his deal just as the Packers did. His cost to an acquiring team on his pvs. deal would still be pretty small.

1 points
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Leatherhead's picture

May 30, 2020 at 09:40 pm

I think he’s still a good starting guard in this league. Any team that would trade for him would have to assume the contract and it’s more assumable now.

Truthfully, he’s our sixth best lineman, and he could well end up playing. He’s big and solid and still on the good side of 30. I don’t know about the slow-footed stuff, but you don’t push him around . I’d be inclined to keep him on the roster.

4 points
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TheVOR's picture

June 01, 2020 at 08:47 am

I agree with that, the first thing I thought is they should be able to move him and get a player or a pick, and I'd prefer the pick. A player for player swap wouldn't yield anything of greater value IMO. He's a capable football player, it's not like he'd be a liability in relief of a starter either, you can't have enough quality depth. I'm amazed he didn't just tell them no. That's why it feels like a trade to me.

0 points
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TheKanataThrilla's picture

May 30, 2020 at 11:01 am

This seems like a real win/win situation. The Packers gets to save cash on a guy they would likely have to cut, but also kept a veteran lineman who has shown himself to be pretty good when healthy and could be a great back-up. Lane gets to stay on a team who he is familiar and is not cut where he becomes a FA coming off an injury which limits his chances of catching on with another team. I have to admit that I really like this move by Gute.

As far as the OL draft picks are concerned. I think 1 goes on IR (Stepaniak), 1 goes on the PS (Hanson) and 1 makes the team (Runyan).

2 points
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dobber's picture

May 30, 2020 at 11:39 am

Depending on whether he's ready for the start of camp, I think Stepaniak goes to the PUP which gives him a chance to come back this season. For him to come back from IR would mean they'd have to put him on the 53 before they could IR him.

Agreed on Hanson (PS) and Runyan.

4 points
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Packers0808's picture

May 30, 2020 at 01:14 pm

For my guessing the opened up money will be used to bring in a vet run stuffer like Snack or someone of that size and/or caliber! Wouldn't be nice to find a "grave digger" type! He was one of my all time favorites!

2 points
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Spock's picture

May 31, 2020 at 05:39 am

Interesting thing is that when the "grave digger" did come back he ... tore his bicep ...! He (against doctor's orders) decided to try and play with it for the team (!) and did alright for one game but was basically playing with one arm and pretty ineffective after that.

0 points
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flackcatcher's picture

May 30, 2020 at 05:53 pm

As stated above, a win-win for both Taylor and the Packers. Gives the Packers a little more breathing room via the Cap, and makes Taylor a starting option and a core player in the room going forward. As we all know, Packers may be forced to cut depending on their Cap number and if there is no season because of Conrona-19 reducing the overall Cap number. Unless the NFL figures out a way, veteran starters will be lost on this offensive line. (we all know who) Taylor, a starter since 2015? saw the handwriting on the wall and got ahead of it.

3 points
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